Evening star., 1928-12-16
LIBRARY GETSPART
/. OF HOUD|M REL|CS'
Ignstitution Here Learns 1t
Win Not Receive Rare
r Collection of Prints.

T Admirers of Harry Houdini, master
magician and escape artist, now have
something new to be mystified about.
for it has. developed that in leaving
valuable material to the Library of Con-
gresS his rare collection of handbillS,
programs and prints, recently sold for
some $35 900, was not included with the
numerous works on magic, Spiritism and
the occult arts that made up the library
that recently came to Washington.
Or. Henry Ridgely Evans, chief edi-
torial assistant in the Bureau of Educa-
tion Of the Interior Department, recently
went up to the Library of Congress to
view the collection he had induced
Houdini to leave to the Washington
institution, for they were personal
friends for many years.
Collection Sold.
DR.. Evans said yesterday that he was
greatly surprised to discover that the
Houdini collection of handbillS, pro-
grams and prints was not included, and
upon inquiry from the trustee of the
Houdini estate aScertained that this
collection was sold to MesSmore Kendall,
New York lawyer.
Inquiry from q New York friend con-
corning the collection brought DR.. Evans
this reply: This collection of programs,
play bills and lithos, which was very
valuable, consisted for the greater part
of theatrical material relating to the
drama. Houdini's dramatic library was
by far the most valuable of the several
collections he possessed. This material
was mounted and indexed and cross
! 1ndexed by a man of large experience
f. in dramatic literature and history of the
/ stage, Mr.. BeckS, who spent nearly two
years on the task. Tt was put together
! in such a manner as to have rendered
I inpracticab1e the taking away of any
part of 1t, and as it consisted Of FIVE
Sixtl1S dramatic material and only about
one-sixth magical material, he probably
considered 1t part of the theatrical col
lection-as, indeed, it was. This
theatrical library was sold intact to
Messmore Kendall of New York, for
either $4,000 or $35, 900. As you prob
ably know, Houdini also left his library
on spiritualism to the Congressional
Library"
Garrick Diary Included.
Included in the collection that was
sold, DR.. Evans explained, was the
priceless diary of David Garrick, and as
Houdini had a penchant for delying
into secondhand book shops and an
tIQu6 StOECS III EuIOpES 4lS 6u1dSGCQ u
fortune in manuscripts and documents.
Composing this interesting array were
interesting and curious oata relating to,
magic and magicians, such as programs,
play bills, prints and photographs, to
say nothing Of books on magic, witch
craft, Spirittsm and necromancy, Ia gen.
seral, DR. Evans explained. "a
Houdini had packets Of letters writ
ten by Edmond Kean, Charles Macklin,
Jenny Lind, Mrs. Siddons and Edwin
Booth; an autograph letter of Count
t1e Cagliostro, sheaf Of epistles writ
ten by the famous Mime. de la Motto,
Ewto was implicated in the affair of
ahe diamond necklace" along with Co
lgliostro and the Cardinal de Rohan,
DR.. Evans said, adding rnat he also pos
Sessed the portable writing desk which
belonged to Edgar Allan Poe, upon
which the great apostle of mystery
wrote some Of his finest creations.
Had this so-called theatrical library
OF Houdini been included In his gift to
the Library of Congress, DR.. Evans
pointed out, Washington would possess
q collection of works On magic and al
lied subjects rivaIing that Of Harry
Price, an American whose library is
held In trust for him by the English
Society for PSychical Research.