The Magic Collection of Jim Rawlins • III

This third part of Jim Rawlins’ magic collection will be presented by Potter & Potter Auctions. Nearly 500 lots of vintage memorabilia are offered, including several works relating to Harry Houdini. Featured is a life-size bust of Houdini that was housed in Niagara Falls’ Houdini Museum of Magic. It is made of plasticine-clay and shows the stage performer in a jacket and bowtie. Another Houdini item of interest is a set of two pocket mirrors and small portraits. Fewer than ten of these miniature portraits—depicting Houdini and his wife, Bess—are known. Several pieces of wood, two nails, and a piece of broken glass from Houdini’s water torture cell are presented as well. 

Memorabilia from other magicians will be available, including a watch mirror and pistol from David Bamberg. Better known by his stage name, Fu Manchu, Bamberg would place a borrowed watch in a cone at the end of his magician’s pistol. When fired at the small mirror, the glass would shatter to reveal the watch hanging from the frame. A Doug Henning jumpsuit is also included. The piece is decorated with a silver and red lightning bolt on light pink fabric. Henning wore the jumpsuit for publicity photographs around 1979. View the complete catalog for this auction and place a bid by visiting Potter & Potter Auctions.