A few examples of appraisal values for
MAGICIAN

• 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.
• THE INCOMPARABLE ALBINI. WORLD’S
  THE INCOMPARABLE ALBINI. WORLD’S MASTER MAGICIAN AND IL...Albini, Herbert (Abraham Laski). The Incomparable Albini. World’s Master Magician and Illusionist. Milwaukee: American Showprint, ca. 1910. Three-sheet color lithograph bearing a three-quarter length portrait of the magician. 79 x 42”. Linen backed. Minor repaired and unrepaired losses along folds and sheet breaks, a few repaired closed tears with touching-up. A-. Scarce.
• A MAGICIAN AMONG THE
  A MAGICIAN AMONG THE SPIRITS.Houdini, Harry (Ehrich Weisz). A Magician Among the Spirits. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1924. First edition. Frontispiece shows Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini. Plates. With the scarce publisher’s dust jacket (chipped and separating, but complete). 8vo. Presentation copy, inscribed and signed by Houdini to his librarian: “To my friend and tutor Alfred Becks from one who is duly appreciative. Houdini. May 11/1924.”
• 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-.
• A MAGICIAN AMONG THE
  A MAGICIAN AMONG THE SPIRITS.Houdini, Harry (Ehrich Weisz). A Magician Among the Spirits. New York, 1924. First edition. Original cloth, gilt-lettered. Frontispiece of Houdini and Conan Doyle. Halftone plates, illustrations. 8vo. Light shelfwear, minor soiling to edges.
• GERMAIN THE WIZARD.Cramer,
  GERMAIN THE WIZARD.Cramer, Stuart. Germain the Wizard. Seattle: Miracle Factory, 2002. Black cloth with jacket. Profusion of photographs, illustrations, and color plates. From an edition of 1000 copies. 4to. Fine.
• MAGICIAN’S STOCK
  MAGICIAN’S STOCK POSTER.Magician’s Stock Poster. Buenos Aires: Alex Mir, ca. 1940. Modeled on the popular Friedlander design. A magician stands at the center of a panoply of illusions, props, and mystical figures. 29 ½ x 21 ½”. A. Linen backed.
• 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.
• A MAGICIAN IN MANY LANDS.Bertram,
  A MAGICIAN IN MANY LANDS.Bertram, Charles. A Magician in Many Lands. London: George Routledge, 1911. Navy cloth stamped in gilt and blind. Frontispiece. Plates. 8vo. Hinges a bit weak, gift inscription to flyleaf, otherwise fine.
• 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".
• HOUDINI “MASTER MYSTIFIER” PRINCESS
  HOUDINI “MASTER MYSTIFIER” PRINCESS THEATRE POSTCARD.Houdini, Harry (Ehrich Weiss). Houdini “Master Mystifier” Princess Theatre Postcard. Chicago, 1910s. A postcard promoting Houdini’s engagement at the Princess Theatre, bearing a pre-written letter from the sender, stating that the “extraordinary entertainment… consists of Three Shows in One; Magic, Illusions, Escapes, and Fraudulent Mediums Exposed.” Undivided back, not postally used.
• 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.)
• 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.
• PROFESSOR KERRIGAN. THE EMPEROR
  PROFESSOR KERRIGAN. THE EMPEROR OF MAGICIANS.London: V. Maube(?)het’s Printing, ca. 1900. One color broadside advertising Professor Kerrigan’s Carnival of Novelties, which includes ‘Two Hours of Mirthful Mysteries!’. 9 ½ x 26". Extensive repairs throughout image; C.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• CHARLES KEIGER, "THE MAGICIAN"
  CHARLES KEIGER, "THE MAGICIAN" SMALL FIGURAL O/C Charles Keiger (American/North Carolina, born 1957), "The Magician", depicting a figure holding cards and dice, oil on canvas, signed lower right and titled en verso, unframed. Approx. h. 11, w. 9" (canvas).
• HOUDINI, HARRY (EHRICH WEISS).
  HOUDINI, HARRY (EHRICH WEISS). HOUDINI. KING OF CARDS.Chicago: National Printing and Engraving, ca. 1898. Half-sheet color lithographed poster used by Houdini as a young circus and dime museum performer, with a bust portrait of the young magician at the center, and vignettes depicting his digital dexterity with a deck of cards above and below. Includes letter from Houdini’s nephew stating that the poster was gifted to him by Mrs. Houdini. 20 x 27". Repaired tears; minor paper loss in bottom margin restored; scattered minor over-coloring. A-.
• Thurston The Greatest Magician
  Thurston The Greatest Magician program, playing cards, and button/coin. Program, 12". Good condition, center fold in program.
• MAGIC: A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF
  MAGIC: A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF CONJURERS IN THE THEATER....Price, David. Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater. New York: Cornwall Books, 1985. Cloth with jacket. Illustrations, including color plates. 4to. Jacket chipped, owner’s sig. to pastedown, else very good.
• HOUDINI, HARRY (EHRICH WEISS).
  HOUDINI, HARRY (EHRICH WEISS). HOUDINI. ALL-STAR MATINE...Leeds: John Waddington, 1914. Two-color playbill advertising ‘a novelty’ – Houdini performing as a magician for the first time in twenty years. In all likelihood, this was a reference to the fact that Houdini made his reputation as an escape artist and for years presented a specialized show that eschewed traditional magic tricks. 20 x 30". Inexpert restoration throughout; B-.
• SORCAR, P.C. SORCAR. WORLD'S
  SORCAR, P.C. SORCAR. WORLD'S GREATEST MAGICIAN. INDIA, ...Sorcar, P.C. Sorcar. World's Greatest Magician. India, ca. 1950. Color lithograph poster. Linen-backed. 29 _ x 20Ó. Portion of right margin chipped and recreated. B.
• AROUND THE WORLD WITH A MAGICIAN
  AROUND THE WORLD WITH A MAGICIAN AND A JUGGLER.Burlingame, H.J. Around the World with a Magician and a Juggler. Chicago: Clyde, 1891. Re-bound blue cloth with original pictorial cover laid down. Portrait frontispiece, illustrated with plates. 8vo. Lacking half-title, front gutter splitting. Clinton Burgess bookplate rear pastedown.
• GERMAIN, KARL (CHARLES MATTMULLER).
  GERMAIN, KARL (CHARLES MATTMULLER). GERMAIN THE WIZARD....Cleveland: Schmitz-Horning Co. Litho, ca. 1908. Three-sheet lithographed poster in red and black outlining a full-length portrait of Germain in profile. 41 x 76 ½". Wear and over-coloring at intersecting folds and borders; B. A refined performer, Germain (1878 – 1959) was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. Schoolboy performances of various tricks led to a lifelong fascination with magic that developed into a career as a finished performer who toured both America and England with a highly original program. Whereas most magicians developed routines and tricks derivative of the work of others in the field, the bulk of Germain’s work was of his own creation. Features of his show, including the Egyptian Water Jars, Rose Growth, Cabinet of Cagliostro, and Vanishing Gong were ideas developed and constructed by Germain, along with his father, himself a talented craftsman. He retired from performing to study law, and opened his own practice in 1914.
• BLACKSTONE. KING OF
  BLACKSTONE. KING OF MAGICIANS.Blackstone, Harry (Henry Boughton). Blackstone. King of Magicians. Erie: Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., ca. 1935. Profile bust portrait of Blackstone with a purple and red background, hailing his “crowning” by the International Magic Circle at Detroit in 1934. Date strip for an appearance at the Three Rivers, Michigan high school. Window card (14 x 11”). Pinholes at corners, billposter’s stamp, minor wear on verso. A-. Scarce.
• COLLECTION OF OVER 150 PUBLICITY
  COLLECTION OF OVER 150 PUBLICITY PHOTOS OF MAGICIANS, S...[Photographs] Collection of Over 150 Publicity Photos of Magicians, Some Signed. American, some European, bulk 1970s-80s. Including Charlie Miller, Rene Lavand, Harry Lorayne, Darwin Ortiz, Michael Skinner, Bruce Cervon, Le Grand David, Leon Mandrake, Ed Marlo, Doug Henning, Bob Haskell, Don Alan, Felix Snipes, Jimmy Grippo, Frank Shields, Stewart James, Larry Jennings, Sid Lorraine, Tomsoni, Mac King, Danny Dew, "Tex" McGuire, Bert Kalmar, Jeff McBride, and reprints of photos of Dai Vernon, Cardini, Houdini, Blackstone, De Kolta, John Ramsay, the Herrmanns, Eugene Laurant, and others. Most 8 x 10". Scattered duplication, several of the above with multiples from the same photo session.
• BUATIER DE KOLTA GENIUS OF
  BUATIER DE KOLTA GENIUS OF ILLUSION.Warlock, Peter. Buatier de Kolta Genius of Illusion. Pasadena: Magical Publications, 1993. From a numbered edition of 1000 copies. Blue cloth stamped in gold. Tipped-in color frontispiece. Illustrated. Tall 8vo. Very good.
• GERMAIN MASTER OF MAGICGermain,
  GERMAIN MASTER OF MAGICGermain, Karl (Charles Mattmuller). Germain Master of Magic. Cleveland: Schmitz-Horning Litho. Co., ca. 1908. Color lithographed poster bearing Germain's portrait in orange, on a black background, with flying imps. 43 x 28”. Mounted on linen. A.
• MALINI (MAX KATZ BREIT). MALINI.
  MALINI (MAX KATZ BREIT). MALINI. THE CONJUROR OF THE CE...[Australia], ca. 1925. Two-color broadside features a photographic portrait of the famous Jewish-American magician best known for his impromptu miracles, and for performing before monarchs, presidents, and society elites. 14 ¾ x 34 ¼". Minor repairs throughout image; B. The only known example of this portrait. As Ricky Jay wrote in Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women, “…Malini was the embodiment of what a magician should be – not a performer who requires a fully equipped stage, elaborate apparatus, elephants, or handcuffs to accomplish his mysteries, but one who can stand a few inches from you and with a borrowed coin, a lemon, a knife, a tumbler, or a pack of cards convince you he performs miracles.” Indeed, Malini (1873 – 1942) built his reputation on impromptu miracles, performing for socialites, heads of state, monarchs, and even tribal leaders in a long career that took him around the globe. From biting the buttons off of Senator Mark Hanna’s coat on the steps of the Capitol building (and restoring them), to transforming roasted chickens into live, flapping birds at the center of a high society dinner party, Malini made his name by surprising his audiences with unexpected moments of wonder. Posters advertising Malini are truly rare, with only one other commercially printed advertisement for him known.
• HOUDINI, HARRY. A MAGICIAN AMONG
  HOUDINI, HARRY. A MAGICIAN AMONG THE SPIRITS.Houdini, Harry (Ehrich Weiss). A Magician Among the Spirits. New York: Harper & Bros., 1924. First edition. Gilt-lettered blue cloth. Frontispiece of Houdini with Arthur Conan Doyle. Plates, illustrations. 8vo. Lightest rubbing to cloth; a near fine copy.
• RODOLFO (REZSÖ GÅCS). TOVAROSI
  RODOLFO (REZSÖ GÅCS). TOVAROSI MAGCIRKUSZ.[Hungary, ca. 1950]. An abstract portrait of a magician – presumably the Hungarian pickpocket and conjurer Rodolfo – fills the center of the image, producing cards from his mouth, each one embellished with images of acrobats, tumblers, and variety acts who took part in this Circus Revue. 22 ¼ x 33". Minor abrasions and old folds retouched; A-.
• KELLAR THE GREAT MAGICIAN.Kellar,
  KELLAR THE GREAT MAGICIAN.Kellar, Harry (Heinrich Keller). Kellar the Great Magician. Cincinnati: Strobridge Litho., 1894. Half-sheet (30 x 19 ") color lithograph. An iconic poster design, introducing the whispering devils that would be copied endlessly afterward. Linen backed. Short closed tear near left margin; several losses to outer margins; main image bright and clean. A-.
• "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.
• SORCAR JR., PRATUL CHANDRA.
  SORCAR JR., PRATUL CHANDRA. MAGICIAN P.C. SORCAR JUNIOR...India, ca. 1975 [?]. Striking stylized portrait poster of Sorcar Jr. featuring a pair of assistants. 30 x 40". A.