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HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 – 1926). The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin Together with a Treatise on Handcuff Secrets. London: George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1909. First British edition. Publisher’s maroon/brown cloth stamped in three colors. Portrait frontispiece, plates and drawings. 8vo. Chipping to head of spine, rear hinge starting, good to very good. PAGE-LONG INSCRIPTION by Houdini to flyleaf reads, “To Dr. John H. Finley with compliments of the author who is very proud of the fact that this book is positively the first authentic history of magic and magicians ever published up to date. [Signed] Harry Houdini May 31 – 1916. 394 East 21st Street Flatbush Bklyn N.Y.”
Houdini signed this volume at a time he was residing with his brother, Theo, in Brooklyn. This British publication combining two of Houdini’s works is far less common than the American edition of his Unmasking of Robert-Houdin, and is seldom encountered with his autograph. Handcuff secrets was issued in England as a separate slim volume in 1907.