Houdini's Original Files - Phillippe

Updated September 21, 2026

Lot number	15
Auction	#54 Featuring Houdini & The Robert Olson Collection
Date	October 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM EDT
Auction house	Haversat & Ewing LLC
Location	Yardley, Pennsylvania

An amazing historical offering from Harry Houdini's personal files. The translated letters of the famous French Magician Phillippe (1802-1878) born Jacques Noel Talon. According to Robert-Houdin, Phillippee was a confectioner, first in Paris and later in Scotland. Philippe learned the secret of the gold-fish trick from the Chinese as he produced bowls of water containing fish from shawls while standing on a table and popularized the Linking Rings. He also performed the trick of lighting many candles on the stage by firing a pistol. Phillippe presented automata, such as the Cossack, the Magic Peacock, and the Harlequin-in-the-Box. He wore the attire of a medieval sorcerer, a first for a performing magician at the time. Included in this lot is a letter Houdini wrote to Will Goldston while in Paris France on November 26, 1913. "My Dear Goldston; Just found out that Phillipi's son Edmond died here in Paris April 1912. No one seems to care but thought you might have an item of news. This is the genuine son of the Phillippi that I make mention of my book and Robert Houdin also has an article re him in his book. I have original letters from the Original Phillippi. Will let you know when we expect to reach London possibly the middle of December. Regards always yours H.H." Houdini had the original Phillippe letters in French transcribed to English, this lot contains those two dozen pages in English as owned by Houdini himself. A treasure-trove of information! $4,500+ (A hand-colored 1840 copper engraving of Phillippe can be found at lot #33 in this auction.)

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