Potter & Potter Auctions
Live Auction

Houdiniana

Sat, Apr 8, 2023 12:00PM EDT
Lot 194

[VENTRILOQUIST] SLINGSBY, Captain. Captain Slingsby the Man...

Estimate: $150 - $250

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
[VENTRILOQUIST] SLINGSBY, Captain. Captain Slingsby the Man of Many Voices. Liverpool: S. Griffith & Co., 1890. Pictorial letterpress broadside in two colors for a variety show at the Argyle Theatre of Varieties, Birkenhead, featuring the ventriloquist billed as ?the best in his line.? 30 ? x 9 ??. Two tiny losses; A-. Unmounted. The image at the top of the bill shows a pre-figure (or pre-?dummy?) ventriloquial performance, in which Slingsby not only imitates the voices of different characters, but plays each part in costume, as well. It was not until years later that the modern style of ventriloquism, with a figure on the performer?s knee, was popularized.