#Houdini king of cards poster free#

Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about memorabilia auctions. Hooper, the Second Houdini, came out of the remote, segregated town of Fernandina. “Several outlets wondered if we’d set a new world record. “Chatter on social media included considerable speculation about just how high the price would go. Gabe Fajuri, president of Potter & Potter, said: “Advance buzz for the auction was high, and especially for the Houdini posters. It was printed in Chicago in 1898, a year before Houdini got his big break performing an escape routine on the Orpheum Vaudeville circuit. This poster shows magician Harry Houdini performing card tricks. Houdini would be manacled upside down in a glass tank filled with water, before a curtain closed around him.Ī stagehand would be posted with a fire axe nearby.Īs the minutes ticked agonisingly away and audience tension reached its peak, Houdini would emerge soaking wet from behind the curtain.Īnother Houdini poster, titled The King of Cards, realised $24,000. But I can see how it makes sense, especially for a traveling show. Ive never heard of a poster from this era printed on fabric (and would love to be educated). Houdini’s King of Cards poster (late 19th century) features cardistry flourishes.

In reality, Houdini was performing in small carnivals and vaudeville stages at this time, for very low pay. One thing that stood out for me was an original King of Cards poster made of 'fabric'. Cardistry is the art of creating fascinating motions and formations with cards or card-shaped objects.

Forms part of: Magic poster collection (Library of Congress) Forms part of: McManu. The poster depicts Houdini in profile, looking very dressed up and fancy. Harry Houdini, king of cards - Public domain portrait print. The illusion is among the most famous ever performed. Printed in 1895, the King Of Cards poster advertised Houdini's performance sty le BEFORE he became famous for his escapes. It was the lead lot of a February 4 auction at magic specialist Potter & Potter in Chicago.

The previous record was $55,000, set for another poster advertising Houdini’s illusion in 2004. Houdini's Water Torture Cell was among his most celebrated illusions That makes it the most valuable magic poster ever sold at auction. It soared past its estimate of $80,000 by 42.5%. A 1912 poster for Houdini’s Water Torture Cell has sold for a world record $114,000.