Done
Chicago, IL, United States
Auction Details
Magic Collections: Zarrow, Fox and Vernon
Potter & Potter Auctions
This auction will be conducted in two sessions on Saturday, October 23rd, at the firm's Chicago gallery - The morning session will feature the library and collection of legendary card magician Herb Zarrow. Zarrow's collection included a massive working library of texts in nearly every branch of magic, from close-up tricks and card magic to illusions and biography. The entire library, including many rare and out of print books, and a cache of signed and inscribed volumes. Other highlights from Zarrow's holdings include a rare mask, hand-crafted by Jeanne Verner (wife of Dai Vernon) for Mike Bornstein and accompanied by the elaborate costume Bornstein wore when performing under his stage name, Kolma; an unusual Doll House illusion designed by New Jersey magician Don Rose; ephemera and photographs of many of New York's best-known sleight-of-hand magicians; files of rare periodicals; and sought after books including the influential Magic of Robert Harbin.
The afternoon session will offer items complementing the Zarrow collection with a wide range of rarities, most specifically from the collections of Paul Fox and Dai Vernon. Fox, originally an Ohioan, influenced many of the great magicians of the early 20th century, refining and reshaping their best tricks. He was also an accomplished stage performer. Included in the sale will be many choice association items inscribed to Fox by Cardini, Vernon, and Charlie Miller, as well as many of the props used by Fox throughout his career, and his tuxedo. The Vernon material will include early original artwork executed by Vernon as a teenager, a risque silhouette cut by the great magician, personal memorabilia, photographs, and more. The sale will also feature a selection of choice books, autographs, automatons, and rare posters, making it not only one of Potter & Potter's largest auctions to date, but a sale suitable for collectors of virtually all specialties, at every level.
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![Group of six card magic accessories.: Card Accessories] Group of six card magic accessories. Including four card clips (one covered in faux snakeskin and made and hallmarked by Bill Gusias, one a commemorative Dai Vernon Card Clip by Joe](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957125_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70)

![Collection of close-up tricks and gimmicks: [Close-Up Magic] Collection of close-up tricks and gimmicks. Contained in seven cigar-box sized boxes and including gimmicked cards, specially prepared chrome metal tubes, Rose to Silk gimmicks (two](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957127_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70)
![Gigantic accumulation of close-up magic tricks ...: [Close-Up Magic] Gigantic accumulation of close-up magic tricks and props. Including over 100 different pocket tricks and gimmicks with cards, coins, and other small objects. Among the items included](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957128_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1286375752)

!["Found" Cups & Balls set. Quebec, S. Fisher & Sons,: [Cups and Balls] "Found" Cups and Balls set. Quebec, S. Fisher & Sons, ca. 1930. Handsome set of three nesting chrome plated brass cups in a leather case. Sold as nesting cups for travelers, but](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957130_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1286375833)
![Paul Fox Cups. Phoenix, Danny Dew, ca. 1960.: [Cups and Balls] Paul Fox Cups. Phoenix, Danny Dew, ca. 1960. Set of three chrome plated beaded cups, each standing 2 7/8" high, with an opening 2 ¾" in diameter. The lower lip of the cups is much](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/dist/images/placeholder.jpg?height=310&quality=70)
![Indian-Style Cups and Balls. American, ca. 1950: [Cups and Balls] Indian-Style Cups and Balls. Bridgeport, Sherms Inc., ca. 1950. Set of three spun metal cups with small turned handles, standing 2 3/8" high, with an opening 2 1/8" in diameter.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957132_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1285774842)
![Mikame Craft Cups and Balls. Japan, Mikame Craft: [Cups and Balls] Mikame Craft Cups and Balls. Japan, Mikame Craft, ca. 1980. Set of three wooden turned cups with two matching sets of four red crocheted balls. Cups stand 3 3/8" high with an opening](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957133_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1285694123)
![P&L Cups. New Haven, Petrie and Lewis, ca. 1950: [Cups and Balls] P&L Cups. New Haven, Petrie and Lewis, ca. 1950. Set of three chrome plated cups, each standing 3 3/8" high, with an opening 2 ¾" in diameter. Very good condition.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957134_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70)







![Collection of 29 decks of playing cards: [Playing Cards] Collection of 29 decks of playing cards. Including commemorative cards, trick decks and ordinary packs. Among those included are a pack of unopened "Cardini" Peau-Doux cards, souvenir](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/22715/7957142_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70)




