Salon de Magie: The Klosterman Collection Part I

Maskelyne, John Nevil. Important ALS from Maskelyne Regarding His Levitation. Dated August 29, 1915, Maskelyne writes to Sidney Clarke on St. George’s Hall/Maskelyne’s Limited letterhead, stating in part, “Your statement that Kellar’s levitation was quite distinct from mine is not correct, it was a weak imitation of mine which he got from Valadon who was a member of my company during the time I introduced the illusion. Valadon succeeded in discovering a portion of the principle I employed. There has never been a correct imitation of mine produced. My latest levitation which will be introduced shortly in my new sketch is almost identical with the trick described by….” One 4to sheet with minor foxing. Boldly signed “Yours most sincerely / J.N. Maskelyne.” The history of Kellar and Maskelyne’s levitations has been discussed and debated for years. Kellar did indeed employ Valadon, and it was from him that Kellar discovered enough of Maskelyne’s secret to construct his own version of the Levitation. The effect was a highlight of Kellar’s performance for years (see the poster offered as lot 290). While Maskelyne was the first to develop the method both men employed (even if somewhat differently), it was Kellar’s version that could be trouped from one theater to the next. Maskelyne’s could not.