Princess program commands a royal $7,800

Every auction has its surprises, and in today's Potter & Potter auction of Vintage & Modern Magic, the Houdini surprise was this program from his 1926 run at the Princess Theatre in Chicago. The lot had a $150-$300 estimate. But when the hammer fell after 48 bids, it sold for $7,800 (including buyer's premium).

This is a beauty and a nice artifact from the longest engagement of Houdini's 3 Shows in One (eight weeks), but I have no idea why it reached such heights! Perhaps the excellent condition or the association to magician George Schulte had something to do with this. Whatever the reason, I'm sure it will be loved!

If you're wild about this Chicago engagement, check out my related links below.

Congrats to all the sellers and winners in today's auction.

Related:

• The talk of Chicago
• Houdini never ceases to surprise
• The Benninghofen confession