Magicana Letter Archive Leads Ricky Jay Collection Sale
Potter & Potter
The important archive of correspondence between magician Karl Germain and Paul Fleming
An archive of correspondence between magician Karl Germain and his assistant Paul Fleming is the top lot in the upcoming Ricky Jay Collection Part II sale at Potter & Potter Auctions.
The auction follows its first Ricky Jay sale, held in February this year, which realized over $980,000. The October 28 sale will again feature a range of items from the collection of magician and author Jay (1946-2018).
Leading the sale is lot 135, an archive of correspondence between Germain (born Charles Mattmueller, 1878–1959) and his assistant, student, successor, and friend, Paul Fleming. This gathering of typed and autograph signed letters, postcards, and other written materials is estimated at $30,000-60,000 and covers the period from 1908 to 1959. The collection was carefully assembled by Jay over decades.
The correspondence reflects German’s eloquent, distinctive voice and style, and is laden with humor, gossip, technical information, and the secrets behind many of his best-kept inventions. Among the items are letters by 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.
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Lot #33, three scrapbooks and other materials chronicling London's Bartholomew Fair
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Lot #183, a billboard-type poster for Harry Houdini's 3 Shows In One. The World Famous Houdini. Master Mystifier
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Lot #136, a poster featuring Karl Germain as Germain The Wizard with a witch’s cauldron
Other outstanding lots in this sale include:
three scrapbooks and other materials chronicling London's Bartholomew Fair and its popular entertainments (estimate: $8,000-12,000) compiled in the 19th century and made of c. 400+ pages of manuscript notes, printed broadsides, engraved portraits, book extracts, news clippings, notes, letters, engravings, and related memorabilia chronicling this legacy summer celebration. This event was held annually in late August from 1133 through 1855 when it was banned due to causing public disruptions.
an oversized poster for Harry Houdini's 3 Shows In One. The World Famous Houdini. Master Mystifier, estimated at $5,000-10,000. This 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
a poster featuring Karl Germain as Germain The Wizard with a witch’s cauldron (estimate: $4,000-8,000) which was printed in Cleveland by the Schmitz-Horning Co. Litho around 1908
"The remarkable collection of Ricky Jay brought in record bids at a frenzied pace in our auction room earlier this year," said Gabe Fajuri, President at Potter & Potter Auctions. "We expect the incredibly rare, and incredibly unusual, material going up for sale in this auction to be no less sought-after in this just-before Hallowe'en event."
