Spirit of HOUDINI Escapes Spirit World, and may oversee Major Houdini Auction of his Diary, Spiritual Research Scrapbook, and other personal effects.

Major Houdini Auction to be held at Swann Galleries in New York on Halloween. The 76th annivarsary of his Death. This auction includes Houdini's personal Diary and one of His Main research scrapbooks used to expose fraudulent mediums and spiritualists.

There will be a Major Auction of Houdini memorabilia including Houdini's Personal 1916 Diary, on the anniversary of Houdini's Death.

Rumor has it that The Ghost of Houdini will be present at the auction.

This Auction is the coveted Manny Weltman Houdini collection, and will be held at Swann Galleries in New York, on the morning of Halloween October 31st, 2002.

Manny Weltman was one of the World's recognized leading Houdini historians before he passed away in 1994. He was the Houdini historian for the world famous private Magic Club in Hollywood known as the "Magic Castle" where parts of his collection have often been placed for display.

He was also a major consultant and contributor to many of the documentaries and films made on Houdini's life, including A&E's Biography on Houdini. Much of the recognized film footage and photographs in many of these programs, were licensed from the Manny Weltman Houdini collection.

Manny started his fascination and collection of Houdini at the age of 12 years old, and continued it up to his passing at the age of 62. For 50 years, Manny researched, wrote, and collected what has now become one of the most coveted collections of Houdiniana in America. He even wrote a book on Houdini that was honored and recommended by the Library of Congress.

Just some of the many items up for auction are:

Houdini's 1916 Diary. This is a Standard American Journal Diary Houdini kept for the year 1916. It contains Houdinis hand written entries that include deep personal thoughts Houdini had in regard to both his mother and father as he visited his mothers grave site. He even visited his old childhood home where he recalls his father passing away. The estimated range of the Diary is $40,000 to $60,000.

As far as known, there has never been any other Houdini Diary ever available for sale to the public.

Also available is a very impressive Scrap Book on Psychic Phenomena, the occult, and spiritualism, started by Chung Ling Soo, kept by Henry Ridgley Evens, and then given as a gift to Houdini as one of Houdini's research tools to debunk many of the fraudulent mediums of the time. Houdini then kept, used, and added to this scrapbook until his death, when it was passed on to Houdini's personal secretary, Oscar Teale who continued the scrapbook from then on.

This Scrap Book also includes a vast number of interesting magic items, from programs, playbills, banquet menus of magic conventions featuring Houdini, calling cards Houdini collected from other contemporary magicians of his day, letters, including a brief two line letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, along with a catalog of the Psychic books Conan Doyle sold in his book store, and the list goes on. The Scrap book is well organized in portions that devote entire sections not only on the Occult, Magic, and Houdini, but to people like Conan Doyle, The Fox Sisters, Margery, and many other "Spiritualists" of America's past.

Much of the information in this scrap book would be beneficial even today in exposing the Fraudulent mediums and psychics of the present that permeate our culture, and media waves, claiming to be able to talk to the DEAD.

This scrapbook is a RESEARCHER'S DREAM come TRUE. The Scrap book is estimated at $35,000 - $50,000

Even Posters, including an Authentic Original "Houdini King of Cards" Poster, and an Authentic Original "Man From Beyond" Movie Poster.

An "OPEN" Signed letter from Houdini to President Calvin Coolidge as a petition to block the repeal of Legislation to control "False Spiritual Practices".

Houdini signed letters, books, pamphlets, programs, photos, and contract. Also many other rare Houdini Challenges and unique advertising pieces.

This is just a small sampling of what is available in the Manny Weltman Collection. There are well over 150 different lots that will be Auctioned on Halloween Morning.

Houdini truly represents a "Slice of Americana".

The Catalogs should be available soon and can be ordered now.
Bids can be made also by mail in advance or by prearranged phone registration by contacting Swann Galleries in advance to register for their live phone line bidding. Also pre-auction bids can be made online by going to the Swann Galleries web site when the catalog is online, which should be the first week of October, and entering a bid for any item listed in the catalog online before the auction.

For further information on the Collection, you may contact Gary Garland at Swann Galleries (212) 254-4710. Or for Catalog info and bid registration, you may also contact the front desk at Swann Galleries at (212) 254-4710.

You may also visit the website for Swann Galleries at "www.swanngalleries.com", which also has the catalog online there now.