Sunday, April 9, 2023

Houdini's spirit cabinet scares up $50K at auction

A spirit cabinet effect that Houdini performed as a "near perfect" escape at the New York Hippodrome in 1925 sold for $50,400 (including buyers premium) in yesterday's Potter & Potter auction of Houdiniana. This was the big seller of the 128 Houdini-related lots.

The bulk of the lots came from the collection of our friend Robert Somerdin who explained why it was time to sell in a special statement on the Potter website.

The other big ticket item was a straitjacket ($45,600) and a Houdini packing case said to have come 278 and once used to hold straitjackets. Bidding reached $32,000, but it did not meet the reserve and was a rare pass.

Overall, it was an auction of some surprises. Who would have ever thought a Margery pamphlet would sell for more than a Grim Game pressbook?

You can check out the lots with their prices realized at the Potter & Potter website.

Congrats to all the winners!

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7 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaApril 9, 2023 at 2:26 PM

    Was this Spirit Cabinet escape supposed to take the place of the USD?

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    1. John CoxApril 9, 2023 at 2:35 PM

      Sid Radner used to say that. I'm skeptical. This wasn't an original HH creation. I think HH improved on it, but as a spiritualist effect it dates back to at least 1905. I think if anything was set to replace the USD, it was Buried Alive.

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    2. Leo HeviaApril 10, 2023 at 9:37 AM

      The Potter catalog did mention this and I was wondering what your thoughts were. I wonder where Radner got that idea, possibly from Hardeen. Houdini may have told him the cabinet was a possible contender to replace the USD.

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    3. John CoxApril 10, 2023 at 9:49 AM

      Yeah, I would think Sid would have heard it from Hardeen.

      There is correspondence between Sid and Hardeen that sold at auction a few years back. I would love to read these letters as they made hold some answers. I thought DC had won them, but I could not find them at the museum.

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    4. Leo HeviaApril 10, 2023 at 2:16 PM

      I remember that Potter auction. Had to be about 6 or 7 seven years ago. It had a lot of Hardeen letters to Radner.

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  2. AnonymousApril 11, 2023 at 1:10 PM

    I enjoyed the auction, some strange prices…
    But why does Gabe have it this time of year?
    Easter weekend and tax time, if I was Robert I
    wouldn’t be too happy.

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    Replies
    1. John CoxApril 11, 2023 at 5:22 PM

      This year tax day is October 15th. And Easter didn't stop me!
      But I agree there were some strange prices. Both high and low.

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