Magicana Correspondence Tops Ricky Jay Collection Sale

Relics from the collection of sleight-of-hand magician, actor, and author, Ricky Jay went for nearly $518,000 at Potter & Potter's Ricky Jay Collection Part II Sale.

The top lot was an archive of correspondence between Karl Germain (b. Charles Mattmueller, 1878–1959) and his assistant, student, successor, and friend, Paul Fleming. This collection of written materials was estimated at $30,000-60,000 and was sold at $66,000. A highlight was a note from Germain explaining the construction, packing, and details of his one-man Spirit Cabinet, a routine he developed after his Chautauqua and Lyceum heyday, the secret of which was not revealed in the books authored by Stuart Cramer that chronicle Germain’s life and magic.

Other highlights included: 

* 3 Shows In One. The World Famous Houdini. Master Mystifier, was estimated at $5,000-10,000 and went for $14,400. This oversized white, black, and orange linen backed broadside was printed in 1925 and was decorated with Houdini’s bust portrait, bats, and a witch. It was made to promote Houdini’s final tour, which ended unexpectedly with his hospitalization after sustaining a blow to the stomach in his dressing room.

* Hanlons’ New Superba. Two Modern Jonahs, was estimated at $2,000-4,000 and sold for $13,200. It was published in Cleveland by J. Morgan & Co. Lith. around 1900. This colorful one-sheet stone poster, the only known one extant, measured 28 × 42". It was illustrated with two sailors, one with a pegleg, in the belly of a giant black whale, while all manner of sea creatures and fish swirled around the scene. 

* Three scrapbooks and other materials chronicling London's Bartholomew Fair and its popular entertainments, was estimated at $8,000-12,000 and realized $27,600. These were compiled in the 19th century and included more than 400 pages of notes, broadsides, engraved portraits, book extracts, news clippings, letters, and related memorabilia chronicling this legacy August celebration held annually from 1133 -1855. 

* An archive of tattooed people and tattoo-related memorabilia, was estimated at $5,000-7,000 and made $10,800. This grouping included 600+ 20th century photographs of tattooed men and women, complemented by a collection of clippings, news stories, and ephemera related to tattooing and tattooed people. This impressive collection chronicled designs and art of many famous and little-known tattoo artists of the mid-20th century.

According to Gabe Fajuri, President at Potter & Potter Auctions, "No matter how unusual or out of the ordinary you might think Ricky Jay's tastes, this second sale from his storied collection proves that extraordinary objects on obscure entertainers always find buyers, not to mention the fact that in most cases in this auction, there was strong competition for the lots. We're already looking forward to the next auction from Mr. Jay's fabulous collection."