Description:

HARRY HOUDINI
(1874 - 1926) American magician known for his ability to extricate himself from handcuffs and locked and sealed containers of all kinds, and campaigned against mind readers, mediums, and other charlatans. HOUDINI HUNTS DOWN FRAUDS AND CHARLATANS Superb content T.L.S. ‘Houdini' on his personal letterhead, 2pp. 4to., New York, Aug. 3, 1925, to GRAF KARL VON KLINCKOWSTROEM (1884-1969), a German research scientist who wrote about water divining and other parapsychological subjects. In part: ‘…I appeared before the Grand Jury in Boston several weeks ago with evidence against Rev. Dr. Frederick A. Wiggin and other fraudulent mediums. I detected his tricks. He used a pair of black silk eye glasses, but was supposed not to be able to see through them, but for the Grand Jury, I showed exactly how you can read any message with those blinding (?) glasses attached to your eyes. My private secretary looks like a little girl. She obtained a seance and as I had rehearsed with her before she went to his rooms, she detected every move he did. They have been indicated and I will be called as a witness some time next month. Directly and indirectly, through my efforts there have been more mediums arrested in the past twelve years than any ten years, since the Fox Sisters mothered spirit rappings. There were seventy arrested in Los Angeles and the Head of the organization was fined. There were over two dozen arrested in San Francisco, twenty-five in Cleveland and here in New York City, Mrs. Cecil M. Cook who one time published a paper in Chicago called ‘Communication' is on trial for fortune telling. There is no law against Spiritualism, so they use the fortune telling as a technical point. And about fourteen arrests in Boston…I have challenged Dr. Pierre Keeler who had been a spirit slate writer for fifty-five years, Mrs. Laura A. Pruden for fifty years and Miss Ada Bessinet of Toledo…I am investigating a number of mediums for the Scientific American. Visited one in Philadelphia who made an alarm clock stop, but she did it by a rapid twist of the wrist. When I wound up the clock she failed to stop it. You mention ‘Bellachini' of Berlin. The real Bellachini whose name was Belach has been dead for years. You will find him mentioned in my book. That story about Slade having three hands is ‘Mumpitz'. He did not die in London, but in Battle Creek, Michigan, I believe in 1896. Am having his grave sought for. Prof. S. S. Baldwin told me several times and I made distinct notes at the time that he stripped Slade stark nude and the only abnormality that he found was that Slade was a hermaphrodite…' Lightly stained with some file holes, otherwise very good. Throughout the later part of his career, Houdini would go on a campaign debunking many psychics around the United States, even sponsoring several cash prizes to be presented to any mediums who displayed any genuine attributes – none came close. This was written during a time when spiritualism was on the decline in the United States, but Houdini's efforts were seen as a violation of religious tolerance by those who still believed. Paperclip stain at top of first page, marginal file holes affecting only one letter in text, else near fine.

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April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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