ALS written and signed by Harry Houdini on behalf of himself and his wife, “Harry and Bessie Houdini,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, 6th Annual Tour letterhead, no date but circa 1896. Handwritten letter on ornate letterhead printed for his 6th Annual Tour in 1896, in full: "If you can't offer us a salary, let me know just what you will do for us, as I don't want to join the show & leave you to hay, reframing etc. etc. as that it will eat up all the money. Hermann the Great stole the idea of our act from us & he featured it. You could easily bill us as strong as you want. I don't drink, smoke, or chew and we are good useful people, dress fair and willing workers. If you can do any thing for us we would be more than pleased to hear from you as soon as possible as I am looking forward to book our act East. Hoping to hear from you at an early date." He adds a postscript: "We play Castle House the Olympic week after next so please let me know in time so I can cancel him & not on short notice." Given the absence of a salutation or date, these appear to be the last two pages of a longer letter; however, they form a complete thought as Houdini seeks to book shows early in his career. In very good to fine condition, with light creasing and old tape stains.
In 1894, while performing with his brother 'Dash' (Theodore Hardeen) at Coney Island as 'The Brothers Houdini,' Harry Houdini met a fellow performer, Wilhelmina Beatrice 'Bess' Rahner. They quickly fell in love and married on June 22, 1894; Bess replaced Dash in the act, which became known as 'The Houdinis,' and worked as Harry's stage assistant for the rest of his performing career. In the letterhead for their 1896 tour, Harry is billed as a "Magician introducing the latest Egyptian, Oriental and Modern Miracles," and Bess is pitched as "The World's Greatest Psychometric Artist, Clairvoyante and Exponent of Mental Occultism." In trying to book a new gig, Houdini relates that Alexander Herrmann—known as Herrmann the Great, the most famous magician of the day—lifted one of his acts, most probably the 'Asiatic Trunk Mystery.' Around 1900, Houdini began to earn an international reputation for his daring feats of extraction from shackles, ropes, and handcuffs, making this early letter all the more remarkable.
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