MASKELYNE, J.N. (1839 – 1917). Spiritualism v. Conjuring. ...

MASKELYNE, J.N. (1839 – 1917). Spiritualism v. Conjuring. £1,000 Challenge. [London], 1873. Folded leaflet issued by Maskelyne at the Egyptian Hall during his earliest days at England’s “home of mystery,” challenging anyone to offer a solution to his famous box trick. 4pp., 8vo. Chipping and short tears, some reinforced; tender but holding. SIGNED BY HOUDINI in pencil, and with his blue penciled annotations inside.This leaflet, the first we have encountered, is not only scarce, it offers an interesting link between the trunk trick that made Maskelyne famous and the magician who popularized what is undoubtedly the most popular box escape and transposition trick of all time, the Metamorphosis, a feat so fantastic as to be equally popular with Houdini’s audiences as his challenge handcuff escapes.