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Photo, Print, Drawing [Title page of "Revelations of a spirit medium," with illustration of a seance, published in St. Paul, Minnesota]

[ color film copy transparency of b&w original ]

Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress.

About this Item

Title

  • [Title page of "Revelations of a spirit medium," with illustration of a seance, published in St. Paul, Minnesota]

Created / Published

  • 1891.

Headings

  • -  Mediums--1890-1900
  • -  Seances--1890-1900

Headings

  • Book illustrations--1890-1900.
  • Prints--1890-1900.
  • Title pages--1890-1900.

Genre

  • Book illustrations--1890-1900
  • Title pages--1890-1900
  • Prints--1890-1900

Notes

  • -  In "Revelations of a spirit medium, or spiritualistic mysteries exposed" (1891), a seminal text in the field of escapology, the anonymous author(s), "A Medium," described how individuals thought to be tied by ropes and confined in sacks and cabinets effected their escapes. Free of restraints but not known to be so, these mediums were able to present phenomena allegedly proving communication with the world beyond. The evolving art of seance magic utilized spirit knots, musical instruments, slate writing, rapping hands, sack tests, and spirit collars.
  • -  Magician Harry Kellar incorporated into his performances tricks learned from the famous mediums (and brothers) Ira Erastus and William Henry Davenport. But it was through Houdini that the new field of seance magic found full expression. He emphasized the responsibility of magicians to acknowledge that magic is a purely human skill, and to expose fraudulent mediums who claimed their illusions were the result of contact with the world beyond.

Medium

  • 1 print.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • Houdini Collection [Rare Book RR]

Repository

  • Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

  • cph 3g03280 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3g03280

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 96519273

Reproduction Number

  • LC-USZC4-3280 (color film copy transparency of b&w original)

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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  • Rights Advisory: See Rights and Restrictions Information Page
  • Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-3280 (color film copy transparency of b&w original)
  • Call Number: Houdini Collection <item> [Rare Book RR]
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

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    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
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    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.

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    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Title page of "Revelations of a spirit medium," with illustration of a seance, published in St. Paul, Minnesota. , 1891. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/96519273/.

APA citation style:

(1891) Title page of "Revelations of a spirit medium," with illustration of a seance, published in St. Paul, Minnesota. , 1891. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/96519273/.

MLA citation style:

Title page of "Revelations of a spirit medium," with illustration of a seance, published in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/96519273/>.