This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2025
HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 – 1926), ed. Elliott's Last Legacy. New York: Adams Press Print, 1923. FIRST EDITION. Red cloth lettered black. Frontispieces portrait of Dr. Elliott. Line drawings. 8vo. Rebacked in red cloth, rubbed, minor soiling, chipping to page edges. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED by Houdini on the flyleaf, “Best wishes / Houdini." Sold together with a 4pp. supplement to Leat's Leaflets bearing a portrait of Clinton Burgess with the caption below: “Lest We Forget. Part author and compiler of “Dr. Elliott's Last Legacy."" There was considerable resentment on the part of Burgess over Houdini's “editing" of this book, as Burgess (who is listed on the title page as “compiler" of the volume), felt he deserved far more credit for his involvement than he was given. Further complicating the matter was Houdini's difficult relationship with the subject of the work, Dr. James William Elliott. British magic dealer Harry Leat was a well-known enemy of Houdini's; the publication of the pamphlet that accompanies this work was one of many broadsides lobbed at the American illusionist by Leat, who regularly took him to task in print.