Potter & Potter Auctions
Live Auction

Houdini Returns: The Centennial Auction

Sat, Oct 31, 2026 04:00PM EDT
  2026-10-31 16:00:00 2026-10-31 16:00:00 America/New_York Potter & Potter Auctions Potter & Potter Auctions : Houdini Returns: The Centennial Auction https://auction.potterauctions.com/auctions/potter-potter/houdini-returns-the-centennial-auction-23392
Marking 100 years since the death of Harry Houdini, Potter & Potter will present a landmark sale of Houdini memorabilia on October 31, 2026 at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. The sale brings to the public for the very first time 100 historic items from the collection of Kevin Connolly, many of which were personally owned by Houdini.

PURCHASE CATALOG

PURCHASE DELUXE CATALOG

 Potter & Potter Auctions info@potterauctions.com
View Catalog (100)

Prev Lot
Next Lot
HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 - 1926). The Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artist.
Lot 53

HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 - 1926). The Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artist.

Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Inquire
Starting Bid
$1,000
Bid increments chart

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). The Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artist. Leicester: Willsons’, 1920. 8vo. Off-white Pictorial wrappers. Illustrated. 43pp. The lower wrap bears an ad for the feature film Terror Island starring Houdini. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED IN INK on the front wrapper by Houdini to a fellow magician: "To Prof. Calvert Cole / with the hope that this book will pass a few interesting moments / Houdini / Sept 24/20." 

A rare issue of this popular "pitch book," a term used for souvenir pamphlets offered for sale after a theater show. Houdini circulated this  publication for years, and later issues regularly come to market, but this is only the second example of this "revised 1920 edition" we have offered for sale at auction. 

Condition

Pages browned and chipped, a few with closed tears. Rear wrap with large loss at corner. Several old tape repairs. Last leaf loose. Intact and complete, but fragile. Fair. 

Available payment options

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Amex
  • Diners
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Union Pay

If your bid is successful, as an alternative to in-house shipping, we can provide you with a list of shippers. We will not be responsible for the acts or omissions of carriers or packers whether or not recommended by us. Property will not be released to the shipper without the buyer's written consent and until payment has been made in full. Packing and handling by us of purchased lots is at the entire risk of the purchaser, and Potter and Potter Auctions, Inc. will have no liability of any loss or damage to such items. Packing and shipping expenses shall be added to buyer's invoice and will reflect a charge for labor, materials, insurance, transportation, as well as actual shipper fees.

Kevin Connolly collection. 

Follow Us

Auctions

Specialties

Potter & Potter

Contents and design copyright © Potter & Potter Auctions.