New York: Adams Press Print, 1923.
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Hardcover. First edition. Illustrations by Oscar S. Teale. Compiled by Clinton Burgess. Binding lightly worn at the extremities, tidemark from a dampstain at the top corner of the pages throughout, front hinge tender but still a sound, very good copy. Illustrator Oscar S. Teale's copy with his "Teale Library of Mystery" bookplate and Inscribed to him by Houdini: "Presented by the Author – Houdini – to the Magician Artist who made all the drawings, Oscar S. Teale." Teale for his part, has Inscribed the book to a fellow magician: "Presented to Lester A. Grimes by O.S.T." Grimes has then Inscribed the book: "To my friend Gertrude Elliott from Grimes The Mystery Man, 1934." Reportedly, on his deathbed Elliott, the world's foremost card manipulator, asked his friend Houdini to edit and publish these notes. Whether the final recipient, Gertrude Elliott, was the famous stage actress (who was the original Cleopatra in Shaw's *Caesar and Cleopatra*), or a relative of the "Kard King" we are unsure. An extraordinary association copy, nicely inscribed by three prominent magicians.
Item #20469
