Halloween 2026 marks 100 years since Houdini passed away from complications related to appendicitis. Pictured here are two unusual Houdini Autographs sent in 1905 by Houdini to LeProfessor Magicus (Adophe Blind).
These were purchased aspart of a collection sold at the Christian Fechner Magic Collection Part 2 onOctober 26, 2006, twenty years ago!
Here is the description from the Catalog:
(MAGICIAN AUTOGRAPHS.) Incredible collection of over 450 autographs of magicians from the Golden Age of American and English magic, most with Inscriptions as well; each signature on a uniform size card; assembled by Adolphe BLIND (Le Professeur MAGICUS). 1900s-1910s.
A most extraordinary gathering of magicians's signatures, being a who's who of magic at the time. Adolphe BLIND (1862-1925) was a major collector of things magical. He arrived at the idea of soliciting signatures bysending the magicians a printed request, a self-addressed card on which to write the signature, and/or a mailing envelope in which to return the signed card. Examples of his solicitation letters and return envelopes are included.Because he was a well-known figure in the world of magic, his fellow magicians were happy to oblige. He also contacted well-known magic dealers, publishers,and manufacturers of apparatus. Blind's persistence paid off handsomely and this collection represents the most complete ever assembled of American andEnglish magicians signatures from the Golden Age of American and English magic. '
Included are Signatures and Inscriptions from the following: Houdini (2),Okito, the exceedingly scarce Papa Bamberg, J. M. and Nevil Maskelyn, Hardeen, Harry Kellar, Thurston, Horace Goldin (2), Adelaide Herrmann (2), David Devant, Jansen (Dante), Chung Ling Soo, Leon Bosco, Serva is Le Roy, Talma, Selbit, CarlHertz, De Biere, Carl Rossini, Louis Nikola, Frederick Eugene Powell, Raymond,Laurant, Nicol as Von Arx, Chefalo, Samri Baldwin, Fasola, Max Holden, Lewis Devenport, Will Goldston, De Land, Karl Germain (2), Nate Leipzig, Imro Fox, Ovette, Vonetta, Ellis Stanyon, Ernest Noakes, Professor Hoffmann, a young John Mulholland, the scarce Harry Sears, and hundreds of others. must beseen.
These autographs span primarily from early 1900-1910s during the Golden Age of Magic. Adolphe Blind built a “Who’s Who” of magic by meticulously mailing out postcards requesting signatures of the great magicians of the era. He included self-addressed return envelopes. Prominent magicians, creators, manufacturers, and dealers complied because he was a respected magic scholar.
The two Houdini signatures here carry the word “Menotte” meaning “handcuff. On one postcard he includes his famous statement: “Stone Walls do not a prison make or iron Bars acage.” Then he signs the card “Harry Menotte Houdini.” On the second postcardshown here, Houdini also refers to himself here as “Le Roi Menotte” meaning “King of Handcuffs! (The plural should be “menottes,” but we get the meaning here). All of this is written in his own hand in 1905! Very special indeed!
