HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 - 1926). Houdini TLS to Joseph Dunninger. Dated Sept. 1925 and typed on a plain piece of 4to paper, Houdini discusses an illusion with his fellow magician in detail: "Have had one H--- of a time with the Slicing Woman. The paint was sticky, all of the boards warped. We had to completely make it over. The boys worked on it the best part of last week and all day Sunday until seven o'clock. The idea is great - the apparatus crude. Am well satisfied and hope to make something out of it."

He goes on to describe other illusions: a "chicken coop" and Trunk of All Nations (Costume Trunk) and Noah's Ark, mentioning a possible sale to Adelaide Herrmann of the trunk trick. 

Boldly SIGNED in pencil, "Houdini" with a post-script announcing his appearance in Worcester, Mass. the following week. Framed together with the original mailing cover and a portrait of Dunninger and Houdini upside down in the Water Torture Cell. 14 x 19".

A fascinating missive regarding Houdini's illusion that capitalized on the Sawing a Woman craze of the 1920s. In this effect, the woman was cut into eight pieces with Houdini's niece, Julia Sawyer, serving as the magician's imperiled assistant. The effect may have been first presented in Worcester on the date mentioned in this letter, but did not remain a feature of the show for long, as Houdini's tour ceased just one month later in Detroit due to his hospitalization and untimely death. 

Typed message faded.