Houdini prop sets $324K world auction record at Potter & Potter

Harry Houdini’s automatic flowering rosebush magic apparatus, $324,000

CHICAGO – Potter & Potter Auctions’ October 31 magic event, timed to coincide with Halloween and the anniversary of the death of escape artist and magician Harry Houdini, realized a healthy $1.2 million total. But no one anticipated the excitement – or record-busting results – one phenomenal item would generate. That was lot #68, Harry Houdini’s automatic flowering rosebush. Estimated at $25,000-$50,000, it achieved $324,000, nearly 13 times its estimate. This object now holds the world record for the most-expensive piece of magic memorabilia sold at public auction.

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Wild about Harry Houdini? Potter & Potter’s Oct. 29 sale delivers

Detail of a signed and inscribed movie still depicting Harry Houdini in the film ‘The Grim Game,’ estimated at $2,500-$5,000
Left, Harry Houdini’s automatic flowering rosebush magic apparatus, estimated at $25,000-$50,000; Center, first edition of Houdini’s book, ‘The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin,’ estimated at $1,500-$2,500; Right, a signed and inscribed movie still of Houdini in the film ‘The Grim Game,’ estimated at $2,500-$5,000.
Left, Harry Houdini’s automatic flowering rosebush magic apparatus, estimated at $25,000-$50,000; Center, first edition of Houdini’s book, ‘The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin,’ estimated at $1,500-$2,500; Right, a signed and inscribed movie still of Houdini in the film ‘The Grim Game,’ estimated at $2,500-$5,000.

CHICAGO – On Saturday, October 29, starting at 10 am Central time, Potter & Potter Auctions will present Salon De Magie -The Klosterman Collection Part III, a 370-lot sale of historically significant magic apparatus, archives, collections and literature. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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