Description:

Harry Price Harry Houdini
London, England, ca. October 1928 to January 1929
H. Price Archive on Fraudulent Seance and Houdini's Library
Archive

Six typed letters signed on National Laboratory of Psychical Research letterhead measuring 8" x 10". Written by Harry Price, the letters are dated October 25, 1928 to January 18, 1929 and are addressed to Graf Carl von Klinckowstroem, who played an important role in exposing the fraudulent activities of Viennese medium Karl Kraus (alias Karl Weber). Price writes that he has obtained Kraus' manuscript of his "confession" and his plans for its publication. Signed in black ink, "Harry Price." With flattened folds and file holes in the left margin of all letters.

Price confirms in his October 25, 1928 letter that he purchased Kraus' manuscript "confession." He elaborates the following week in a letter dated November 5: "According to my agreement with Kraus… I have bought the entire rights of his MS. in every country. Also the right to reproduce in either serial or book form and he is forbidden to offer any other copy of this MS. or an imitation to any person. I have also bought the translation rights into any language…I knew Kraus would try and do something further with his MS. If I have good evidence that he has sold another copy of my MS. or a ‘colorable imitation' of it, I shall proceed against him----if I can find him." He adds news that "Houdini's library was dispersed. Most of it went to the Congress Library, but I have many items, including a lot of Davenport Brothers' showbills and pamphlets."

In the early 1920s, Karl Kraus produced alleged physical phenomena that attracted the attention of European psychical researchers and was initially considered to be genuine. Klinckowstroem became interested after doubts began to circulate about the authenticity of the séances and the methods used to control them. After careful research and review of the evidence presented by investigators, he concluded that the manifestations attributed to Kraus were the result of deliberate trickery rather than genuine paranormal phenomena. The controversy effectively ended when Kraus himself admitted the deception and provided a written confession – the manuscript discussed in Price's letters.

Price's letters dated November 15 and 21mention Baron Albert von Schrenck-Notzing, who had regarded Kraus' seances as potentially genuine. The subsequent discovery of fraud was damaging to Schrenck's work. Price alludes to this in the November 21 letter: "There was an idea at one time that the American S.P.R. [Society for Psychical Research] might publish the MS. but I think they are afraid of offending Schrenck." He confirms this in the last letter in the group, dated January 18, 1929: "I have heard nothing from America as to whether they intend on publishing and English edition of the Kraus MS. which appears to be dying a natural death."

Much like Harry Houdini, Price believed many spiritualist phenomena were produced by trickery. They knew of each other, and Houdini collaborated with both the European and American branches of the Society for Psychical Research.

A great content and association group of letters directly addressing a well-known instance of fraud. Price later included discussion of the Kraus manuscript in his 1933 book, "Leaves from a Psychist's Case-Book."

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: Archive

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