Houdiniana & Magic Memorabilia

[HOUDINI FAMILY] Houdini Family Correspondence and Ephemera Archive. Comprised of a large quantity of handwritten postcards, and correspondence between Harry Gross and Ella Schonberger (sister to Hennie White, Houdini’s sister-in-law), ca. 1911 – 1915, primarily on topical postcards and being the love letters that led to the couple’s engagement and marriage; a two-page TLS from Harry Hardeen, nephew of Houdini, regarding the death of his mother sent to his aunt Hennie; a 1924 holographic letter from Hennie White to her sister Ella describing the Weiss (Houdini) family and including the line, “…the Weiss family in fact they can go to H[ell] for all I care why the dam[n] fools cut me off...” which also discusses what “rats” the Weiss family boys are, as well as the sickness that would lead to Bill Weiss’s death; an 8 x 10” photograph of Houdini family members gathered at the grave of the great magician in 1954, including Henrietta White, on the anniversary of Houdini’s death; a postcard addressed to Alberta Weiss inviting members of the S.A.M. to the graveside service pictured in the photograph; and a RPPC of a young man, possibly a magician, seated in a chair, from the family archives. 1910s – 60s. Condition varies, but generally good. An interesting trove of Houdini family information and gossip. Provenance: passed to the current owner by descent from the family of Houdini’s brother, William Weiss.