LORRAINE, Sid (Sidney Johnson, 1905 – 89). The Sid Lorraine Autograph Deck. Over 100 playing cards, the versos printed with the Cotta design for the ten of hearts from its famous transformation pack of 1807; the blank faces bear lengthy inscriptions and signatures of many prominent magicians of the era, all collected by Robert Lund, founder of the American Museum of Magic, for presentation to Lorraine during a special tribute in 1981.
Among those who signed the cards are Ed Marlo, Jay Marshall, Suzy Wandas, Ricky Jay, Bruce Posgate, Dai Vernon, Milt Kort, Milbourne Christopher, Harry Lorayne, Eric Lewis, Mike Caveney, McDonald Birch, Lee Grabel, Bill Severn, Stewart James, Mark Wilson, Mel Stover, Tina Lenert, Walter Blaney, and dozens and dozens more. Many inscriptions are accompanied by small drawings or other embellishments, and one card has been fashioned into a book-fold by Sam and June Horowitz.
The two packs are housed in a handsome wooden box with hinged lid and a cast metal plaque affixed to its top which reads: “The / Sid Lorraine / Deck / August 16, 1981.” The cards are accompanied by a small photo album filled with images from the American Museum of Magic’s August 1981 tribute to Lorraine, picturing Lorraine with Karrell Fox, Robert Lund, and at the Museum. See Magicol No. 177 (Nov. 2010) for a detailed description of Lorraine’s collection and these cards.