A few examples of appraisal values for
MAGIC LEVITATION

• [STOCK POSTER] LEVITATION STOCK
  [STOCK POSTER] LEVITATION STOCK MAGIC POSTER.New York, Chicago and St. Louis: National Printing and Engraving, ca. 1930. Standing atop a large set of steps and surrounded by gnomes and imps at his feet, the magician gestures toward his floating assistant who wears a flowing white dress embellished by beads. 41 ¼ x 80". Wear in borders, old folds visible, minor losses over-colored; B.
• LEROY'S INCREDIBLY MARVELLOUS
  LEROY'S INCREDIBLY MARVELLOUS EFFECT. THE GREATEST LEVI...LeRoy, Servais. Leroy's Incredibly Marvellous Effect. The Greatest Levitation Mystery Ever Shown. Hamburg: Adolph Friedlander, 1912. Striking color lithograph depicts LeRoy's famous Asrah levitation. 27 x 18". Minor edge chips and one small loss. Linen backed. B.
• BRINDAMOUR, GEORGE. THE GREAT
  BRINDAMOUR, GEORGE. THE GREAT BRINDAMOUR MAGICIAN. THE ...Cincinnati & New York: The Strobridge Litho. Co., ca. 1903. Striking full color lithograph depicts Brindamour performing the Levitation illusion, his brunette assistant suspended in mid-air in front of him, while mystic rays radiate from his fingertips, apparently causing her to float in mid air. Three gnomes look on as he performs. 17 5/8 x 27 ¼". Tiny repaired tears, minor restoration in lower border; A-. Scarce. Best-remembered as an escape artist, Brindamour (1870 – 1941) was Houdini’s most successful competitor. Besides jail breaks, his signature escape was a handcuffed bridge jump, sometimes into partially-frozen rivers. He also devised clever escape stunts from unusual devices and restraints, including locked barrels filled with beer, a spiked Spanish Cell, and glass display cases. The levitation was part of his full stage show that was soon abandoned in favor of his more successful (and in-demand) escape act. As a result, few posters featuring Brindamour’s illusions have survived the years. Along with Brindamour’s magic apparatus, the posters were discovered in storage in the 1920s.
• RANDI, JAMES (JAMES RANDALL
  RANDI, JAMES (JAMES RANDALL ZWINGE). THE AMAZING RANDI....Randi, James (James Randall Zwinge). The Amazing Randi. The Levitation of a Living Woman in Mid-Air. Red Bank, N.J.: Grant, 1970s. Randi, standing beside a purple curtain, holds a large ring around the body of a sleeping woman suspended in mid-air. Designed by ÒJayson.Ó 18 x 24Ó. Old vertical fold. A-.
• VON ARX (CHARLES NICOL). VON ARX.
  VON ARX (CHARLES NICOL). VON ARX. LEVITATION.St. Paul: Standard Litho., ca. 1919. Striking full-length portrait of the Illinois-born magician and brother of Nicola performing the levitation illusion while Mephistopheles looks over his shoulder and whispers in his ear. A turban-clad man bows in front of the magician and a Moorish scene fills the background. 19 ½ x 27". Significant over-coloring in margins and through image, especially at old folds; B-.
• LEROY, SERVAIS (JEAN HENRI
  LEROY, SERVAIS (JEAN HENRI SERVAIS LEROY). LEROY, SERVA...Hamburg: Adolph Friedländer, 1905. A woman in an elaborate black dress levitates above the gesturing magician and a flaming cauldron. The image represents what was perhaps LeRoy’s greatest creation, the Asrah levitation. In performance, the woman, covered by a thin cloth, floated high above the head of the performer. At the conclusion of the feat, the levitating lady vanished from mid-air as the cloth was pulled away from her by LeRoy. 28 x 38". Uncommon in this size. Old folds, minor repairs and over painting in edges; A-.
• THURSTON, HOWARD. THURSTON. THE
  THURSTON, HOWARD. THURSTON. THE GREAT MAGICIAN. THE WON...Cleveland: The Otis Lithograph Co., ca. 1926. One-sheet color lithograph depicting Thurston’s levitation illusion in a cartoonish style. In performance, Thurston first performed the version of the effect he purchased from Kellar, then finished by covering the floating lady and causing her to float about the stage, and finally “vanish like a fading cloud” ala Servais LeRoy’s famous Asrah levitation.. 27 x 40 ½". Old fold; A.
• SELF-LEVITATION AUTOMATON. PARIS:
  SELF-LEVITATION AUTOMATON. PARIS: PIERRE MAYER, CA. 200...Self-Levitation Automaton. Paris: Pierre Mayer, ca. 2000s. Wooden and metal mechanical hand-cranked automaton in which a man with a cigar levitates with no apparent connection between himself and the stool. 6 x 3 _ x 10 _Ó. Fully functional but for movement of figure's arms up and down.
• [STOCK POSTER] LEVITATION STOCK
  [STOCK POSTER] LEVITATION STOCK POSTER. PARIS: LOUIS GA...[Stock Poster] Levitation Stock Poster. Paris: Louis Galice, ca. 1915. A turban-clad mystic passes a hoop over a lovely assistant who floats over his head. Overprinted for Le Fakir ÔKrama Sutra' and his performance of ÒAstraleÓ La Femme Volante at the Cirque Theatre Imperator. 23 _ x 15 _Ó. Minor chip; A-. Linen backed.
• KAR-MI. PERFORMING THE MOST
  KAR-MI. PERFORMING THE MOST STARTLING MYSTERY OF ALL IN...Kar-Mi (Joseph Hallworth). Kar-Mi. Performing The Most Startling Mystery of All India. St. Louis: National Ptg. & Eng., 1914. Color lithograph depicting the magician levitating a sarcophagus. 41 " x 28. Linen-backed. A.
• SELF-LEVITATION
  SELF-LEVITATION AUTOMATON.Self-Levitation Automaton. Paris: Pierre Mayer, ca. 2000s. Wooden and metal mechanical hand-cranked automaton with exposed works, depicting a man with a cigar who levitates from his stool with no apparent connection. 10 x 6 x 3 ½”. Working.
• MAGICIAN WITH TOP HAT AND
  MAGICIAN WITH TOP HAT AND DISAPPEARING BALL Germany lithographed tin whimsical man seated on trunk able to make ball disappear from top hat when key wind is activated. 6 3/4'' h. Some litho wear. (VG Cond.)
• MAGIC, PRETENDED MIRACLES AND
  MAGIC, PRETENDED MIRACLES AND REMARKABLE NATURAL PHENOM...Magic, Pretended Miracles and Remarkable Natural Phenomena. Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, ca. 1850. No. 30 of The Monthly Volume. Blind-embossed cloth, gilt spine title, a.e.g. Small 8vo. Woodcuts. Near fine copy with light foxing at start. Toole Stott 473.
• LES MAGIQUE LEONS. THE WHIRLWIND
  LES MAGIQUE LEONS. THE WHIRLWIND ILLUSIONISTS.[Stock Poster] Les Magique Leons. The Whirlwind Illusionists. Netherfield: Stafford & Co. Ltd., ca. 1925. Striking color lithograph depicts a Mephistophelean character with lightning bolts emanating from his fingertips and a sword at his hip, for an illusion show entitled the “Palace of Mystery.” 20 x 30”. Black metal frame. Minor marginal wear; not examined out of frame.
• THURSTON, HOWARD. KELLAR’S
  THURSTON, HOWARD. KELLAR’S SUCCESSOR. THURSTON.Cincinnati & New York: The Strobridge Litho. Co., 1908. A magnificent representation of perhaps the most famous illusion from the Kellar show, the Levitation. Gesturing upward, Thurston looks upon the lady who floats high above his head. Snickering devils stand behind the magician on one side, while two more look upward at a burning brazier. Smoke from the conflagration curls up behind the floating lady. 40 x 83 ½". Over-coloring to old folds throughout, several closed tears; A-/B+. Rare. For years, Fernanda Myra served as the chief assistant on the Thurston show and played the role of the princess in Thurston’s unforgettable Levitation of Princess Karnac. After hypnotizing the lovely princess, Thurston laid her on a couch in the center of the stage. As he uttered his script in the most serious of tones, Fernanda began floating upward slowly, steadily, and surely. According to Arthur LeRoy, the scene and story proceeded as follows: “Rise, Fernanda, I command you to rise! Rise as you rose in the Temple of Krishna one thousand years ago!” The orchestra filled the quiet of the dusk as it played the Meditation from Thais. Two figures attired as Hindu holy men knelt, and Fernanda rose slowly, like a dream creature into space. “There she lies, asleep in space, suspended by nothing but the power of thought. There she can remain in peace for two hours, two weeks, two years. The slightest sound, the slightest whisper can disturb her sleep.” The audience was hushed, over-awed, as it watches as so many audiences had been by the beauty and grace of the perfect mystery – Karnac.”
• Leonard Nierman (b. 1932) ''Magic
  Leonard Nierman (b. 1932) ''Magic Flight''oil on Masonite signed at lower right inscribed on the verso ''Vuelo Magico'' and ''Magic Flight '' presented in an attractive gilt frame with linen liner.Born in Mexico City Nierman has exhibited throughout the United States and Mexico. A love of music and color are expressed in his work which he describes as:''Painting is to me the aperture through which it is possible to enter a certain world; in it the viewer may find an endless number of magic images objects remembrances associations fears joys hopes and dreams. Colours I think of as I think of sounds; one sound means almost nothing and one isolated colour means very little but a certain organization of sounds may become a glorious symphony. A certain organization of colours can unleash a tempest of emotions in a perceptive viewer.''SS 48.5 x 36 in.; DOA 55.75 x 43.5 in.Merrill Chase Gallery Chicago Illinois (with certificate of authenticity)
• WILLARD, HARRY. WILLARD THE
  WILLARD, HARRY. WILLARD THE WIZARD.Bandera: J. Marvin Hunter’s Printing House, ca. 1930. Pictorial broadside shows the performance of a levitation, suspension, flower growth, and basket trick. The magician who performs the feats bears little resemblance to Willard. Flowery and descriptive text fills the balance of the bill. 8 ¾ x 24". Minor edge chips; A-. Harry Willard was one of three men in his family to make magic his profession. Rumor has it he was not the only member of his family to use this broadside to advertise his show. Apparently first printed at the turn of the century, the Willard family, ever economical, reused the same billing material for decades in their tours, which crisscrossed the American South season after season, playing under large canvas tents.
• FOUR PHOTOS OF MAGICIAN BILL
  FOUR PHOTOS OF MAGICIAN BILL NEFF.Neff, Bill. Four Photos of Magician Bill Neff. Four images, the first depicting Neff with Gene Autry, performing a levitation (1942); the second showing Jack Gwynne and Harlan Tarbell in front of a Neff marquee (second-generation printing, ca. 1960s); the third depicting Neff with Jimmy Stewart (second-generation printing, ca. 1960s); the fourth depicting Neff vanishing a dove (modern printing). 8 x 10”.
• MARO (WALTER TRUMAN BEST). MARO
  MARO (WALTER TRUMAN BEST). MARO PRINCE OF MAGIC. THE CA...Chicago, Goes Litho., ca. 1906. Color lithographed window card depicting Maro’s Spirit Cabinet effect, in which instruments (bells, tambourines, and guitars) mysteriously floated out of and animated inside a small cabinet sitting on a skeleton-type table at center stage. 13 x 18". Minor wear at edges. Unmounted. A-.
• VICTOR SALMONES "MAGIC" MODERN
  VICTOR SALMONES "MAGIC" MODERN BRONZE SCULPTURE Victor Salmones (Mexican, 1937-1989), "Magic," life size modern bronze sculpture depicting a magician levitating his female assistant through a hoop, stamped "P/A" for foundry mark, signed. 63" H x 65.5" W x 34" D. Note: Auctions at Showplace is not responsible for installation of the artwork. Provenance: Property from the Long Island residence of a collector and long time friend of Victor Salmones and Karl Springer.
• PAUL F. GEMMILL. CLEVEREST OF ALL
  PAUL F. GEMMILL. CLEVEREST OF ALL MAGICIANS.[Stock Poster] Paul F. Gemmill. Cleverest of all Magicians. Newport, Kentucky: Donaldson Litho, ca. 1920. Vibrant color lithograph depicts a magician producing an endless quantity of ribbon from the mouth of a spectator as demons look on and float above the scene. One small chip in image, minor border chips. Linen backed. A-.
• VINTAGE MAGIC TRICK, SQUARE
  VINTAGE MAGIC TRICK, SQUARE CIRCLEVintage, high quality square circle stage magic disappearing trick, stencil painted with a genie and his lamp. Excellent working condition. Measures 12" x 8" x 8". shipping info This item will need to be shipped by a packing company of your choice. We maintain a list of reliable shippers, or you may choose your own.
• MISCELLANEOUS CONTEMPORARY MAGIC
  MISCELLANEOUS CONTEMPORARY MAGIC TRICKS. APPROXIMATELY ...Miscellaneous Contemporary Magic Tricks. Approximately 70 pieces, including Rocky Raccoon; Mirror Box; Metamorpho Spots; Sponge Balls; Tricky Bottles; Mini Spirit Slates; Vanishing Leprechaun; Sand Frame; Abdul's Fez; Chick Pan; Dice Bomb; KEM cards; and many more tricks, primarily 1980s Ð 2000s. Some with instructions and original packaging.
• Large collection of vintage
  Large collection of vintage magician's trick bottles, stenciled boxes, wands, etc. Bottle: 10"H.
• MIRACLE MONGERS AND THEIR
  MIRACLE MONGERS AND THEIR METHODS.Houdini, Harry (Ehrich Weisz). Miracle Mongers and Their Methods. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1920. Publisher’s cloth. Frontispiece, plates. 8vo. Ownership signature of escape artist Joseph Kolar to ffep. Corners rubbed, light soiling to covers.
• "Magic: Stage Illusions and
  "Magic: Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions" by Albert Hopkins, 1897 first edition. "Magic: Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions Including Trick Photography" with 400 fascinating illustrations (including "chronophotographic" progression of galloping hose), compiled and edited by Albert A. Hopkins, copyright 1897 by Munn & Co., NYC. Embossed sticker on the interior from Martinka & Co., Manufacturers of Fine Magical Apparatus, New York City. 9 3/4"H x 6 3/4"W. The hinges loose thus separating the spine from the spine piece, also light wear to cover.
• HOFFMANN, PROFESSOR. MORE
  HOFFMANN, PROFESSOR. MORE MAGIC.Hoffmann, Professor (Angelo J. Lewis). More Magic. London: George Routledge, ca. 1890. Publisher's pictorial cloth stamped in colors. Illustrated. 8vo. Pencil ownership signature of Floyd G. Thayer on the flyleaf and the Martinka over-slip (signed "Thayer the Mystifier"). Several annotations by Thayer to a section on the Welsh Rabbit Saucepan trick. With a 1905 letter, in blue pencil, from Thayer to A. Roterberg, originally enclosing money for a card trick. Light wear to covers; very good.
• AUTOMATED SEFALALJIA.Automated
  AUTOMATED SEFALALJIA.Automated Sefalaljia. Wallace: Jeff Busby Magic Inc., 1995. A miniature spirit cabinet devised by Stewart James in which bells ring, knots untie themselves, balls roll as if pushed by invisible hands, and more. Hardwood box with brass fittings. 13 x 6 x 9”. Dovetailed construction. Includes props, padded ATA carrying case, and instruction booklet. Hallmarked. Fine.
• COPPERFIELD, DAVID. THE MAGIC OF
  COPPERFIELD, DAVID. THE MAGIC OF DAVID COPPERFIELD.American, 1984. Illustrative bust portrait of the most successful magician of all time, his hands outstretched with a burst of light appearing between them. The same artwork was used in a successful advertising campaign for Kodak featuring Copperfield as the spokesperson. 17 x 36". A-. Unmounted.
• CHEFALO (RAFFAELE CHEFALO).
  CHEFALO (RAFFAELE CHEFALO). CHEFALO. MAGICIAN.Birmingham: Moody Bros. Ltd., ca. 1925. Rays of light radiate from the magician’s eyes, looking over his name in bright red lettering. His bust floats on a blue and red background with a multicolored border surrounding the image. 19 ¾ x 29 ¾". Old central folds, minor wear in borders repaired; B+. Uncommon.
• MICKEY THE MAGICIAN Linemar boxed
  MICKEY THE MAGICIAN Linemar boxed example lithographed tin battery operated example features Mickey at podium performing disappearing chick trick hands brittle but intact very nice example. 10'' h. Box has interior lid repairs colors very strong. Toy - (Exc. Cond.)
• VANISHING BIRDCAGE.Vanishing
  VANISHING BIRDCAGE.Vanishing Birdcage. Chicago: National Magic, ca. 1940 [?]. Semi-rigid model finely made from brass. 5 ½ x 4 ¾ x 5”.
• PARLOUR MAGIC: A MANUAL OF
  PARLOUR MAGIC: A MANUAL OF AMUSING EXPERIMENTS, TRANSMU...Parlour Magic: A Manual of Amusing Experiments, Transmutations, Sleights and Subtleties, Legerdemain, &c. London: W. Kent, 1861. Fifth edition. Original dark blue pictorial cloth stamped in gilt and blind. Engraved half-title, copiously illustrated. Square 8vo. Broken front and center hinge, needs rebacking; otherwise a very good square copy with rubbing to cloth along spine. Toole Stott 539.
• BLAND, WILL. THE CELEBRATED
  BLAND, WILL. THE CELEBRATED ILLUSIONIST WILL BLAND AND ...Marseille: Nicolitch, ca. 1917. A central portrait of the Australian magician is surrounded by images from his show, including performances of the Duck Tub, Levitation, and Substitution Trunk tricks. Devils whisper in one ear while three of Bland’s “magical maids” perch on his other shoulder. 38 x 53 ½". A.
• COLLECTION OF 25 PHOTOS OF
  COLLECTION OF 25 PHOTOS OF MAGICIANS, SOME SIGNED.[Photographs] Collection of 25 Photos of Magicians, Some Signed. American, 1940s-80s. Subjects including Dai Vernon (signed), Faucett Ross (signed), John Scarne, Russell Swann (signed), Slydini (two, both signed); Edward Marlo (2), Leslie Guest (signed), Senator Crandall (signed), Tony Giorgio (signed), Mel Brown (signed), Russ Miller (signed), Martin Nash (signed), and others. 10 x 8".
• CHEFALO (RAFFAELE CHEFALO).
  CHEFALO (RAFFAELE CHEFALO). CHEFALO. MAGICIAN & ILLUSIO...Birmingham: Moody Bros. Ltd, ca. 1925. A winged devil cranks the handle on a small box as Chefalo looks on from the right. A host of showgirls and turban-clad assistants – perhaps the “Magda Palermo Midgets” advertised at the bottom of the poster – spring forth from the box filling the scene with bright colors and lively action. 18 ¾ x 28 5/8". Old central folds, insignificant restoration to margins; A-. The illusion depicted in this poster was a favorite of many stage illusionists of the “golden age” of the art. Invented by Walter Jeans of Leeds and first billed as the Silver Hat, the effect was eventually adopted by Thurston and others under the name by which it is now widely known: The Million Dollar Mystery.