1908 Houdini Society of american magicians Souvenir Program 

Overly rare and original, Houdini Society Of American Magicians (S.A.M.) souvenir program on playing cards. A wonderful keepsake from the 4th Annual Dinner of the Society of American Magicians on June 4, 1908 at the Hotel Marlborough, New York. The program printed on four plaid-back playing cards, punched in the corner and bound with string. Houdini is listed as the second act of the night, following Harry Kellar. Houdini entertaining all attendees with the famous Hindoo Needle Trick. The remaining entertainers of the night were Horace Goldin, Imro Fox, T. Nelson Downs, Signor Deadato, Roltare, Francis Werner, and Laureyns. 

1923 Elliott’s Last Legacy: Harry Houdini 

Harry Houdini: Elliott’s Last Legacy. New York: Adams Press Print, 1923. Red cloth stamped in black. Portrait frontispiece of Dr. Elliott, profusion of illustrations. Elliott's Last Legacy contains the work of champion card manipulator Dr. James William Elliott, who died before he completed this book. Elliott's collaborator, Clinton Burgess, turned to Houdini for assistance in finishing it and getting it published. Dr. Elliott was the Champion Card Manipulator of the World and offered a $10,000 prize to anyone willing to challenge him. He used to rent two hotel rooms wherever he stayed, one to live in, and the other one to practice in. It is full of interesting card work, methods, and effects.

1902 harry houdini palace theatre halifax advertisment

October 1902 original advertisement from The Encore theatrical paper. "The Sensational Jail breaker HARRY HOUDINI, The Original Handcuff King of The World."  Scarce advertisement of the return of Houdini to England for the week of October 13th, at the Palace Theatre Halifax. The bottom caption reads as follows: "HOUDINI has escapes out of four prisons in America. June 1902, he escaped out of the cell at Police Headquarters, Hague, Holland. In November the Police of Paris refused to lock him up in a cell, despite the fact that HOUDINI offered to pay to any charitable institution 5,000 francs if he failed to escape."  An awesome piece of Houdini history.

 original Houdini picture corporation photograph of Houdini on movie set

Early 1920s original Houdini Picture Corporation photograph of the legendary Houdini supervising a movie shoot on location. The photograph also includes his wife Bess and an production assistant. Harry Houdini starred in five films. The first three were "The Master Mystery" in 1918, "The Grim Game" in 1919 and "Terror Island" in 1920. He then started his own film production company named Houdini Picture Corporation. Over the next two years, Houdini made and starred in two more films, named "The Man From Beyond" in 1921 and "Haldane and the Secret Service" in 1923. Houdini received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for these works and his contributions in these films. 

1921 Houdini signed letter on Houdini picture corp. letterhead

Extremely rare and original typed letter on Houdini Picture Corporation letterhead signed by Harry Houdini in New York: Sept 15, 1921. Typed and signed on Brookdale watermarked paper, to fellow magician and author George Schulte, thanking Schulte for sending his book “Patter Paragraphs”, and Houdini writes "Busy working on a new picture." A special artifact of Houdini history. 

1909 LIFE, HISTORY AND HANDCUFF SECRETS OF HOUDINI

​Original 1909, Life, History and Handcuff Secrets of Houdini publication. Leicester: Willsons' Printers, 1909. Pictorial wrappers showing Houdini in wrist and leg restraints within a shaded border. Illustrated. 8vo. 32pp. A nice early piece of Houdini and magic history. ​

1904 houdini's great victory - the daily illustrated mirror

(LEFT) March 18, 1904. The Daily Illustrated Mirror newspaper. "Houdini's Great Victory." For weeks throughout London, England, the event had been published and spoken about. A representative from The Daily Mirror would participate to the challenge made from Houdini to come forward and successfully manacle him. ​The incredible details of the events that took place are documented in this rare depiction. A wonderful read and a part of Houdini importance. The Daily Mirror was launched on November 2nd 1903 by Lord Northcliffe. It was not an immediate success and in 1904 Northcliffe decided to turn it into a pictorial newspaper with a broader focus. The name was changed to The Daily Illustrated Mirror, which ran from January 1904 to April 1904, when it reverted back to The Daily Mirror. The front page was mainly photographs. Circulation grew to 466,000 making it the second-largest British morning newspaper and is a huge success to this very day.

​(RIGHT) ​1904 The Daily illustrated Mirror newspaper. The actual telegram newspaper article response from Houdini himself to the Daily Mirror after the Challenge written in the "Houdini's Great Victory." A very nice slice of Houdinana history!

1914 houdini water torture cell poster

1924 original Houdini Strobridge Lithograph Co. Houdini Presents His Own Original Invention The Greatest Sensational Mystery Ever Attempted In This Or Any Other Age. $1,000 Reward to any one proving that it is possible to obtain air in the UP-SIDE-DOWN position in which Houdini releases himself from this water filled torture cell. Poster shows Houdini held captive upside down in a looked tank of water with a strong giant holding him in. ​

1903 Mr. and Mrs. Houdini PHOTOGRAPH - the music hall and theatre review

June 19, 1903, The Music Hall and Theatre Review. Rare full-page Photograph of Harry Houdini and Bess Houdini surrounded by an illustrated floral scene. Bess and Houdini were married in 1894, and then became known as "The Houdini's." For the rest of Houdini's performing career, his beloved Bess worked as his stage assistant. Rare!