A Magician Among the Spirits turns 100

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of Houdini's last book, A Magician Among the Spirits, published on May 2, 1924, by Harper & Brothers in New York.

Below is a positive review of the book from The Evening Sun.

The Evening Sun, June 28, 1924

And a less positive review from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 7, 1924

Shortly after publication, Houdini discovered an error in the book. The following appeared in several newspapers.

Hartford Courant, Aug. 10, 1924.

On May 5, Houdini wrote to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle offering to send him a signed copy of the book. If Doyle ever responded, the letter has been lost. But one thing is for sure, the publication of A Magician Among the Spirits marked the end of their famous friendship.

A Magician Among the Spirits has been reprinted several times. The 1972 hardcover from Arno is typically the edition one finds in used bookstores. I've always had affection for this edition.

In 1996, Richard Kaufman and Alan Greenberg published Houdini's original typed manuscript with extensive hand corrections as a limited slipcased edition. It's a beauty and a wonderful tribute to Houdini's last book.

Want more? As a member of my Patreon, you can download a free PDF of A Magician Among the Spirits as this month's reward.

Related:

• LINK: Restoring Houdini's 'Spirits'
• Cambridge Press releases A Magician Among the Spirits
• Original typescript for A Magician Among the Spirits at auction Feb 18

Houdini's tie-cutter manual and other rarities sell at Bonhams

A nice selection of Houdini rarities sold today in Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscripts auction. While an original annotated typescript for A Magician Among the Spirits was promoted as the auction highlight  (it even made the catalog cover), the item that struck me as the true gem was Houdini's very own 1891 union employee manual from his days as a New York tie-cutter.

HOUDINI'S OWN COPY OF THE TIE-CUTTER'S MANUAL. [HOUDINI, HARRY. 1874 – 1926.] Constitution and By-Laws of the Neckwear Cutters Association of the City of New-York. New York: Wm. B. Bromell, 1891. 32mo (124 x 78 mm). Publisher's printed wrappers, center fold to front cover, two paragraphs bracketed in the margins, possibly in Houdini's hand, pencil note "HOUDINI" to upper cover, portrait of Houdini pasted to rear cover. Provenance: Harry Houdini (letter of provenance from Charles Reynolds, dated May 26, 1999, addressed to:) Doug Edwards; John A. McKinven (sold his sale, Potter & Potter, Chicago, May 13, 2012, lot 240).

HOUDINI'S OWN COPY OF THE REGULATIONS OF THE NECKWEAR CUTTERS ASSOCIATION. From the letter of provenance from Charles Reynolds: "[this manual] was Harry Houdini's own manual when he worked as a tie-cutter for H. Richter's Sons at 502 Broadway, New York City. A page of this manual is picture in the book Houdini, His Legend and His Magic that I co-authored with Doug Henning in 1977. Houdini took special interest in the union's protection of secrecy—an attitude that later affected his outlook on magic." Henning and Reynold's book was heavily illustrated with items from a collection given to Henning by Ruth Kavanaugh, Houdini's niece.

The manual sold for $3,187 including premium.

The annotated A Magician Among the Spirits manuscript sold for $20,312 (inc. premium). A facsimile edition of this manuscript was published in 1996 by Kaufman and Greenberg.

A copperplate for what may be the first illustrated advertisement for "The Houdinis" sold for $5,737 (inc. premium). Bookending that is Houdini's last known full color poster, "Buried Alive!", which sold for $7,650 (inc. premium). 

Congrats to the winners!

Related:

• H. Richter's Sons
• The oldest surviving Houdini poster?
• No sale for Spirits typescript (update)

Houdini's fabulous 4ths

The Weiss family landed in America on July 3, 1878, passing through the Castle Garden Emigrant Landing Depot in New York City (Ellis Island was not yet built). Yes, this means the first full day in America for the 4-year-old Ehrich Weiss was, appropriately enough, Independence Day.

There's no record of how the family spent the day, although it's likely they initially stayed at the home of Cecelia's sisters, Rose and Sally, who had immigrated to America in 1865-66 and lived in New York City. So there's little doubt young Ehrich got to experience some kind of Fourth of July celebrations on that day in 1878.

Ironically, the first record of how Houdini spent a Fourth of July comes from Russia. In 1903 Houdini and Bess traveled to Moscow where he famously escaped from the Siberian Transport Prison Van among other feats. They happened to be in Russia during the Fourth of July. So how did they celebrate this most American of all holidays in the land of the Czar? Houdini himself told readers in his New York Dramatic Mirror column:

Although yesterday was the Fourth of July in America, it is only June 21 here in Russia, but just the same our American Consul, Smith, invited all the American performers who were in Moscow to a celebration on the grounds of the consulate, over which waved a large American flag, while the Russians looked over the fence and wondered what the "always-in-a-hurry Americans" were up to. Among the guests were the Manhattan Quartette, Smith and Doretto, Weston of loop the hoopology, four of the Florida Girls, Miss Walcott, Mrs. Harry Houdini and myself. There were many speeches, but not a single firecracker or report of a gun was heard, and without these it did not seem at all like the Glorious Fourth to me.

A more traditional Independence Day celebration for Houdini was July 4, 1922. Harry and Bess attended a party at the home of Houdini's lawyer Bernard Ernst in Sea Cliff, Long Island. What happened that day Houdini would call "the most remarkable coincidence that ever happened to a mortal man", and he would share the story during his lectures on Spiritualism. In his 1924 book, A Magician Among the Spirits, he related the story in full.

[...] Not only are mediums alert to embrace every advantage offered by auto-suggestion but they also take advantage of every accidental occurrence. For instance, my greatest feat of mystery was performed in 1922 at Seacliffe, L. I., on the Fourth of July, at the home of Mr. B. M. L. Ernest. The children were waiting to set off their display of fireworks when it started to rain. The heavens fairly tore loose. Little Richard in his dismay turned to me and said:
    "Can’t you make the rain stop?"
    "Why certainly," I replied and raising my hands said appealingly, "Rain and Storm, I command you to stop."
     This I repeated three times and, as if by miracle, within the next two minutes the rain stopped and the skies became clear. Toward the end of the display of fireworks the little fellow turned to me and with a peculiar gleam in his eyes said:
     "Why, Mr. Houdini, it would have stopped raining anyway."
     I knew I was risking my whole life's reputation with the youngster but I said:
    "Is that so? I will show you."

Houdini and Ernst in Sea Cliff.

    Walking out in front I raised my hands suppliantly toward the heavens and with all the command and force I had in me called:
    "Listen to my voice, great Commander of the rain, and once more let the water flow to earth and allow the flowers and trees to bloom."
     A chill came over me for as if in response to my command or the prayer of my words another downpour started, but despite the pleading of the children I refused to make it stop again. I was not taking any more chances.

May you have a rain free fabulous Fourth!

Related:

• Under the radar
• Former home of Bernard Ernst sold
• NYPL shows us "America's Sensation" in color

Houdini was to speak at spiritualism symposium in late 1926

It's always interesting to find something that reveals what Houdini would have been doing had he not died on Halloween 1926. This is one of those finds.

In December 1926, Houdini would have attended an 11-day symposium on spiritualism at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was to have been the closing night speaker, in fact.

According to Dr. Carl Murchison (above), the idea for the symposium came about during a luncheon with Houdini and Professor William McDougall of Harvard at the Bancroft Hotel in Worcester in 1925. Murchison recalled:

Professor McDougall and Mr. Houdini, though the best of friends, did not seem to be in entire agreement concerning certain matters that have become of wide social interest because of newspaper emphasis. Half jokingly and half in earnest, I suggested that they and other representatives thrash out the entire matter in a public symposium to be held at Clark University. The suggestion struck both of them with great force, and the three of us worked together in the lobby for more than two hours, planning the form of the symposium as well as we could at that early date.

Despite Houdini's death, the symposium proceeded as planned, running November 29 to December 11, 1926 at Clark University. Among the many presentations was the reading of paper by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ("The Psychic Question as I See It") and Dr. Le Roi Crandon presenting new photographs of his wife Margery producing ectoplasm. Instead of Houdini, the symposium ended with a lecture by Professor Nans Driesch of the University of Leipzig.

But there was still hope that Houdini might contribute, as reported by the Associated Press on December 13, 1926:

It appears Houdini had not yet prepared his manuscript, or that it couldn't be found. Instead, excerpts from his book A Magician Among The Spirits were included in the symposium's official volume, The Case for and Against Psychical Belief. In the introduction Murchison writes: "The book is only two years old, and Mrs Houdini agrees that it still represents Mr. Houdini's final convictions on the subject."

Related:

• What if Houdini didn't die in 1926?
• Houdini planned to return to the UK in 1927
• Houdini exposed mediums MUCH earlier than we thought

New French edition of A Magician Among the Spirits

A new French edition of Houdini's A Magician Among the Spirits has been released by Fantaisium as Un Magicien chez les Médiums. The translation is by François Montmirel.

Earlier this year Fantaisium relaesed Houdini's The Right Way to Do Wrong as Manuel du malfaiteur: Révélations sur les criminels qui gagnent.

You can purchase Un Magicien chez les Médiums at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr.

Related:

• Houdini the writer
• Houdini now spirit busting in Bulgaria
• Cambridge Press releases A Magician Among the Spirits

Houdini eBay fraud alert

This 1st edition of Houdini's A Magician Among The Spirits is currently on eBay for just .79¢. Too good to be true? Indeed. This is a scam. Front sellers from what appears to be China keep generating multiple listings using these same photos. Don't bite!

Thanks to Kevin Connolly.

Related:

• Trick or Treat
• "Is that you, Mama?"
• Herman Weiss or an Italian Job?

Houdini now spirit busting in Bulgaria

Mega collector Arthur Moses, who specializes in finding Houdini foreign language editions, shares with us a recent discovery. This is a Bulgarian edition of Houdini's 1924 book, A Magician Among the Spirits. The book was published by Shambhala in 2013 and can be purchased HERE.

You can see more unique Houdini foreign language editions on Arthur's website houdinispeaks.com.

"Houdini-Palooza" ends in 24 hours

We are in the final 24 hours of the Conjuring Arts Research Center's special "Houdini-Palooza" week. For the past seven days CARC has offered a different free Houdini PDF along with reducing the price of all their Houdini items at their online store by 50% (discount applied at checkout).

The final free PDF is Houdini's 1924 book, A Magician Among The Spirits. The book is now available for download until 1:26pm (EST) tomorrow. After that, Houdini-Palooza heads to the afterlife.

Click on over to the Conjuring Arts Research Center and harvest these Halloween Houdini treats before it's too late.

7 days of FREE Houdini books from The Conjuring Arts Research Center

The amazing Conjuring Arts Research Center in New York is offering a very special 7-day "Houdini Palooza" to end the month of October. Here are the details:

FREE Houdini Book PDFs

&

50% Off Everything Houdini! 

To end Magic Month we have decided to honor the Great Harry Houdini. 

Houdini spent the last 7 days of his life in Grace Hospital and died at 1:26 on Halloween, 1926. 

Starting RIGHT NOW you can download a free Houdini Book each day. Each title will only be available free for 24 hours, starting at 1:26 PM today, Thursday the 24th. 

Each day's book is FREE from 1:26 PM on the day it is offered until 1:26 PM the following day.

The FREE PDFs are:

• Oct 24th-25th: The Right Way to Do Wrong
• Oct 25th-26th: Handcuff Secrets
• Oct 26th-27th: Elliott’s Last Legacy
• Oct 27th-28th: The Umasking of Robert Houdin
• Oct 28th-29th: Miracle Mongers and Their Methods
• Oct 29th-30th: Houdini Exposes...Margery
• Oct 30th-31st: A Magician Among the Spirits

Also 50% off on all our Houdini products and PDFs until Halloween at 1:26pm.

Head on over to the Conjuring Arts Research Center website and begin to harvest these free Houdini Halloween treats. Don't miss a day!

No sale for Spirits typescript (update)

Houdini's original revised manuscript for his final book, A Magician Among the Spirits, failed to sell at PBA Galleries auction of Rare Books & Manuscripts held on Monday.

Can't say I'm surprised. The auction estimate was a wildly high $70,000 to $100,000 and PBA policy is to not sell items for less than half the low estimate. (I would have estimated it at $20,000 to $35,000).

Unless a private sale was arranged after the auction, something tells me we'll be seeing this one again.

Click here to read the original listing details.

UPDATE (7/18/13): It appears this manuscript sold in an RR Auction for $40,000. However, details of the auction has been removed from the website.

Original typescript for A Magician Among the Spirits at auction Feb 18

Houdini's original revised typescript for his final book, A Magician Among the Spirits, is going on the auction block February 18, 2013 as part of PBA Galleries online auction of Rare Books & Manuscripts. The estimate is $70,000 to $100,000 (!). Here is the full auction description:

Sale Number 500. Lot 109.
Original typescript, 408 leaves on quarto sheets, numbered 1-398 + 11 pages numbered 299b-299k . 28.5x21.5 cm (11x8½"). In period ring binder, covered in green

The original typescript for a new edition of Houdini's exposé of the fraud and deception endemic amongst the spiritualists, psychics and other paranormal practitioners. When first published in 1922 by Harper's, Houdini's manuscript was dramatically cut from 175,000 words down to 75,000 words. Displeased with the published work, Houdini was preparing this typescript for a second edition at the time of his unfortunate, and untimely, death. The typescript contains several holographic notations in Houdini's hand as well as other revisions in the hand of his assistant Oscar Teale. Provenance: The Collection of Milbourne Christoper, sold at Swann Galleries, October, 1997 (lot 191); a private collection since. Bookplate from the Christopher Collection inside the rear cover. Apart from a facsimile of this typescript printed while part of the Christopher collection, this revision has never been published.

Click here to view the auction page and bid at PBA Galleries.

Thanks to Greg Jung of PBA Galleries for permission to use this photo.

UPDATE: No sale for Spirits typescript.

LINK: Restoring Houdini's 'Spirits'

Check out this terrific article about the painstaking restoration of the original dust jacket for a signed copy of Houdini's A Magician Among the Spirits by the conservation experts at Poster Mountain. This would be interesting even without the Houdini connection!

Click on the headline to have a read at the Poster Mountain blog.

Herrmann, Harry, and Blanche...

John Cox Collection

Dean Carnegie has done it again! This time Dean has uncovered some very interesting details about Houdini's relationship to the Herrmann family (the first great magic dynasty), and, in particular, to Compars Herrmann's daughter, Blanche Corelli.

This is especially interesting to me as I happen to own a copy of A Magician Among the Spirits that Houdini has inscribed to Blanche Corelli in 1924 (right). She then gave the book to Dante in 1939 with a long inscription in which she mentions the Herrmann connection. (Dante than annotates and signs a specific paragraph in the book.)

Click here to read all about Herrmann, Harry and Blanche at Carnegie: Magic Detective.

Cambridge Press releases A Magician Among the Spirits

Cambridge University Press has released a new paperback edition of Houdini's 1924 book, A Magician Among The Spirits, as part of their Cambridge Library Collection. Cover art features a classic spirit photograph of Houdini.

Despite the release date showing as May 19, 2011, Amazon.com has the book in stock now.

A Magician Among the Spirits was Houdini's last published book.

'Revealing the Bizarre Powers of Harry Houdini'

This one slipped past me when it was released on March 22, but Amazon has a listing for Revealing the Bizarre Powers of Harry Houdini: Psychic? Medium? Prophet? Clairvoyant?, a book and CD combo edited by Timothy Green Beckley.

The book is temporarily out of stock and the Amazon description doesn’t really help explain exactly what this is. It’s possible it’s a collection of public domain material by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini, cobbled together into a provocative package. There also is the promise of “Rare Repos of Elusive Houdini Posters” on the cover (which otherwise doesn’t inspire confidence).

I’ve placed a backorder, but if anyone has a copy and can give me a run-down on what it is (or warn me away), I’d appreciate it.

UPDATE: Okay, having received no warnings, I now have the book in hand. This is basically a reprinting of Houdini’s 1924 book, A Magician Among The Spirits, with reprints of several articles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as a “rebuttal.” It also contains an essay on the Houdini-Doyle relationship by Green Beckley, and is illustrated with many photos and news-clippings (a few clippings I’ve never seen). The Bonus CD is the complete recording of the Final Houdini Seance narrated by George Boston and first released on Hudson Records in 1950.

It’s actually better than I expected and well worth having. The Doyle article alone is a must read.

Pamela Anderson gets signed Houdini book for her 40th

Pamela Anderson received a twice-signed copy of Houdini’s A Magician Among The Spirits for her 40th birthday. The book was a gift from magician Hans Klok.

The former Playboy playmate and Baywatch star celebrated her birthday last Saturday at the Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas where she is currently assisting Klok in his show The Beauty of Magic.

Pamela is reported to have let former husband Tommy Lee and photographer David LaChapelle touch the signature for good luck.