Released on: March 2, 2008, 4:26 am

Press Release Author: Rosemary McKittrick

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: Rosemary McKittrick keeps her finger on the pulse of the
auction market.

Press Release Body: Santa Fe, Feb. 29, 2008--It was the greatest trunk mystery the
world had ever seen. That's what the advertising handbill called it.

"The Houdini's Original Introducers of Metamorphosis. Exchanging Places in 3
Seconds," the poster said.

At the top Harry Houdini's vignette could be seen with the words "Harry the King of
Handcuffs" underneath. In the bottom right was a vignette of his assistant and wife
Bess and the words "Beatrice Queen of Mystery."

Metamorphosis was its name.

Onstage Houdini climbed into a sack that was placed inside a large wooden traveler's
trunk. Audience members tied Houdini's hands behind his back as he crouched inside
close to the row of air holes along the bottom.

The sack was shut and tied securely with ropes. Finally, the lid to the trunk was
also closed along with the stage curtain.

"Now then, I shall clap my hands three times and at the third and last time I ask
you to watch closely for the effect," Bess said.

She quickly closed the curtain and vanished from sight. Instantly the curtain was
reopened not by Bess but by Houdini himself.

Bess was now gone. Houdini turned toward the trunk. He reopened the lid and inside
knelt Bess with her hands tied behind her back.

The switch was made. But how?

Just seeing a Houdini advertising poster in 1895 was often enough to coax people to
buy a ticket to the show. These posters were the mainstay of promotion at the
turn-of-the-century.

On Oct. 25, Swann Galleries, New York, featured the poster described in The
Christian Fechner Collection of American & European Magic, Part III. The 28 by 20 ¾
inch poster sold for $60,000.

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Contact Details: Rosemary McKittrick
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505-989-7210