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Bloomsbury’s Magical Mysteries
On 1st March 2007 Bloomsbury Auctions reveals its first Magic
sale – the Properties of a Magical Gentleman!
This
spell-binding sale encompasses a huge variety of vintage apparatus, costumes,
props, antiquarian and modern books, publicity material, articles, catalogues
and autographed items as well as scarce memorabilia from the private collection
of a renowned magician. Many of the items for sale are in fact, from magicians
who delighted their audiences almost a century ago.
Aficionados of the world of magic will be able to bid for Honan’s Gong as
presented and developed by the Maskelyne family and Oswald Williams at England’s
Home of Mystery; Dante’s Duck Tub which released a stageful of ducks, his
Japanese Water Fountain which will be sold for historical interest rather
than a working prop and Dante’s original Backstage with a Magician
backcloth, complete with holes in strategic places so that real hands could
applaud or even smoke a cigar! This backcloth comes in its original skip/basket
trunk upon which Dante’s name is still discernible. Another group of items to
whet a collector’s appetite is Murray the Escapologist’s copper Dove Pan,
his distinctive orange Rabbit Presentation Pan and his Dancing
Handkerchief. Even the world renowned Harry Houdini is represented in this
remarkable sale with his Flower and Fishbowl Production, as seen on his
European tour shortly after the First World War. American magicians too are in
evidence, such as the early 20th century Howard Hurston and his Floating Ball
and Flag Vase. The sale also includes later material like David Nixon’s
Chair Suspension, an apparatus used by the popular performer who became
the face of television magic in the 60s and 70s.
The plethora of magician’s names represented in Bloomsbury’s first ever Magic
sale even embraces The Great Levante, Al Flosso, John Mulholland, The Great
Masoni and George Grimmond to name but a few. The names of the manufacturers and
dealers of the distinctive apparatus used, will thrill collectors and include
Merv Taylor, Thayer, Massey, Ken Brooke, Richard Himber and Collectors’
Workshop.
© Bloomsbury Auctions, January 2007.