Houdiniana

HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 – 1926). A Magician Among the Spirits. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1924. First edition. Publisher’s blue cloth ruled and lettered in gilt. Frontispiece portrait of Houdini and Conan Doyle, plates. 8vo. Bookplate to front pastedown, trifling wear and soiling at extremities and corners, uniform toning to spine. Very good. INSCRIBED, SIGNED, AND INITIALED on the ffep by Houdini to fellow illusionist Howard Thurston: “To / Howard Thurston / Best wishes / Houdini / June 20/1924” and further inscribed below: “The result of 30 years research is embraced twixt the covers of this book which I believe will be my monument! H.” The book is again SIGNED by Houdini on the dedication page. In some ways competitors, Houdini and Thurston were also colleagues with a long personal relationship. Both came from humble backgrounds and worked their way up the ladder of fame by first specializing in acts featuring adroit card manipulation. At nearly the same time, Houdini found fame as an escape artist in London while Thurston’s work with playing cards brought him to a new level of fame on the boards of the Palace Theatre. Both continued their ascent as perhaps the two most famous magicians in the world, Thurston with a full-evening stage-filling illusion show and Houdini as a master of death-defying escapes.