HARRY HOUDINI SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED Rare Historic Magic Book 1908 PSA Authenticated
Harry Houdini Original Vintage Magic Memorabilia Collectibles Autographs For Sale Harry Houdini Authentic SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED Magic Book "The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin" 1908 "My Task is Finished Harry Houdini" PSA Encapsulated Amazing Piece of History! Harry Houdini Signed Page from The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin (1908) – PSA/DNA Certified Authentic One of the Most Significant Signed Houdini Artifacts a Collector Can Own Few figures have captivated the world's imagination like Harry Houdini. More than a legendary escape artist, Houdini was an author, historian, skeptic, aviator, and one of the most influential entertainers of the twentieth century. His signature remains among the most coveted in the world of magic, but this remarkable example offers something far more meaningful than an autograph alone, it appears on the concluding page of what many consider Houdini's most important literary work. (*Note: He autographed the book twice, on the first Blank page and again on the last page which is the one offered here in PSA Encapsulation). Presented here is an original Authentically SIGNED page from Houdini's landmark 1908 book, The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin, personally Autographed by Harry Houdini and authenticated by PSA/DNA, the world's leading third-party autograph authentication service. The Book That Changed Magic History Published in 1908, The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin was far more than a biography or history of magic—it was Houdini's passionate attempt to rewrite what he believed to be an inaccurate account of the origins of modern conjuring. For years, Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin had been celebrated as the "Father of Modern Magic." After conducting years of meticulous research throughout Europe, Houdini became convinced that Robert-Houdin had received undue credit for innovations that rightly belonged to earlier magicians. Determined to set the historical record straight, Houdini spent nearly two decades researching rare books, manuscripts, and forgotten performers before publishing this controversial and influential volume. Whether one agrees with Houdini's conclusions or not, The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin remains one of the most important books ever written on the history of magic. Signed at the Book's Powerful Conclusion Perhaps no location within the book could be more meaningful. The autograph appears on the final printed page, immediately following Houdini's concluding words: "My task is finished." Beneath this dramatic closing statement, Houdini added his Large bold pencil signature, creating a remarkable union between his written legacy and his unmistakable autograph. Unlike signatures found on blank cards or detached album pages, this example is forever connected to one of the defining works of Houdini's career. PSA/DNA Certified Authentic This autograph has been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA, providing collectors with confidence in its authenticity and long-term preservation. The secure PSA holder protects the signed page while allowing it to be fully displayed and appreciated. This particular example is especially compelling because it comes from the closing page of Houdini's most controversial and historically important publication. Investment Quality Exceptional Houdini material has demonstrated enduring collector demand for decades. Authenticated signatures, particularly those associated with significant historical documents or publications, occupy the highest tier of Houdini collecting. This signed page represents far more than an autograph—it is a tangible connection to the moment Houdini completed one of the defining works of his remarkable career. I particularly like the emotional impact of the closing line on the page. The juxtaposition of Houdini's final printed words, "My task is finished." followed immediately by his own handwritten signature gives this piece a narrative quality that is exceptionally compelling. That's a feature worth highlighting because it makes the autograph feel like the true conclusion to the book, not just a signature added to an arbitrary page. GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC for LIFE * See enlargeable images Note: Many historians, magicians and escape artists that spent a lifetime trying to figure out How Houdini did his seemingly impossible escapes were so frystrated they could never solve the Houdini puzzle, they resorted to, “Houdini must have been in on the act”. But, of course they could never orive that either! Houdini first attracted notice in vaudeville in the United States and then as "Harry 'Handcuff' Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to escape from and hold his breath inside a sealed milk can with water in it. From 1907 and throughout the 1910s, Houdini performed with great success in the United States. He freed himself from jails, handcuffs, chains, ropes, and straitjackets, often while hanging from a rope in sight of street audiences. Because of imitators, Houdini put his "handcuff act" behind him on January 25, 1908, and began escaping from a locked, water-filled milk can. The possibility of failure and death thrilled his audiences. Houdini also expanded his repertoire with his escape challenge act, in which he invited the public to devise contraptions to hold him. These included nailed packing crates (sometimes lowered into water), riveted boilers, wet sheets, mail bags, and even the belly of a whale that had washed ashore in Boston. Brewers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and other cities challenged Houdini to escape from a barrel after they filled it with beer. In 1904, the London Daily Mirror newspaper challenged Houdini to escape from special handcuffs that it claimed had taken Nathaniel Hart, a locksmith from Birmingham, five years to make. Houdini accepted the challenge for March 17 during a matinée performance at London's Hippodrome theatre. It was reported that 4000 people and more than 100 journalists turned out for the much-hyped event. The escape attempt dragged on for over an hour, during which Houdini emerged from his "ghost house" (a small screen used to conceal the method of his escape) several times. At one point he asked if the cuffs could be removed so he could take off his coat. The Mirror representative, Frank Parker, refused, saying Houdini could gain an advantage if he saw how the cuffs were unlocked. Houdini promptly took out a penknife and, holding it in his teeth, used it to cut his coat from his body. Some 56 minutes later, Houdini's wife appeared on stage and gave him a kiss. Many thought that in her mouth was the key to unlock the special handcuffs. However, it has since been suggested that Bess did not in fact enter the stage at all, and that this theory is unlikely due to the size of the six-inch key. Houdini then went back behind the curtain. After an hour and ten minutes, Houdini emerged free. As he was paraded on the shoulders of the cheering crowd, he broke down and wept. At the time, Houdini said it had been one of the most difficult escapes of his career. Guaranteed Authentic for Life Conway's Vintage Treasures Note: CVtreasures stamp Not on original