Houdini props sell in Vegas auction

Several rare Houdini’s props and posters were sold at The Pugliese Pop Culture Collection auction (advertised as the finest collection focusing on 20th Century pop culture ever privately assembled) held this weekend in Las Vegas.

Among the rarities where a full color billboard advertising Houdni’s straight-jacket escape ($27,500.00), an untypical milk can ($13,000), a travailing show truck ($20,000), a mailbag ($8,000), and a burlap full body straight jacket ($22,000).

Surprisingly, one item that didn’t sell was a packing crate said be the one Houdini used in his "Overboard Box" escapes. This is certainly a historic piece of Houdiniana, and considering the opening price of $20,000 was below some of the above realized prices, it’s surprising no one bid. The auction estimate was $40,000 to $60,000.

Many of the items in auction were once on display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada. Several items were first sold at a Butterfield & Butterfield auction in Los Angeles in 1999.