Houdini Returns: The Centennial Auction
Sat, Oct 31, 2026 04:00PM EDT
Lot 53
HOUDINI, Harry (Erik Weisz, 1874 - 1926). The Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artist.
Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Sold for
$8,400
Sold Price includes BP
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 (and the only inscribed and signed example we are acquainted with).
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
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Kevin Connolly collection.
