Crossini, James. ?Houdini? Escape Trunk of James Crossini. A finely made mahogany ?Brooks? trunk bound with brass hardware, owned and used by James Crossini, a British escape artist, and who billed it as a trunk owned and used by Harry Houdini. In effect, the performer made his escape from the locked trunk after being sealed inside by a committee from the audience, but also after the trunk had been fastened inside a canvas cover. With keys. 22 x 38 x 23 ??. A few marks of wear at the hinges and on the exterior from use, but overall a handsome and finely built example of Herbert Brooks?s masterfully designed escape trunk. Accompanied by a TLS of provenance from Crossini?s one-time assistant Ronnie Marshall, stating that he ?understood [the trunk] belonged to Houdini.? Crossini billed the trunk has ?Houdini?s own ?10,000 Trunk Mystery. Sold together with a quantity of ephemera related to the history of and Crossini?s performances with the trunk, including a series of photographs of the trunk in use on stage, two 8 x 10? photos of Crossini with the trunk, a handwritten outline of his trunk routine, and four large letterpress posters advertising Crossini?s performance of the trunk on various British music hall shows.