One night in Glasgow
HOUDINI, Harry. The Unmasking of Robert Houdini. Together with a Treatise on Handcuff Secrets. London: Routledge. 1909.
8vo. Original dark orange cloth, lettered in black with design in black and red to front, gilt lettering and portrait of Houdini in lozenge to spine; pp. viii, 110, [2, ads.], illustrated in black and white throughout; previous owner's inkstamp to title, very good.
Provenance: from the library of the magician De Vega, with his bookplate to front pastedown and inscribed by Houdini to ffep: "To my friend/ De Vega/ Good luck/ Houdini/ signed June 4 1920/ Glasgow". De Vega (1891-1971) was a famous Glaswegian illusionist who was hired by Houdini to investigate the "Crewe Circle" of pseudo-psychics and charlatans. 4th June 1920 is a notable date in the career of Houdini, as he was playing the Glasgow Pavilion during his Farewell Tour of Scotland and had accepted a challenge from the shipbuilders of Lithgow Ltd to escape from a specially constructed packing case. This he did to the great acclaim of the sold-out crowd, which included, it would seem, De Vega himself.
First edition. Robert-Houdin (1805-1871) was the father of modern magic, taking conjuring into theatres and high society for the first time. So influential was he that Houdini (real name Erick Weitz) took his pseudonym in his honour. Later in his career, though, Houdini became disillusioned with the great master. In this book he accuses Robert-Houdin of widespread plagiarism of illusions created by others and makes a strong case that he was as great a fraud as any pseudo-psychic. In doing so, he also provides a valuable history of a number of celebrated illusions.
#2121584