Amy Dawes was a lovely person, with a sweet nature and a clever wit. I had not spent much time with her until that visit, although she often had accompanied Eddie to magic collector events that we had both attended. Just weeks later, I was saddened to learn of Amy's unexpected passing. In the few hours we spent, looking at broadsides and posters, we did not get very far, because for each item, Eddie had an anecdote or insight about the performer or the actual poster, that made the visit fascinating for me. In late 2014 I was so pleased to host Eddie, his wife Amy and son Adrian for a visit when they passed through Washington on a family event. I have long appreciated his erudite and entertaining lectures at magic collector conferences, and his monthly column on magic history that can be found in The Magic Circle's monthly magazine, The Circular, is extraordinary in its longevity and content. All I can say is, enjoy!Įddie Dawes is one of the most pleasant, and knowledgeable magic historians/collectors who you will ever meet. The Ransom Center apparently has organized things a bit since we last visited them in 2003 and wrote about it on this website. In his trembling hands lay priceless treasures for which I had sought in vain … In the presence of his collection I lost all track of time.” I remember only raising my hands before my eyes, as if I had been dazzled by a sudden shower of diamonds. "I have brought you, sir, only a few of my treasures, sir, but if you will call - " I heard no more. Here is how Harry Houdini, in his book, The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin, spoke of his first encounter with Evanion and his stunning collection “With some hesitancy of speech but the loving touch of a collector he opened his parcel. This priceless scrapbook – probably compiled by Henry Evanion and later sold to Harry Houdini - is a wonderful sampling of some of the best engravings that you could hope to find that document the popularity of conjuring for that period. While they are all worth looking at, my favorite one, as you scroll down, is the fourth one, simply titled “magicians scrapbook.” Starting with a page that has a portion of a Houdini King of Cards poster, it pretty much covers the top conjurers of the mid to late 19th century, with wonderful pieces from Anderson, Heller, Robin, Compars Herrmann, Alexander Herrmann, and on and on. It is one of nine scrapbooks formerly owned by Harry Houdini that are now in the collection of the Harry Ransom Center for the Humanities at the University of Texas, and which have been digitized! Close the door and mute your phone because when you start to look at this scrapbook, you will be in collector’s heaven.
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