Houdiniana & Magic Memorabilia

Lot #20:

[HOUDINI] BENNETT, Arnold. Your United States. Impressions ...

[HOUDINI] BENNETT, Arnold. Your United States. Impressions of a First Visit. New York and London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1912. Full red cloth lettered and ruled gilt. Frontispiece and plates by Frank Craig. 8vo. Spine a bit dark, general shelfwear. Good to Very good. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED by Houdini: “'Safe Bind / Safe Find' Does not apply / to the undersigned. / Harry Handcuff Houdini / July 14/1913 / on board NDL / Kronzprinzcessin Cecelia." With a second gift inscription on the flyleaf: “To Betty – With all good luck on her first voyage across the Atlantic – from Auntie / July – the Eighth – 1913."

Laid in is a copy of the shipboard concert program for July 12, 1913 featuring Houdini in a “special mid-ocean performance" featuring a range of classic magic tricks (Egg Bag, Burnt Turban, Color Changing Handkerchief, Hindoo Needle Trick), but only one escape (“The world famous handcuff trick"). The first gift inscription in the book (to “Betty") was followed several days later with Houdini's page-length inscription and autograph.

In all likelihood, the recipient of this volume received it from her “auntie" before embarking. After witnessing Houdini's show on the ship, Betty had the book autographed by him to further commemorate her trip. Houdini made several tours of Europe, and programs from his trip aboard the S.S. Imperator (and photographs of him on deck with Teddy Roosevelt) occasionally come to market. But the program for his appearance on this ship – let alone autographs from the trip – are far rarer.