Done
Chicago, IL, United States
Auction Details
The Ricky Jay Collection
Potter & Potter Auctions
Potter & Potter is thrilled to bring to auction the remarkable, singular, eclectic collection of Ricky Jay, the lauded actor, celebrated sleight-of-hand magician, and noted author, who curated his own extensive collection of magic, circus, and showbiz ephemera - a one of a kind wunderkammer. From literature of cheating, gambling and conmen, to vibrant circus and sideshow posters, flamboyant text-filled broadsides spanning the last four centuries, and memorabilia of magic shows of yesteryear, this, the first of three auctions promises to be a true celebration of curious characters and the rare relics that tell their stories.
Auction Curator:

Gabe Fajuri
PresidentTOP
![JAY, Ricky. Ricky Jay. On the Stem. [New York], 2003. One-s...](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311274_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![Is Conan Doyle Right? Cleveland: J. Morgan Litho., [1923]. ...](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311151_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1673893579)






![[BARNUM & BAILEY] Die Barnum & Bailey. Groesste Schaustellu...: [BARNUM & BAILEY] DIE BARNUM & BAILEY. GROESSTE SCHAUSTELLUNG DER WELT. (Japanese Acrobat). Cincinnati & New York: Strobridge Litho. Co., ca. 1898. Half-sheet color stone lithograph depicting a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311101_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[BARNUM & BAILEY] The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Eart...: [BARNUM & BAILEY] THE BARNUM & BAILEY GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. EQUESTRIENNES. Cincinnati & New York: The Strobridge Litho Co., ca. 1901. One-sheet color lithograph for the French tour of Barnum &](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311102_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![[BEARDED LADIES] Eight Bearded Lady CDV Portraits. Circa 18...: [BEARDED LADIES] EIGHT BEARDED LADY CDV PORTRAITS. Circa 1880s. Carte de visite photographs on original studio mounts featuring Miss Delina Rossa (two portraits), Annie Jones (three images), Madam](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311104_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[BEARDED LADY] CLOFULLIA, Josephine (1829 – 70). Col. Wood’...: [BEARDED LADY] CLOFULLIA, Josephine (1829 – 70). COL. WOOD’S MUSEUM OF LIVING WONDERS. Ogensburgh, N.Y.: Hitchcock, Tillotson & Stillwell, Printers, ca. 1865. Pictorial broadside for the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311105_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)


![BERTRAM, Charles (James Bassett, 1853 – 1907). Souvenir Fla...: BERTRAM, Charles (James Bassett, 1853 – 1907). SOUVENIR FLAGS AND PROGRAMME. [London], ca. 1886. Including a bi-fold letterpress program for the “Séance Magique” presented by](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311108_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![BEFFIN, Sarah (1784 – 1850). Three Portraits of Armless Art...: BEFFIN, Sarah (1784 – 1850). THREE PORTRAITS OF ARMLESS ARTIST SARAH BEFFIN. London: Darton and Clarke, ca. 1820 [et al]. A triptych of three consecutive states of the well-known lithographed](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311109_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![[AUTOMATA] BLIND, Adolphe (1862 – 1925). Les Automates Truq...: [AUTOMATA] BLIND, Adolphe (1862 – 1925). LES AUTOMATES TRUQUÉS. Paris: Bossard, 1927. Original printed wraps, laid down image of chess-playing automaton on upper cover as issued. Profusion](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311111_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![BLIND TOM (Thomas Wiggins, 1849 – 1908). The Marvelous Musi...: BLIND TOM (Thomas Wiggins, 1849 – 1908). THE MARVELOUS MUSICAL PRODIGY BLIND TOM. THE NEGRO BOY PIANIST. New York: French & Wheat, Book and Job Printers, [1874?]. Pictorial yellow wraps bearing](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311113_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![BLITZ, Signor (Antonio Van Zandt, 1810 - 77). The Vagaries ...: BLITZ, Signor (Antonio Van Zandt, 1810 - 77). The Vagaries of a Ventriloquist. Philadelphia: U. States Steam Power Book and Job Printing Office, Ledger Building, 1851. iv, [5] , 6 – 24. 12mo.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311115_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![BLITZ, Signor (Antonio Van Zandt, d. 1877). Great & Marvell...: BLITZ, Signor (Antonio Van Zandt, 1810 - 77). Great & Marvellous Attraction. Upwards of 150 Learned Canary Birds. [New York, ca. 1870]. Pictorial letterpress broadside for an appearance of Blitz at](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311116_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)


