Lot 235

Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 235
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3
Houdini Offers $10,000 for "finding a genuine medium" and a Letter from "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle"
Houdini Offers $10,000 for "finding a genuine medium" and a Letter from "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle"
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3
Description:

Houdini Offers $10,000 for "finding a genuine medium" and a Letter from "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle"

Harry Houdini (1874-1926). Typed Letter Boldly Signed, "Houdini", in black ink with his paraph, 1p, on carbon paper measuring 8.5" x 11", July 31, 1925, no place. Two file holes at left margin, not affecting any text. Light soiling. Minor discoloration from previous paper clip at top left. Unfolded. In fine condition. Part of a recent foreign find; not on the market for over fifty years. See another lot in this sale for associated brochure on his $10,000 offer.

An amazing letter to the editor of the Toledo Blade, Houdini sent this genuinely signed copy to his friend Graf Klinckowstroem. It reads, in part: I note that someone whose initials are "H. L. B." has something to say regarding my challenging the psychics. May I inform you...I am positively sincere. I have nothing in view with the exception of finding a genuine medium. Up to the present time, I regret to say that every medium I have investigated has been weighed and found wanting."

Houdini continues with an offer to come to Toledo to prove the validity of his motivation: "I take the liberty of enclosing you a copy of a letter I have sent registered to Miss Ada Bessinet where in I have challenged her for $10,000. and if you wish I will come on to Toledo in twenty-four hours notice, with my money...to challenge her publicly or privately...You have my full permission to publish the letter or challenge that I have sent to Miss Bessinet and to which I have received no answer despite the fact that I have a letter of introduction to her from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle..."  A fabulous behind-the-scenes look at Houdini’s efforts to expose fakery. 

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a British writer and physician. Though he and Houdini had different talents, they shared a mutual interest in the paranormal. Houdini was a skeptic of spiritualism, while Doyle was a believer. Houdini was devoted to exposing fraudulent mediums, while Doyle sought to prove the existence of the supernatural. The two men had a complicated relationship, as they often disagreed on certain topics, yet respected one another's work. Houdini and Doyle also shared a fascination with the occult and the power of suggestion. Houdini used suggestion in his performances, while Doyle wrote about it in many of his books. Houdini was also a fan of Doyle’s work, often performing illusion inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Though Houdini and Doyle were vastly different in their talents and beliefs, their lives were inextricably linked. They were both men of immense talent who pushed the boundaries of their respective fields, and their legacies will live on for generations to come.

Graf Klinckowstroem (1884-1969) was a well-known and influential figure in the history of paranormal research. Born in Germany, he developed an early interest in spiritualism. An amateur photographer, he used his skills to expose mediums and psychics who were fraudulently claiming to have supernatural powers. He was a staunch advocate of scientific investigation of the paranormal and was one of the first to call for scientifically controlled experiments to test the claims of psychics and mediums. Klinckowstroem worked with leading scientists and researchers, including Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Charles Richet (1850-1935), to establish the International Institute for Psychical Research, which was dedicated to investigating supernatural phenomena. He expressed his skepticism of mediumship in many of his writings and speeches, believing that psychics and mediums were exploiting people by taking advantage of their ignorance and gullibility. He was particularly critical of fraudulent mediums who claimed to be able to communicate with the dead. He argued that the claims of psychics and mediums were based on superstition and deception, not on any scientific evidence. Klinckowstroem also exposed the methods of fraudulent mediums. He documented the use of tricks and deception by mediums to make it appear as though they had supernatural powers by showing how they used sleight of hand and props to create the illusion of paranormal phenomena. His work was highly influential in the paranormal research community, and his efforts to expose fraudulent mediums helped to discredit the field of mediumship and establish the need for scientific investigation of the paranormal. Klinckowstroem's work continues to be an important part of the history of paranormal research and is a testament to his commitment to the scientific investigation of the supernatural.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

May 31, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000