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)



![[ACROBATICS & CIRCUS] Gymnastische Kunste (Gymnastic Arts)....: [ACROBATICS & CIRCUS] Gymnastische Kunste (Gymnastic Arts). Düsseldorf: Arnz & Co., ca. 1800. Horizontal hand-tinted engraving pictures a lively scene on a fairground of all manner of acrobatic](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311242_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![GYNGELL, Daniel (1773 – 1833). Mr. Gyngell. Deceptions. Lam...: GYNGELL, Daniel (1773 – 1833). Mr. Gyngell. Deceptions. Lambeth [London]: T. Romney, Printer, 1815. Letterpress broadside describes the “wonderful pieces of mechanism” (automatons),](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311243_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[HANLON BROTHERS] Chéret, Jules (1836 – 1932). Folies-Berge...: [HANLON BROTHERS] Chéret, Jules (1836 – 1932). Folies-Bergere. Les Hanlon-Lees. Paris: Cheret, [ca. 1879]. Color stone lithograph bears a central full-length image of one of the Hanlon](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311244_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)


![HARTZ, Joseph Michael (1836 – 1903). Souvenir of Prof. Hart...: HARTZ, Joseph Michael (1836 – 1903). Souvenir of Prof. Hartz. [New York]: American Oleograph Co., ca. 1874. Purple printed wraps with a portrait of Hartz on the upper, and advertising on the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311247_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)


![HENRY, M. Novel Experiments. The Black Chamber & Appearance...: HENRY, M. Novel Experiments. The Black Chamber & Appearance of Spectre Envelloped in Clouds. [London]: B. Johnson, Printer, ca. 1820. Letterpress bill with large wood-engraved image of a ghost being](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311250_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)




![HERRMANN, Alexander (1844 – 96). Herrmann. Decapitation. [P...: HERRMANN, Alexander (1844 – 96). Herrmann. Decapitation. [Poster Maquette]. Chicago: The Jeffrey Printing Co., ca. 1878. Hand painted poster maquette presenting a dark and menacing scene.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311255_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)
![[HERRMANN, Compars (1816 – 87)] Trollstafwen: Knaste handbo...: [HERRMANN, Compars (1816 – 87)] Trollstafwen: Knaste handbok i taskspelarekonsten och den naturliga magie. Stockholm: Sugfrid Flodins Forlag, 1857. Buff printed wrappers with a wood-engraved](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311256_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![[ALBINO] HERVEY, Miss. The Beautiful Nyctalops. [London]: J...: [ALBINO] HERVEY, Miss. The Beautiful Nyctalops. [London]: John Raphael Smith, ca. 1800. Stipple engraving attractively hand-colored and being a striking three-quarter length seated portrait of the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311258_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)

![[HOTTENTOT VENUS (Sarah Bartman, c. 1789 – 1815)] Williams,...: [HOTTENTOT VENUS (Sarah Bartman, c. 1789 – 1815)] Williams, Charles [?]. The Three Graces. London: Fores, Nov. 13, 1810. Hand-colored etching, being a satirical depiction of three](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/274472/144311260_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1673893579)


