Salon de Magie: The Klosterman Collection Part I

Okito (Tobias Bamberg). Pigeon Vanish. New York: Theo Bamberg, 1913. Two live birds are removed from a highly decorated yellow cage and placed in a larger orange box. The orange box is then disassembled piece-by-piece to show that the birds have vanished. Larger box 9 x 10 x 8". With engraved maker’s plates and a TLS on Okito’s letterhead to the former owner outlining the history of the apparatus. See Salon de Magie, page 244. Okito’s letter of provenance, written in 1948, states, “I made it for my own use and I do remember I produced this trick for the members of the S.A.M. on a Saturday program at the little stage of Martinka[s] shop on 6th Ave, and I am proud to say it kept them all guessing. Furthermore I want to state that this is the only one I ever made, because I wanted to remain exclusive Bamberg. When I left this country in 1919, I gave this trick to my son David (Fu-Manchu) who was only 15 years at the time. Later he sold it to Mr. Victor Barbour at a very high price.”