Paul Daniels' poster collection and magic items being auctioned by SAS in Newbury today (Thursday, November 24)
The magician Paul Daniels was a huge collector of 'magic' memorabilia going back to the early 20th century.
Among his many treasured possessions were hundreds of posters, which are now up for sale at Special Auction Services in Newbury.
Alongside the 400 plus posters are many other items, which the magician had collected over the years, including his own props for the tricks he performed with Debbie McGee.
The sale is taking place yesterday and today (Thursday, November 24), with more than a thousand items going under the hammer.
A particularly rare poster of Chung Ling Soo. A popular magician in the late 19th and early 20th century, Chung Ling Soo was actually an American conjuror born William Ellsworth Campbell.
He became famous in England by impersonating a Chinese magician, Ching Ling Foo, both on and off the stage. Accused by Ching in 1904 of being an imposter, Chung admitted to the masquerade, but it did not detract from his popularity.
Campbell was still playing Chung Ling Soo in 1918, when he was accidentally shot to death while doing a bullet-catching trick.
Paul Daniels amassed more than 400 posters in his collection. The posters are all in immaculate condition and date back to the early 1900s. SAS director Thomas Forrester said: "This is the most important poster collection to be sold in the UK ever. We estimate that the posters alone will fetch between £40,000-£60,000.
The auction is online from noon today (Thursday):
Lots 395 to 631 – Magic Ephemera and Related Materials
Lots 632 to 708 – Tricks
Lots 709 to 731 – Illusions
Lots 732 to 733 – Mystery Clocks
Lots 734 to 771 – Paul Daniels Ephemera
One of Paul Daniels' signature tricks was this illusion. Debbie McGee, Paul's wife and fellow performer, would step inside a box, which had three geometric shapes on it, and Paul would shackle her inside the box.
He would then proceed to pass iron rods through the box from front to back, as well as large metal shapes. When the rods and other shapes are all removed, Miss McGee is still inside the box unharmed.
The original box, that Paul Daniels made for the trick, is one of the highlights in the forthcoming sale.
There is something for everyone in the range of items up for sale. Lovers of magic will be able to snap up a pack of playing cards or a trick prop for anything ranging from £10 to thousands of pounds.
Also up for sale are the packing cases that travelled around the world with the magician and which carry his name.
