This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2025
[HARDEEN] [CARNIVAL] [DUKE, Wm. H.] Book of Spiels and Stunt Promoter. [Three Rivers, Michigan], ca. 1915. Printed wraps, staple bound. 32pp. 8vo. Wraps and pages chipped and folded, pages browned; good or better. SIGNED on the first leaf by Theo Hardeen, brother of Houdini. A curious and SCARCE publication, crudely produced, which provides stock scripts or offers to sell custom-written “spiels" for carnival acts and exhibits including circus parades, 10 in 1 shows, Punch and Judy performances, plantation and minstrel shows, sideshows, magic acts, a “novelty auction sale," and more. One of the few works to chronicle this lingo with which we are acquainted. Kevin Connolly Collection.