Ghost of HOUDINI Rumored to return and Haunt Auction of Weltman Collection at Swann Galleries in Big Apple this Halloween 2002! He may want to reedit his Diary and Spiritual Scrapbook before it hits the auction block!

As Halloween approaches, Houdini's spirit lurks from beyond the grave to expose the Fraudulent Mediums and psychics who prey on the gullible even in our modern times.

HOUDINI may even be accompanied by the spirit of the late Manny Weltman, whose collection of Houdini memorabilia will be the featured collection on the block at Swann Galleries annual 2002 Halloween Magic Auction. These two skeptical spirits will get an early start of haunting the "Big Apple," as the auction begins at 10:30am in the morning New York time.

Perhaps the two ghostly figures will be heard arguing over which is the "truth" about Houdini's life, and which is the "legend." They may even need to review some of Houdini's personal artifacts that have been well preserved by Manny. Including his 1916 Diary and his Spiritual Research Scrapbook he used to expose the fraudulent mediums of his time.

Those same fraudulent "tricks" used by the mediums of Houdini's day, are now resurfacing again today as tools used by psychics, who to Houdini's astonishment, now have their own Television Shows.

The paradox being that neither one of these ghostly gentleman, believed at the end of their lives, that it were really possible to return from beyond the grave.

This major Auction of Houdini memorabilia comes on the 76th anniversary of Houdini's Death.

Thus, the reason Houdini's Ghost is rumored to oversee the auction. The question is after all these years, will he be pro-psychic, or anti-psychic as he was in life?

Manny Weltman, another psychic debunker of a lesser nature, was also one of the World's recognized leading Houdini historians before he passed away in 1994. He was the Houdini historian for the world famous private Magic Club in Hollywood known as the "Magic Castle" where parts of his collection have often been placed for display.

He was also a major consultant and contributor to many of the documentaries and films made on Houdini's life, including A&E's Biography on Houdini. Much of the recognized film footage and photographs in many of these programs, were licensed from the Manny Weltman Houdini collection.

Manny started his fascination and collection of Houdini before the age of 12 years old, and continued it up to his passing at the age of 62. For over 50 years, Manny researched, wrote, and collected what has now become one of the most coveted collections of Houdiniana in America. He even wrote a book on Houdini that was honored and recommended by the Library of Congress.

Just some of the many items up for auction are:

Houdini's 1916 Diary. This is a Standard American Journal Diary Houdini kept for the year 1916. It contains Houdini's hand written entries that include deep personal thoughts Houdini had in regard to both his mother and father as he visited his mothers grave site. He even visited his old childhood home where he recalls his father passing away. The estimated range of the Diary is $40,000 to $60,000.

As far as known, there has never been any other Houdini Diary ever available for sale to the public.

Also available is a very impressive Scrap Book on Psychic Phenomena, the occult, and spiritualism, started by Chung Ling Soo, kept by Henry Ridgley Evens, and then given as a gift to Houdini as one of Houdini's research tools to debunk many of the fraudulent mediums of the time. Houdini then kept, used, and added to this scrapbook until his death, when it was passed on to Houdini's personal secretary, Oscar Teale who continued the scrapbook from then on.

This Scrap Book also includes a vast number of interesting magic items, from programs, playbills, banquet menus of magic conventions featuring Houdini, calling cards Houdini collected from other contemporary magicians of his day, letters, including a brief two line letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, along with a catalog of the Psychic books Conan Doyle sold in his book store, and the list goes on. The Scrap book is well organized in portions that devote entire sections not only on the Occult, Magic, and Houdini, but to people like Conan Doyle, The Fox Sisters, Margery, and many other "Spiritualists" of America's past.

Much of the information in this scrap book would be beneficial even today in exposing the Fraudulent mediums and psychics of the present that permeate our culture, and media waves, claiming to be able to talk to the DEAD.

This scrapbook is a RESEARCHER'S DREAM come TRUE. The Scrap book is estimated at $35,000 - $50,000

Even Posters, including an Authentic Original "Houdini King of Cards" Poster, and an Authentic Original "Man From Beyond" Movie Poster, that together are estimated between $22,000 - $33,000.

An "OPEN" Signed letter from Houdini to President Calvin Coolidge as a petition to block the repeal of Legislation to control "False Spiritual Practices" estimated between $7,000 - $10,000.

Houdini signed letters, books, pamphlets, programs, photos, and contract. Also many other rare Houdini Challenges and unique advertising pieces.

This is just a small sampling of what is available in the Manny Weltman Collection. There are well over 150 different lots that will be Auctioned on Halloween Morning.

Houdini truly represents a "Slice of Americana".

The Catalogs are available and can be ordered online or by phone now.

Pre-Auction Bids can also be made online in advance by going to the "www.swanngalleries.com" website, and then going to the "view catalog" link for the Oct. 31 Magic Auction, and clicking the "Bid" key on each individual item.

Also absentee bids can be made by prearranged phone registration by contacting Swann Galleries in advance. To register for their live phone line bidding or to order catalog by phone, call Swann Galleries at (212)254-4710 Ext. 0.

For further information on the Collection, you may also contact Gary Garland at Swann Galleries at (212)254-4710.




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