Hocus Pocus: Potter & Potter Auctions’ Ricky Jay Collection Part II Sale

Potter & Potter Auctions of Chicago, IL will present its Ricky Jay Collection Part II sale on October 28, 2023. This event is the second offering of materials from the estate of actor, magician, and author Ricky Jay (1946 – 2018). A passionate collector and student of history, Jay curated his own 10,000-piece collection of magic, circus, gambling, and show business ephemera. Potter & Potter Auctions’ first Ricky Jay event was held in February of 2023. It realized over USD 980,000. Here are some intriguing lots from this next sale that caught the eye of the Auction Daily team.

This celebrity auction features over 100 century-spanning books on all things chicanery. Many are first editions or presentation copies, are signed, or have other premier distinctions. Lot #145, Jonathan H. Green’s (1813 – 1887) An Exposure of The Arts and Miseries of Gambling, is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000. This first edition was printed in Cincinnati by U. P. James in 1843. The book includes chapters on Mississippi River gambling boats, con men, counterfeiters, pickpockets, and other illegal activities.

According to Potter & Potter’s experts, this is the first American work to expose the tricks of crooked gamblers and the first book by Green, whose fame stemmed from the many books and lectures he wrote under the pretense of being a “reformed” gambler. Green officially “retired” from gambling in 1842. He joined the New York Association for the Suppression of Gambling shortly after. There, he produced a comprehensive report on illegal gambling operations throughout the Big Apple and later toured the states as a lecturer on the topic.

Ricky Jay’s collection included a library of vintage to antique posters promoting legacy performers and venues of yesteryear. Almost 90 premier examples are included in this sale. Lot #225, Manuel Orazi’s (1860 – 1934) L’HIPPODROME, is estimated at $3,000 to $5,000. This color lithograph was printed in Paris by the Societe d’Impressions d’Art Industriel in 1905. This rare, smaller version of this legacy advertisement is matted. It features a stunning young woman dressed in an elaborate Art Nouveau dress and matching headpiece, riding a rearing black stallion.

The location noted on this elegant poster is perhaps The Hippodrome de Montmartre, which was located on Paris’ boulevard de Clichy. The building was constructed in 1899 by architects Cambon, Galeron, and Duray. It could hold 5,000 attendees and was an entertainment venue, hosting circus shows, theater performances, and sporting events. Hippodrome is derived from the ancient Greek word for a stadium designed for horse and chariot racing.

Also on offer through this sale of the Ricky Jay Collection are a number of photographs and photographic collections, many featuring sideshow acts, magicians, performers, and otherworldly phenomenon. Lot #36, a spirit photograph of Ricky Jay and President Abraham Lincoln, is estimated at $1,500 to $2,500. It was produced by Stephen Berkman around 2005. This large format silver gelatin example is signed by the artist and measures 14 inches by 11 inches. It pictures a seated Mr. Jay with the ghostly image of Abraham Lincoln posed behind him with one hand stretched out over Mr. Jay’s shoulder.

Spirit photography has its origins in the mid to late 19th century. Its purpose was to find and document ghosts on film. Some fraudulent businesses ran studios to take images of people with their dead friends or relatives. It is possible that Jay had this image made, as he was very interested in John Wyman (1816 – 1881), another magician who entertained President Lincoln in person four times over the course of his career.

Prints and drawings showing circus and sideshow performances are also well represented in this red carpet event. Lot #66, Yoshu (Hashimoto) Chikanobu’s (Japanese, 1838 – 1912) Illustration of the Imperial Excursion to See the Great Chiarini’s Circus, is estimated at $1,500 to $2,500. This Meiji color woodblock triptych was printed in November of 1886 and published by Shohei Komiya in Japan. It pictures equestrians, acrobats, horses, and an elephant giving a performance to an audience of dignitaries. 

The circus referenced here belonged to Giuseppe Chiarini (1823 – 1897), who was considered the most important circus director of the 19th century. He took his entourage all over the world to perform, often to locations that had not experienced a circus before. Over time, his circus performed for world leaders including Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, Maximilian I of Mexico, Dom Pedro of Brazil, Emperor Mitsuhito of Japan, King Rama V of Siam, and many others. Given the date of the woodblock print, it is possible that the image includes Emperor Mutsuhito, who reigned from 1867 to 1912.

This sale rounds out with category-spanning ephemera and archives, including letters, manuscripts, correspondence, musical scores, diaries, and other paper-based materials. Lot #287, a collection of Tom Thumb (born Charles Stratton, 1838 – 1883) ephemera and publications, is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500. These include a Tom Thumb paper doll, multiple photos and images of Mr. Thumb, a reproduction autograph, a children’s book featuring the performer, sheet music from Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren’s wedding, a handbill, and other items.  

For more information on the Ricky Jay Collection sale and to place a bid, visit Potter & Potter Auctions’ website. 

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