Germain (Charles Mattmuller). Magician Karl Germain’s “Work” Trunk and Magic Apparatus. Circa 1905. Massive metal-bound traveling trunk owned and used by famed Chautauqua and Lyecum magician Karl Germain. The interior contains three trays, two still laden with apparatus and tools of the magician’s trade. Among the objects included are a fine Beaver top hat with internal compartment for transforming one object into another, a large spun brass Rice Vase, various sets of Diminishing and trick cards (several with metal gimmicks), fine and large brass Card Tripod/pedestal, a heavy candlestick with secret spring-loaded mechanism for rotating the top of the stick, a large and heavy wooden obedient ball, a fine crystal Spirit Bell with ringer in padded wooden case, as well as several magic wands, and various packs of cards and card tricks. Two of the latter are in boxes addressed to Frederick Eugene Powell, Germain’s contemporary. Germain’s name has been painted on the sides of the trunk in bold, white paint, now faded. Trunk manufactured by the Likly & Rockett Co. of Cleveland, Germain’s home town. Overall dimensions of 36 x 22 x 25”. Exterior of trunk brittle and cracked, especially bottom panel. Accompanied by two letters from Paul Fleming to John Henry Grossman related to the trunk and specifically mentioning Germain’s hat for “switching.” A unique and special relic from one of magic’s great inventive minds. Address labels on the trunk clearly trace its ownership, from Germain to his assistant and successor Paul Fleming, to Dr. John Henry Grossman. The cards in boxes addressed to F.E. Powell – Germain’s confidant and contemporary – also point to Paul Fleming’s close association with several giants in the annals of American conjuring, as Fleming applied for jobs with, and was later good friends with, most of the great magicians who worked on these rural American circuits between 1900 and 1930. Fleming eventually took over Germain’s route and performed using Germain’s name and props, and went on to own (and later sell) many of the devices used by Germain, Powell, an others in their shows.