Two Hardeen scrapbooks sell BIG in Christopher Collection auction

Two original scrapbooks belonging to Houdini's brother, Theo. Hardeen, blew away their estimates of $600-$1,200 in the Martinka & Co. auction of magic memorabilia from the collection of Milbourne Christopher held today in New York.

The first scrapbook, "Newspaper Notices, T.W. Hardeen", comprising over 50 pages of newspaper clippings from 1916, sold for an amazing $22,500! The second scrapbook, dated 1927 and containing challenge notices, letters of congratulations, newspaper articles mentioning Hardeen as Houdini's successor and original photographs, sold for a whopping $30,000! (Add 20% commission to these prices.)

Houdini items also saw some high-priced action. An original manuscript for Magic in Boston 1792-1918, which was researched and written for Houdini by H. J. Moulton, sold for $40,000. A Houdini/Kellar letter went for $32,500. A rare unused Houdini window decal nabbed $3,750. A signed copy of Robert-Houdin’s Confidences sold for $30,000. A copy signed by Houdini grabbed $9000.