Houdini Poster Discovered in Chicago Basement Goes to Auction A rare poster for Harry Houdini, printed in 1902, was discovered in a Chicago basement last year, along with 100 other rare posters. They go up for auction on March 26, 2011.
News-Antique.com - Mar 07,2011 - Rare Houdini Poster Discovered in Chicago Basement Goes up for Auction
March 1, 2011 -- Chicago, IL
Over 100 rare and valuable vintage magic posters were discovered in a suburban Chicago home last
year. The prize among them is a rare poster advertising Harry Houdini, of which only five examples are
known.
The Houdini poster, and the others in the collection, will be featured in Potter & Potter’s auction of rare
posters on March 26th in Chicago.
“These posters were one man’s collection, but had been in storage for decades,” said Gabe Fajuri,
president of Potter & Potter. “Finding them all in one fell swoop was the kind of discovery collectors
and consignors dream of. It was obvious to me – immediately on seeing the collection – that we had
uncovered something very special. It would take a lifetime to build a collection like this.” Now all of the
images will go up for sale.
Most of the posters were purchased in the 1970s, before the explosion of interest in collecting began.
At that time, vintage lithographs of this nature rarely traded hands for more than $50. Today, however,
prices are significantly higher. “That’s what makes this exciting,” Fajuri added. “This is the kind of ‘big
find’ you see on TV, but never expect to happen to you.”
In The Houdini image the most important and valuable of the posters in the collection. It carries a pre-
auction estimate of $15,000/$20,000. The lithograph depicts Houdini, locked in handcuffs and standing
in front of a judge and jury at the royal court of Cologne, Germany in 1902. After being decried a fraud
by a German police officer, Houdini brought suit against the policeman for slander – and won. One
of the savviest publicists of all time, Houdini commissioned the poster to capitalize on the favorable
verdict. It was printed in 1902.
Dozens of other magicians’ posters were in the collection. Another highlight is a rare eight-sheet (7 x 9’)
billboard advertising The Great Nicola, who also performed escapes and stunts, ala Houdini. The massive
poster (est. $2,500/$3,500), one of only three examples known, includes vignettes of Nicola’s crowd-
drawing stunts – escaping from prison cells, water-filled cans, tied to a railroad track, and from shackles
and handcuffs.
But, Fajuri cautions, “The auction will include posters in every price range, as many modestly priced,
attractive vintage posters were among those we found.” Small window cards advertising Howard
Thurston, one of Houdini’s rivals (and the subject of a new book by Jim Steinmeyer), are among the
affordable pieces in the auction, with one iconic portrait of the great magician carrying a starting bid of
only $80. Vintage circus posters, including one advertising an early appearance of P.T. Barnum, will also
be featured.
An illustrated catalog of all of the posters is available from Potter & Potter.
Exhibition takes place March 22 - 25, 10 am - 5 pm. The auction begins at 11 am on March 26th, and will be carried on Liveauctioneers.com,
