Houdini's secret marks?

Here's a curiosity from the January 1938 issue of Genii magazine. This is a new one to me.

Another Houdini mystery? Or a bit of Ed Saint malarkly? Let us know if you've spotted any mysterious markings in any Houdini-owned books you might be fortunate enough to have.

Below is Houdini's copy of Hocus Pocus Junior: The Anatomie of Legerdemain (1635) in the Library of Congress. Certainly one of his rarest books. If you click the image you can see every page. I've paged through it and found no obvious marks.

Thanks to Eric Colleary for providing the LOC link. Eric is currently organizing an exhibition and writing a book on Houdini's Library for the Harry Ransom Center.

Related:

• Houdini the bibliophile
• Houdini’s Library coming to the HRC in Fall 2026
• Dean Carnegie looks at the enigmatic Edward Saint

Houdini’s Library will also be a book!

Last week, I shared the exciting news of a 2026 exhibition at the Harry Ransom Center showcasing Houdini's Library. Here's more good news: Houdini's Library will also be a book!

Dr. Eric Colleary, who is organizing the exhibition, is also penning the companion book. Eric is currently back east doing research at major institutions, such as the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, and Harvard. As the Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, Eric knows how to navigate large archives and has already unearthed treasures. We will all get to enjoy his discoveries in 2026!

You can read the details about Houdini's Library at the Harry Ransom Center.

Related:

• Houdini’s Library coming to the HRC in Fall 2026
• Eric Colleary mines Houdini gold in D.C. (Patreon exclusive)
• Houdini the bibliophile

Houdini’s Library coming to the HRC in Fall 2026

Exciting news! Our good friend Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, is organizing a major Houdini exhibition for Fall 2026. You can read the details below or at the Harry Ransom Center website.

Discover the hidden treasures of Houdini’s Library, an exhibition that delves into the life and extraordinary collection of Harry Houdini, one of history’s most famous illusionists. On stage, Houdini crafted his performances with a deep sense of history and the magicians who came before him. Off stage, he spent years building a collection of books, manuscripts, and ephemera documenting the long global history of magic and theatre. From a first edition of Reginald Scot’s 1584 classic The Discoverie of Witchcraft to the handwritten travel diary of legendary actor David Garrick, delve into how Houdini’s collection reflected his quest to preserve history—a tradition continued by the Ransom Center since it acquired his collection in 1958. Commem-orating the centenary of Houdini’s death in 1926, Houdini’s Library invites visitors to explore the intersections of magic, history, and collecting. 

This exhibition is organized by Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts.

Looks like we're all going to Austin in 2026!

Related:

• Houdini the bibliophile
• Treasures from the Harry Ransom Center revealed
• Harry Ransom Center reopens Houdini and magic collections