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donsmagic Loyal user 258 Posts |
I have been watching the Christopher auction live and either the economy is not as bad as they say or Bill Gates is buying up everything. The statue on the cover of Illustrated Magic just sold for 45,000 plus 20% auction fee!!!
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Banester Special user 669 Posts |
I see what you mean! Just watched a Kellar/Houdini letter go for $32,500.
The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy -Doug Henning- |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I have wasted way too much time today watching it. Prices are nuts.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Banester Special user 669 Posts |
LOL, I agree Richard on both parts! Some major cash being exchanged!
The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy -Doug Henning- |
John Cox Elite user Studio City, CA 494 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-20 14:30, Banester wrote: Which letter was that, Banester? The Vanishing Elephant one? Hardeen scrapbooks blew away their estimates. http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2011/04/......-in.html |
donsmagic Loyal user 258 Posts |
I saw two Carter letterheads that aren't that rare sell for 250.00?? I couldn't believe the prices. Maybe a lot of European collectors were bidding since our dollar is so weak compared to the euro?
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Artie Fufkin Special user 853 Posts |
Gentlemen, we are but the beggers.
I'm afraid that the old Sheriff of Nottingham vs. Robin Hood and the poor folks days aren't as far behind us as we all might like to think. Because the very rich also need hobbies to keep boredom at bay, they also buy and dominate every aspect of the collection of historically important magic artifacts. For every "I got a nice piece for $250.00", there's dozens of "the goof dropped out when I bid $35,000.00". If I was jaded, I'd say something along the lines of "the Copperfield's of the world wallow endlessly in the riches of magics history while the rest of us simply hope to be able to afford a new deck of cards before the ones get too dirty". But I'm not jaded, so I won't say that. |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Maybe this guys all had their taxes done for this year and decided they needed some big write off's for next year.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
magiquarian New user 91 Posts |
The winners of the auction, asides from Maurine Christopher, were lot 345, a figural inkwell depicting a street conjurer $54,000, followed by 138, Hocus Pocus $48,000 and Houdini original MS for Magic in Boston $48,000.
But, the BIGGEST winner, was Mrs Christopher. Her approximate gross total was some $860K I managed to get some 4/5 lots, nothing that important. Had I been younger I probably would have gone the whole 9 yards even if I had to mortgage my home (I did in 1980). I missed a few, that I just couldn't "afford" to keep. |
magiquarian New user 91 Posts |
Also, reportedly the biggest buyer was a prominent American Magician. Not europeans
Further the bulk of the bidding was done on the phone or internet. Not too many paddles were showing! |
Banester Special user 669 Posts |
Thanks magiquarian. John I do not recall which letter it was, I just caught the tail end of the bidding. Aetie I have mixed feeling about the Copperfields of the world. One is that I would love to own a few pieces of magic history, but on the other hand I am not sure if I would be able to preserve them like they should be something the rich can afford to do. Maybe someday there will be a magic museum for all to enjoy, I know the Houdini museum is terrific!
The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy -Doug Henning- |
donsmagic Loyal user 258 Posts |
Thanks Mario, I knew you would know!
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donsmagic Loyal user 258 Posts |
Banester, There are magic museums in Marshall Michigan, The American Museum of Magic and Ken Klosterman's wonderful magic museum in Ohio.
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magiquarian New user 91 Posts |
Banester, and also many private collectors like Mr Ken Klosterman that would love to show their collections.
If ever in the Sarasota, Ft Myers area there is me, Gale Molovinsky and I am also volunteering Don Hillebrands of "donsmagic".here is laso Terry Harris etc etc We do not like to brag, but it will be your worthwhile! Join The Magic Collectors Assoc to network yourself. I believe the best Magic collections, or 90% of them anyway, are still in private hands Don't know your age group but we need young blood in the Magic Collecting field! So jump in! |
Kevin Connolly Inner circle New Jersey 1329 Posts |
Marion,
Glad to see you're still in the mix. No matter what, it was an amazing auction to watch. I'm glad it went well. Kevin
Please visit my website.
www.houdinihimself.com Always looking buy or trade for original Houdini, Hardeen and escape artist items. I'm interested in books, pitchbooks and ephemera. Email [email]hhoudini@optonline.net[/email] |
martinka New user 67 Posts |
Thank you to all who participated in The Martinka Christopher sale whether it was providing expert information, helping to spread the word or placing your bids. It was an exciting and historic day!
I wish Jackie Flosso could have been there to see it. Robert McGowan personally made sure each and every internet bid got to the floor and did it for the duration without a break! David Haversat did an excellent job in selecting the items, researching them, producing the catalog and more! David Goodman kept the in room crowd energized in an AMAZING nonstop performance. Wow! Thank you again and we hope that you join us for the next auction at martinka.com |
dgoodman New user 23 Posts |
For those that are interested, the offical prices realized can be found here: http://www.martinka.com/martinka/chris/.
Thank you to all who participated to help make this a historic day. David Goodman The Magic Auctioneer 2859 N. Hermitage Ave. Chicago, Il 60657 773-883-0243 http://www.magicauctioneer.com |
Clay Shevlin Elite user 497 Posts |
Quote:
Artie Fufkin wrote: The complaint about magic collecting being “a rich man's game” has been around for decades, and yes, there is some truth to it. But IMHO it would be a mistake to believe that the “very rich … buy and dominate every aspect of the collection of historically important magic artifacts.” Even today, a person of very modest means could assemble a wonderful collection of magicana, “historically important” magicana at that. Money is not the big issue – dedication and a willingness to learn are the keys. P.S. Quite a bit of stuff went pretty cheap at the Christopher auction. |
magiquarian New user 91 Posts |
I agree with Clay, I used to go to every worthwhile Book Fair and Antique show and picked up wonderful things, reasonably and sometimes a steal.
Also you have one more tool that did not exist years ago, THE INTERNET! So arm yourself accordingly. Patience and perseverance pays off. |
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