Secrets for Sale: Rare Magic Memorabilia at Auction Rarities from one of the world's finest private collections of magic memorabilia go on the block on October 29th, 2011 in Chicago.
News-Antique.com - Oct 05,2011 - The Salon de Magie is Ken Klosterman's legendary private collection of magicana - artifacts and rarities related to the history of conjuring. Universally recognized as one of the finest private repositories of magicana in the world, The Salon de Magie and its curator have been featured in dozens and dozens of television shows and international publications over the last 30 years.
Now, for the first time at public auction, selected items from the collection will go on the auction block.
The sale will feature a wide range of material, with a focus on magic props -- known as "apparatus" in the trade. In addition to devious antique devices that cause items to vanish and appear, props used by famous magicians, including Houdini, will be offered in the auction.
The star lot in the sale is a musical automaton built by Louis Lambert of Paris, ca. 1910. The automaton was built in the form of a clown magician.
Of specific interest to magic collectors will be an assortment of magic props manufactured by the firm of F.G. Thayer & Co. of Los Angeles, a premier builder of illusions and tricks from wood and metal, which opened its doors in 1902, and is still in business today.
Rounding out the sale will be an assortment of memorabilia, autographs, vintage books, and early lithographed posters used by many of the great magicians of the 20th century.
The auction will be conducted on Saturday, October 29th by Potter & Potter Auctions of Chicago. Exhibition will be held at Potter & Potter's gallery in Chicago from October 25 - 28. Live internet bidding will be hosted by Liveauctioneers.com.
