From Houdini to Harry Price

Harry Houdini and Harry Price maintained a long correspondence. It mainly concerned investigations into mediums, particularly Houdini’s séances with Margery Crandon. They also wrote on their shared passion on collecting books, particularly early conjuring books. Houdini amassed an extensive library, of which he boasts in this letter to Price in 1920. His collection is now in the Library of Congress and the Harry Ransom Centre. This portrait, sent to Price in 1921, includes a note about one of Price’s prize finds: the first edition of Hocus Pocus Junior.