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Lot 329
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Houdini Signed Letter On Witchcraft, Spiritualism, Magicians & Mediums
Houdini Signed Letter On Witchcraft, Spiritualism, Magicians & Mediums
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Description:

Harry Houdini
New York, NY, July 7, 1926
Houdini Signed Letter On Witchcraft, Spiritualism, Magicians & Mediums
TLS
Harry Houdini (1874-1926). Typed Letter Signed, "Houdini", 2pp, on two separate sheets of his personal stationery measuring 8.5" x 11", New York, New York, July 7, 1926. Second page has been trimmed to 8.5" x 5.5". File holes along left margins. Partially rusted paper clip impression at upper left corners. Flattened mailing folds. Lightly toned. In near fine condition. A superb letter covering many subjects and interesting personalities.

Houdini wrote this letter to German writer Carl Graf von Klinckowstroem (1884-1969). An independently wealthy intellectual from Munich, Von Klinckowstroem was a historian of science, technology, and culture. He was intrigued by the occult, especially the Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg, but he also showed a receptiveness to Houdini's skepticism about false mediums.

In full: "As you may know I resigned from the American Society of Psychical Research when Mr. J. Malcolm Bird was placed at its head, not wishing to be in company with a man of such low integrity and calibre.

Note that my friend Mr. Harry Price of London in a lecture before the Magicians' Club asked the magicians to explain how things performed by a number of mediums were accomplished and all he did was to flash lantern slides on the wall. What a silly way for any investigator to do things. Am given to understand that he is lecturing on the authenticity of Mrs. Crandon's mediumship. She is being exposed right along and fortunately I now have the Harvard College back of me, meaning that the Professors and the majority of her investigators brand her phenomena as accomplished by dexterity. I call it by stronger names, because I have had the honor of being the first one to detect her.

Who is Professor Hans Driesch of University of Leipsig and now President of the Society of Psychical Research. I have the Journal here of April 26, but thought you may have some information not contained there. Believe he is coming to America. If so, may possibly meet him, unless his mind has been poisoned by the talk of fraudulent mediums and pseudo scientists. / Am gathering an enormous amount of information and busily engaged in trying to index it. / By the way, I have two men in this country who are superb in their work. One has greatly improved telepathy (when I say this, I mean I know his method) and the other is a regurgitator. We have a water regurgitator in America now who drinks gallons of water regurgitating it at will. He also swallows three different colored handkerchiefs and vomits any particular color you want.

Any information you wish and I can furnish, is yours without a question. / Sincerely hope that the Slade confession has arrived in your possession. / Believe I told you when I am on the road, I work from 7 A.M. until two the next morning, rarely taking a nap excepting fifteen to twenty minutes before I appear before my audience.

Have just written a small article for the Encyclopedia Britannica on Magic and am trying to whip together an article on witchcraft. / Would be obliged to you for any exposés and information on Spiritualism in Europe."

Houdini adds a postscript: "Did you ever see or do you know anything about Ludwig Kahn the mind reader? I know Bert Reese is mentioned frequently as being genuine. He has personally and before witnesses acknowledged his trickery to me. When I am home I get more time to write which explains my bombardment of letters."

Born in Budapest, Erik Weisz immigrated to the United States as a young child and became fascinated with stunts and magic at a very early age. His first appearance was as a trapeze artist, before changing his name to Harry Houdini and appearing in public doing magic tricks. By the 1890s, he had found his niche as an escape artist, becoming known as the "handcuff king." He bolstered his fame during a 1900 European tour in which he escaped from jail cells around Europe before returning to the United States to become the highest-paid Vaudeville performer of his day. As imitators sprang up, his routines grew increasingly more elaborate and included escapes, often performed underwater or suspended in midair, from straightjackets, ropes, chains, packing crates, milk cans, and even the belly of a whale.

Our letter concerns the American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR), established in 1889 and largely devoted to investigating Spiritualism, including the claims of medium Henry Slade (1835-1905). Slade's signed confession referenced in our letter was provided to Houdini by former medium Remigius Weiss and reproduced in Houdini's 1924 book "A Magician Among the Spirits." The ASPR also investigated the paranormal claims of Canadian medium Mina "Margery" Crandon (1888-1941) whose abilities were defended by Sherlock Holmes author and ardent spiritualist Arthur Conan Doyle. In 1924, Houdini and James Malcolm Bird (1886-1964), a Columbia mathematics professor and editor of "Scientific American," attended seances held by Crandon. While Houdini demonstrated her fraud - tricks which he would later incorporate into his stage act - Bird upheld her claims on the pages of Scientific American. It was later revealed that Bird was aware of Crandon's fraud despite defending her, prompting his resignation from the ASPR in 1930. Houdini's disbelief in Crandon's psychic abilities was shared by Harvard Professor William McDougall, prompting Houdini to note in our letter, "I now have the Harvard College back of me, meaning that the Professors and the majority of her investigators brand her phenomena as accomplished by dexterity."

German biologist and philosopher Hans Adolf Eduard Driesch (1867-1941) studied embryology before turning to philosophy to explain the autonomy of life and taking a professorship of philosophy in Leipzig in 1921. He also led the British Society for Psychical Research from 1926 to 1927 and his interest in parapsychology resulted in his 1933 publication of "Psychical Research: The Science of the Super-Normal."

Houdini's friend, British magician Harry Price (1881-1948), joined the Society for Psychical Research to investigate the claims of mediums. He later founded his own rival organization and debunked several high profile claims, including that of Helen Duncan whose regurgitation of "ectoplasm" he proved to be instead a regurgitation of cheese cloth and egg whites. Price's influence was such that he established and endowed the Department of Psychical Research at the University of London.

The 1926 "Journal of the Society for Psychical Research" (JSPR) included an article about German clairvoyant Ludwig Kahn who appeared before Paris's Institut Métapsychique in 1925 and 1926, convincing that body of his abilities.

Polish-born medium Bert Reese (1851-1926) was a friend of Aleister Crowley who claimed to have x-ray vision and persuaded the likes of Thomas Edison of his authenticity. Houdini attended one of Reese's seances in 1920 and, as he later wrote to Arthur Conan Doyle, was impressed by his sleight-of-hand.

In his contribution to the 13th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica in 1926, Houdini focused on debunking spiritualists including Crandon and touting his own work, stating "The most radical development in conjuring in the present century is the series of sensational escapes which have been devised or developed by Houdini. His success depends partly on his great physical strength and the fact that he is slightly bow-legged."

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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