Description:

Harry Houdini
New York, NY, June 29, 1926
Harry Houdini 1926 TLS re: Fraudulent Mediums & Notable Spiritualist Figures "The spiritualists tried to steal and destroy it"
TLS

A remarkable two page letter on Houdini's personal stationary, addressed to Herr Graf Karl von Klinckowstroem (1884-1969), a German nobleman and research collaborator in exposing fraudulent mediums. 1 and 1/4 pages, measuring 8.5" x 11", New York, NY, June 29, 1926. Boldly signed at conclusion as "Houdini", with an additional holograph correction in his hand found at lower right of page 1. Exhibits minor toning and two-hole punches at left side margin. Isolated paper clip soiling near upper left corner of first page. Handwriting remains crisp, with clean and legible type throughout. Near fine overall, representing Houdini at the height of his skeptical investigations, just months before his untimely death in October.

Transcription reads in full:

"At last I have been able to dig among my thousands of papers and send you photostat copies of two letters from Dr. Slade.
One is the confession which he made to Remigius Weiss. This copy needs explaining. As Mr. Weiss tells me and he will give you everything under oath, during his lectures he put the original confession outside of the theatre. The spiritualists tried to steal and destroy it, so to play safe, he put it over glass and copied same. The enclosed is one of the copies he put outside. I presume, you know the method of tracing letters and this is what Mr. Weiss did.
I met him while my book 'A Magician Among the Spirits' was on the press, in the printer's hands and with his information, rewrote my entire chapter. He gave me the original not being like the one in my book on page 99. He evidently thought it was not necessary to be accurate as long as he had the original, which he had been looking for, for a long time. In fact he tried to give me a shorter one with all the lower part eliminated but I impressed on his mind, I wanted everything just exactly as he received it from Dr. Slade of which the enclosed is copy.
In case you wish me to take an affidavit write it out and I will send it back to you.
The other copy of a letter from Slade asking Weiss for $4. Mr. Weiss explains this to me in a letter which is as follows:-
'I showed to you Dr. H. Tiedemann's letter (to me) in which he excuses himself and Hudson Tuttle being unable to be present during the H. Slade séance that day in my residence. Thus Mr. Klutz (or Kloots) I have his card and letters from him packed away somewhere) Klutz, the well-known jeweler and inventor brought a friend, a jewelry salesman (a Jew by birth) along to that Slade sitting, in place of Dr. Tiedemann, etc.
By reason of this, Slade wanted four ($4.00) extra, additional pay, I had paid him $6.00 for a sitting in Girard House and $25.00 for that in my residence.
We agreed that I was to bring the extra $4.00 to him and he promised to try to get the 'Spirits' writing in the lockbook and (double) lock-slat into the room in Girard Hotel, if I pay $5. for another sitting and bring the $4. extra to pay him. But I exposed him there and he was glad to 'shake the dust of Philadelphia of his slimy shoes without extra pay. I have the letters of Dr. H. Tiedemann and Hudson Tuttle and believe I can lay my hands on same.'
Whatever information you want, please put in a letter and mark question- 1, 2, etc. and I will go specifically into everything you want to know."

In this correspondence to von Klinckowstroem, Houdini discusses two letters related to the notorious fraudulent medium Dr. Henry Slade, whose séances were a source of scandal in the late 19th century. One of these letters contains a confession made by Slade to Remigius Weiss, a Philadelphia-based spiritualist exposer and lecturer. Houdini notes that Weiss had to protect the confession from tampering by placing it outside the theater under glass, as spiritualists sought to destroy it. The letter reflects Houdini's dedication to factual accuracy, especially in regard to his seminal 1924 book, 'A Magician Among the Spirits', which is directly referenced.

The second letter details an incident in which Slade demanded additional payment following a séance. Houdini includes a striking anecdote from Weiss' correspondence that mentions Dr. H. Tiedemann, Hudson Tuttle, and Mr. Klutz- a jeweler and inventor who brought a friend (notably referred to as "a Jew by birth") to a séance. It is exceptionally rare for Houdini to comment on religious or ethnic identity, making this reference particularly noteworthy.

Perhaps the letter's most compelling feature is a handwritten correction by Houdini himself. In a damning passage describing Dr. Slade's exit from Philadelphia, he strikes out the type word "slipping" and replaces it with "slimy" in black fountain pen- emphasizing his contempt in no uncertain terms. This emotionally charged edit offers a unique window into Houdini's personal sentiments and adds significant historical value. He then concludes the letter by offering to provide further sworn affidavits and additional documentation, underscoring his methodical approach to debunking frauds.

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: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: TLS

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