This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/16/2025
DOWNS, T. Nelson (1867-1938). Three-Page ALS to John Northern Hilliard. Dated January 22, 1926, the “King of Koins" writes to the ghostwriter of his famous book The Art of Magic, John Northern Hilliard, explaining in detail the method for a spelling trick he has devised. The missive begins, “De-lited to hear you'll stop off on your trip east. I've got a lot of new stuff I'll tip you to when you come here. We'll have an old fashioned magic feast." The letter goes on to explain the effect and its performance and concludes with “Whats the new dope. Someone was telling me you had on the Linkin Rings?" On three pages of Downs' pictorial letterhead, the first a folding brochure, and together with the original mailing cover, addressed in Downs' hand. All inked in the magician's trademark blocky handwriting, and the last page SIGNED “As Ever/T. Nelson Downs." A wonderful link between two prominent sleight-of-hand magicians who collaborated on one of the great instructional textbooks on sleight-of-hand.