This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/26/2022
Valadon, Paul. Kellar’s Mysteries. The 20th Century Marvel. Well, I’m ___ !!!” Cincinnati & New York: The Strobridge Litho. Co., 1904. Bright stone lithograph depicts Valadon, at one time the apparent successor to Kellar, performing his origination in which a woman standing atop a tall table was covered by a cloth, then vanished. 30 x 20”. Old central fold and chips in border restored; A-/B+. Linen backed. Rare. Valadon began working for Maskelyne in London in 1900, but soon thereafter was hired away by Harry Kellar began touring America as the apparent successor to the famed illusionist. While the mantle of magic was never transferred from Kellar to Valadon (Howard Thurston would eventually ascend to the throne in his place), one of Valadon’s illusions became part of the Kellar show, as this poster shows. First performed by Valadon himself, the illusion was eventually became part of Kellar’s own repertoire – as did the real object of Kellar’s desire, Maskelyne’s fabled levitation illusion. This is the first example of this poster we have encountered.