Description:

Harry Houdini
New York, NY, March 26, 1924
Harry Houdini TLS Seeking to Debunk Two Spiritualists on Film
TLS

A typed letter signed by Harry Houdini. 1p, measuring 7.25" x 11", New York, dated March 26, 1924. Signed "thanks, Houdini" in pencil and addressed to Will Goldston on personal letterhead. Houdini requests film negatives of Sir Oliver Lodge or Sir William Crookes, who were both deeply involved in spiritualism and the paranormal. Stamped as being received April 7th. The letter has a short, typed response by Goldston on the verso. With flattened mail folds and creasing. Light toning and faint soiling. Staining on verso. Boldly signed.

Reading in part:
"Could you please try and get me some moving picture negative…of Sir Oliver Lodge or Sir William Crookes, and advise how much it will cost per foot…I would like to buy the original negative, and if you cannot get that, let me know what is procurable. Am very anxious to get Sir William Crookes or Lodge. I know there must be some moving picture firms who have these two men in action."

Goldston's reply on the verso reads:
"Have original negative of Sir Oliver Lodge. Cannot sell this but will sell proof. Will write today giving full particulars. Gaumont Film Co. / Pathe Freres and Fox unable to do anything."

Despite being a skilled magician and illusionist, Harry Houdini, was staunchly skeptical of anything mystical and held an intense dislike of miracle workers, spiritualists, and mediums who preyed on vulnerable people. The magician spent years exposing fake spiritualist practices, campaigning against fraudulent psychics, and even lobbying Congress to ban fortune-telling in D.C.

Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (1851-1940) was an English physicist and a pioneer of spiritualism. After his son, Raymond, was killed in World War I, he visited several mediums and wrote about the experience in a number of books, including the best-selling "Raymond; or, Life and Death" (1916). Lodge became friends with Arthur Conan Doyle, who also lost a son in World War I and was a Spiritualist.

Sir William Crookes (1832-1919) was an English chemist and physicist who is credited with discovering the element thallium. For a time, he was interested in spiritualism and became president of the Society for Psychical Research, which sought to understand events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal. Crookes was possibly influenced by the death of his younger brother Philip at 21 from yellow fever.

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: 7.25" x 11"
  • Medium: TLS

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