Harry Houdini, Spiritualist Debunker, Boldly Signed Letter: "a medium here has a millionaire in her toils"

A 1p typed letter boldly signed by American illusionist Harry Houdini (1874-1926) as "Houdini" at lower right. Houdini's large signature measures 2.5" x 1.25" alone. August 15, 1925. [New York, New York.] On a half-sheet of custom stationery with "Houdini / 278 West 113th Street / New York, N.Y." letterhead. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a partial fingerprint smudge in blue ink near the salutation. Double hole-punched at top, with one hole slightly discolored. Else near fine. 8.375" x 5.375."

Harry Houdini wrote this letter to German writer Carl Graf von Klinckowstroem (1884-1969). An independently wealthy intellectual from Munich, Von Klinckowstroem was a historian of science, technology, and culture. He was intrigued by the occult, especially the Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg, but he also showed a receptiveness to Houdini's skepticism about false mediums. In the letter, Houdini refers to a German language magazine, "Physische Studien" ["Physical Studies"].

Houdini wrote in part:

"Thanks for your postal card. Your book arrived in good condition. I am looking for a German to translate the "Studien" so that I can reply. Thanks for the photograph.

Enclose[d] [find] you[r] paper and you will notice where a medium here has a millionaire in her toils…"

Houdini's mysterious statement, "a medium here has a millionaire in her toils" most likely referred to what was dubbed the "Max Phillips Soft Collar Conspiracy" and "The Great Collar Mystery" in contemporary newspapers. The case involved Max Phillips, the millionaire playboy and New Jersey clothing manufacturer, and the "Rev." Mrs. Margaret Campbell Mortlock, a spiritualist medium from New York City. (Mrs. Mortlock is listed in "Hartmann's Who's Who in Occult, Physic and Spiritual Realms…in the United States and Foreign Countries" (New York: Occult Press, 1925) as one of the "Spiritualist Associates, Mediums, Healers and Ministers" in New York state on page 71.) Phillips was associated with the Phillips-Jones Company and the Phillips Van Heusen Clothing Company, and had made millions selling men's wear including a very comfortable soft-collared golf shirt. Phillips had visited Mrs. Mortlock for business advice on upcoming transactions.

Mrs. Mortlock's spiritualist practice attracted Houdini's attention during the summer of 1925. Houdini dispatched his principal investigator Rose Mackenberg (1892-1968) and a female police detective named Elizabeth Michaels to Mrs. Mortlock's studio on August 11, 1925 to see if they could obtain evidence of illegal fortune-telling. Max Phillips, who had been in an adjoining room during the investigators' visit, had been subpoenaed when subsequent fortune-telling charges were filed against Mrs. Mortlock. Phillips soon alleged that Mrs. Mortlock's arrest was part of a criminal conspiracy to entrap him on a yacht with multiple women (including a fake Russian countess). Mrs. Mortlock's gang plotted to expose him for violating a morality clause of the Mann Act, to publicly embarrass him, and to threaten his business, Phillips claimed. Mrs. Mortlock was arrested and convicted of fortune-telling in early September 1925; the usual penalty was $50.

The sensational Max Phillips / Margaret Campbell Mortlock fortune-telling case had all of the elements of a sell-out tabloid: a filthy rich divorced polo player; a charlatan medium; Harry Houdini's undercover investigators; foreign agents; sex trafficking; business collusion… It was another successful case cracked by Harry Houdini.

During the last half of his career as a celebrated illusionist, stuntman, and entertainer, Houdini emerged as one of the world's preeminent psychical researchers. After over 30 years of applied study, Houdini had built up a massive archive of relevant scholarship, and his expertise on the subject enabled him to routinely lecture at American universities. Houdini actively investigated fraudulent mediums, in his view thus preserving the real art and craft of explicable magic. In the 1920s, Houdini had famously sponsored a $30,000 cash prize (drawn from numerous sources) to be presented to any genuine medium. Houdini's investigations into mediums had resulted in dozens of convictions.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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