Blackstone, Harry (Henry Boughton). Harry Blackstone’s Vanishing Birdcage. The prop for one of Blackstone’s most famous feats, in which a brass birdcage bound in red ribbon vanished from between the great magician’s hands – twice – in the blink of an eye. With an attached silk ribbon “pull”. Housed in a box bearing notations inside in George Hippisley’s handwriting, stating, “Blackstone’s Van. Bird Cage – Taken off his coat & given to me 1957 –“. Laid in the box is a typewritten note from Hippisley titled “Instructions for the vanish.” The note states, in part, “Harry’s instructions to me at the moment he gave me this cage in 1957 are as follows: …the success of the vanish depends on the position of the hand… .” The note goes on to give concise instructions on how the trick works. Here, then, is one of the iconic effects from Blackstone’s show, sold together with his own method for performing it, with strongly documented record of ownership.