Dai Vernon/Bruce Cervon Magic Collections 2010-01-30 Auction - 321 Price Results - Potter & Potter Auctions in IL - Page 7
124: Dai Vernon's personal scrapbook and photo album61: Dai Vernon's Card Clip.39: Steranko, James. The Ultimate Move. An unpublished
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Chicago, IL, United States
Auction Details

Dai Vernon/Bruce Cervon Magic Collections

Dai Vernon (1894 - 1992), was widely regarded as one of the most influential magicians of the 20th century, a revolutionary figure whose long life and career touched nearly every important magician of the century. Many of his personal effects will be included in the auction. Highlights include:

-Vernon's prop case, including apparatus (cards, coins, Malini Egg Bag, Holdout, gaffs, silhouette shears and more) and tricks used by Vernon.

-Vernon's first and most personal scrapbook, begun upon his emigration to New York City in 1915. Jammed with images of Vernon and his contemporaries, it serves as a unique archive of mostly unpublished images from magic's golden age and beyond.

-In 1933, Vernon was one of an elite group of magicians elected to membership in the Academy of the Art of Magic. The medallion bearing Vernon's initials and the Academy's logo will be offered in the sale. Recently cited by Magicol, journal of the Magic Collectors' Association, as one token "you will never see," this example is one of three known to exist.

-Bruce Cervon (1941-2007) moved to California from Ohio in the mid-1960s to study with Vernon. His long career included appearances before Hollywood's elite, as well as prestigious corporate clients. Items from his private library, including unique annotated manuscripts, "underground" texts on sleight-of-hand (privately circulated, limited editions), and apparatus from his 40+ year as a professional entertainer (including his parlor and trade show acts) will be offered.

-Of specific interest to scholars will be the sale of Cervon's correspondence. Countless letters from magicians detail not only gossip and personal information, but the finer points of various tricks and magic routines.
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Card Star. Maker unknown, ca. 1920: Card Star. Maker unknown (likely American), ca. 1920. Large and attractive nickel-plated star (24" high and with a span of 12"). On its points are produced five previously selected cards. With an
0145: Card Star. Maker unknown, ca. 1920Est. $500-$750
Card Sword. Circa 1920.: Card Sword. Maker unknown (likely American), ca. 1920. Nickel plated sword on which the magician skewers a selected card. 34 ½" long. Lacks tip and elastic (easily replaced), otherwise good
0146: Card Sword. Circa 1920.Est. $200-$300Lot Passed
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Card Tray. Asuza, Owen Brothers, ca. 1960.: Card Tray. Asuza, Owen Brothers, ca. 1960. Hardwood tray with spring-loaded trap and secret compartment allows the performer to exchange a packet of cards in the action of pouring one group of
0147: Card Tray. Asuza, Owen Brothers, ca. 1960.Est. $100-$200
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Change Bag. Maker unknown, ca. 1910.: Change Bag. Maker unknown, ca. 1910. Embroidered blue bag attached to a metal rim (6 " in diameter) and wooden handle which is used to transform one object for another. Curiously, several yellow
0148: Change Bag. Maker unknown, ca. 1910.Est. $75-$150
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Cherchez La Femme (Jumbo Size). P&L.: Cherchez La Femme (Jumbo Size). New Haven, Petrie & Lewis, ca. 1930. Metal stand lacquered in red and silver which accommodates three jumbo cards. The magician mixes the cards, which can be seen
0149: Cherchez La Femme (Jumbo Size). P&L.Est. $200-$300
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Box lot of close-up magic apparatus.: [Close-Up Magic] Box lot of close-up magic apparatus. Including Nightmare in Color (Tenyo), Ring Flite, wooden Coin Tray and Coin Stand, stage money, Omega Wallet (Coe Norton), Telesphere (Tenyo),
0150: Box lot of close-up magic apparatus.Est. $100-$200
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Large box of mostly never-used magic tricks: [Close up Magic] Large box of mostly never-used tricks in original packaging. Included are a wide array of rope, card and miscellaneous tricks including The Phenomenal Rope Trick, Jumping Knot of
0151: Large box of mostly never-used magic tricksEst. $100-$200
Coffee and Milk Trick. Circa 1930.: Coffee and Milk Trick. Maker unknown (likely Roterberg), ca. 1930. The magician scoops bran or confetti into two nickel-plated cups and clamps lids on them. When removing the lids a moment later, one
0153: Coffee and Milk Trick. Circa 1930.Est. $100-$200Lot Passed
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T. Nelson Downs style Coin Ladder.: T. Nelson Downs style Coin Ladder. Maker unknown (likely American), ca. 1915. The magician rests his hat on the top of this prop and into it places the coins he magically produces. At his command
0155: T. Nelson Downs style Coin Ladder.Est. $750-$1,000
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Group of six vintage wooden coin tricks: [Coin Tricks] Group of six vintage wooden coin tricks. Including a Coin Column (Conradi, ca. 1930), Nest of Boxes (ca. 1900), Lippincott Box, Coin Barrel (Quehl, ca. 1920), and a turned boxwood
0156: Group of six vintage wooden coin tricksEst. $100-$200
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Copenetro. Maker unknown (American), ca. 1960.: Copenetro. Maker unknown (American), ca. 1960. Four coins vanish only to visibly appear in a shot glass covered by a glass tumbler, both of which rest on a wooden stand. With four Davenport palming
0157: Copenetro. Maker unknown (American), ca. 1960.Est. $50-$100
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Clarke Crandall's Magic Box and Act.: . Clarke Crandall's Magic Box and Act. Included is a considerable amount of apparatus for many of Clarke "The Senator" Crandall's trademark routines, among them the card-finding duck (a later,
0158: Clarke Crandall's Magic Box and Act.Est. $400-$600
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Crystal Casket magic trick. Ca. 1910.: Crystal Casket. Maker unknown (likely American), ca. 1910. Attractive nickel-plated box resting on four small legs is shown empty, yet on the magician's command, instantly fills with a quantity of
0159: Crystal Casket magic trick. Ca. 1910.Est. $300-$400
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Curious Cubes. Alhambra, Milson-Worth, ca. 1975.: Curious Cubes. Alhambra, Milson-Worth, ca. 1975. Twelve wooden cubes bearing playing card pips are arranged randomly in a cabinet, the front and rear doors of which are closed. When opened a moment
0160: Curious Cubes. Alhambra, Milson-Worth, ca. 1975.Est. $150-$250
Combo Cups and Balls. Star Magic: Combo Cups and Balls. St. Louis, Star Magic, ca. 1980. Set of three chrome-plated aluminum cups with a three-bead Paul Fox-type design. With original instructions, balls and carrying pouch. Good
0161: Combo Cups and Balls. Star MagicEst. $100-$200Lot Passed
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Liquid Load Cups and Balls. National Magic Co.: Liquid Load Cups and Balls. Chicago, National Magic Co., ca. 1940. Oversized chromed cups 5" high with an opening 4" across allow the magician to produce a quantity of liquid from within after the
0162: Liquid Load Cups and Balls. National Magic Co.Est. $200-$300
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Die Box. Cashmere, House of Babcock, ca. 1989: Die Box. Cashmere, House of Babcock, ca. 1989. Handsome hardwood box and 2 ¾" die for the traditional "sucker" effect. With double door feature. Housed in a denim carrying bag. Light wear from use,
0164: Die Box. Cashmere, House of Babcock, ca. 1989Est. $150-$250
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Drawer Box for coins or billets, ca. 1930: Drawer Box. Maker unknown (likely German), ca. 1930s. Unusual small all-metal nickel-plated drawer box with four slots in the drawer into which coins or billets can be inserted. After closing and
0165: Drawer Box for coins or billets, ca. 1930Est. $100-$200
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Duck Pan. New Haven, Petrie and Lewis, ca. 1950: Duck Pan. New Haven, Petrie and Lewis, ca. 1950. Large aluminum pan and lid from which a massive quantity of articles, or even a live duck, can be produced. 11 " in diameter. Hallmarked. Worn from
0166: Duck Pan. New Haven, Petrie and Lewis, ca. 1950Est. $200-$300
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Exchange Tube. Maker unknown, circa 1945.: Exchange Tube. Maker unknown (likely American), ca. 1945. Unusual chrome plated cocktail shaker 10" high and 3 ½" in diameter at its widest. Operates along the lines of the popular Niffen Tube,
0167: Exchange Tube. Maker unknown, circa 1945.Est. $150-$250
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Fire Bowl. After Martinka & Co., ca. 1910: Fire Bowl. After Martinka & Co., ca. 1910. Spun brass bowl with handle and removable lid that, after produced, belches fire and smoke. After clamping on and removing the lid from the bowl, it is seen
0168: Fire Bowl. After Martinka & Co., ca. 1910Est. $350-$450