Harry Houdini was supposed to be the star, but an unpretentious, 18th-century book did the trick that wowed the audience at Swann Galleries recent sale of magic memorabilia. The Whole Art of Legerdemain, or, Hocus Pocus by Henry Dean realized $39,100 on a presale estimate of $500 to $700. A woodcut from the book is shown.

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