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Magicana of the Golden Age

Sat, Jun 20, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-06-20 11:00:00 2026-06-20 11:00:00 America/New_York Potter & Potter Auctions Potter & Potter Auctions : Magicana of the Golden Age https://auction.potterauctions.com/auctions/potter-potter/magicana-of-the-golden-age-22866
Highlights of this closely-curated sale include remarkable rarities from the golden age of conjuring: a diverse array of Houdiniana, Victorian magic apparatus, relics from the stages of St. George's Hall, rare posters, select modern props, and choice ephemera. Purchase Catalog
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Lot 29

Houdini Hand-Drawn Diagram of a Lock Picking Device.

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500
Starting Bid
$750

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$30 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 - 1926). Houdini Hand-Drawn Diagram of a Lock Picking Device. Circa 1910. On a single sheet of hotel stationery, and bearing a typed description of a lock picking device: "This feke will act to open 3 to 4 pin lock, get clock spring and file to this shape...." Beside the description is a sketch of the device and several notes in Houdini's hand in pencil, "Yale 3 pin lock," "Main spring steel rough edge." 4 1/4 x 8 1/2".

Houdini's handwritten notes on lock picking, methods for magic tricks, and the secrets to his escapes seldom come to auction. 

Condition

Right edge ragged and toned, splitting at old central folds. 

Overall Dimensions
Weight: 1.00 lbs

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