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)
![[CUPS & BALLS] The Juggler of the Chateau d’Eau. London: W....: [CUPS & BALLS] The Juggler of the Chateau d’Eau. London: W. Sams, 1820s. Iconic hand-colored engraving from the Tableaux de Paris of a street magician performing the Cups and Balls for a crowd](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311191_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[DRUMMING] Napoleon’s First Tambour Major. [London]: Lownde...: [DRUMMING] Napoleon’s First Tambour Major. [London]: Lowndes, Printer, ca. 1830. Letterpress broadside advertising the nightly performances of this drum major whose recitals are to include](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311192_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)


![[EQUESTRIAN] The Beautiful Broncho Horses, Bravo, Bonito, K...: [EQUESTRIAN] The Beautiful Broncho Horses, Bravo, Bonito, Kittie, Cupid & Flora. Buffalo: Clay, Cosack & Co., [1877]. Lithograph bears a central image of two trained horses balancing on an outsized](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311195_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[EQUESTRIAN] Cirque D’Hiver. Paris: Louis Galice, ca. 1890....: [EQUESTRIAN] Cirque D’Hiver. Paris: Louis Galice, ca. 1890. Evocative color stone lithograph depicts an acrobat balancing atop a large ball with a bird perched on one hand with a woman riding](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311196_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[EQUESTRIAN] A Most Surprising Horse from Courland. [London...: [EQUESTRIAN] A Most Surprising Horse from Courland. [London], (1761). Early illustrated letterpress handbill/broadside with floral border, heralding the appearance of Mr. Grotean and his amazing](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311197_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[EQUESTRIAN] Ryan’s Circus. Second Change of Splendid & Nov...: [EQUESTRIAN] Ryan’s Circus. Second Change of Splendid & Novel Performances. Northampton: Freeman, Printer, 1837. Letterpress broadside with large wood-engraved image of a scene from](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311198_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[EQUILIBRISTS] Les Freres Cellmar’s. [Paris] Affiches M. Co...: [EQUILIBRISTS] Les Freres Cellmar’s. [Paris] Affiches M. Collin, ca. 1910. Two-color one sheet poster for the brother-act of hand balancers pictured here in both medallion portraits near the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311199_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[ERDNASE] ANDREWS, Milton Franklin (1872 – 1905). Portrait ...: [ERDNASE] ANDREWS, Milton Franklin (1872 – 1905). Portrait from “The Man Who Was Erdnase.” Providence: Rose & Sands (Ye Rose Studio), ca. 1900. Half-length sepia tone portrait](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311200_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)




![[Evans, Gerritt] “A Retired Professional,” pseudo. How Gamb...: [Evans, Gerritt] “A Retired Professional,” pseudo. How Gamblers Win. New York: Fitzgerald Publishing Corporation, (1868)/later impression (ca. 1890s). Publisher’s colored pictorial](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311205_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![POULTRY FOR THE MILLIONS. [EXHIBITION] Cantelo’s Patent Hyd...: [EXHIBITION] Cantelo’s Patent Hydro Incubator Ephemera. 1850s. A small archive of three pictorial broadsides, three handbills, and five contemporary clippings (two pictorial, extracted from The](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311206_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[LION TAMER] FALK, Ella. Miss Ella. Hamburg: Adolph Friedla...: [LION TAMER] FALK, Ella. Miss Ella. Hamburg: Adolph Friedlander, 1900. One-sheet color stone lithograph bears vignettes of Ella and her big cats in a variety of poses and stunts (including one in](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311207_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)


![FARMER, John S. Musa Pedestris. Three Centuries of Canting ...: FARMER, John S. Musa Pedestris. Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes. [London]: Privately printed for subscribers only, 1896. From the deluxe edition of 500 copies, bound in one third](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311210_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![[FASTING] Reynolds, John. A Discourse Upon Prodigious Absti...: [FASTING] Reynolds, John. A Discourse Upon Prodigious Abstinence: Occasioned by the Twelve Months Fasting of Martha Taylor, The Famed Derbyshire Damosell. London: Printed by R.W. for Nevill Simmons,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311212_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[FAT BOY] The Giant Baby Boy. Plymouth: Halbert Litho., ca....: [FAT BOY] The Giant Baby Boy. Plymouth: Halbert Litho., ca. 1885. Full-length lithographed portrait of a corpulent young man, advertising his presence and an exhibition of his girth at The](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311213_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[FAT LADY] A Good Piece. London: Published by W. Holland, O...: [FAT LADY] A Good Piece. London: Published by W. Holland, October 23, 1801. Print depicts a corpulent woman standing in the foreground of a scene at a London fair; in the background a crowd is](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311214_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
