The Genii Forum

Potter & Potter Auctions will be handling the sale of the collections of Bruce Cervon & Dai Vernon on January 30, 2010. You can get the details at http://www.potterauctions.com/

The PDF version of the catalog is now posted at Potter's site.

Lot 240: Dai Vernon's Inner Card Trilogy, Ricky Jay's Copy

This book was presented to one of Vernon's most famous, lauded and accomplished acolytes, Ricky Jay. Laid in is a TLS from Jay that states, "I have looked at and thought about the compilation of Inner Secrets book that you gave me recently in San Francisco. The entire production, especially the creaky and labored signature done by the Professor at the end of his life, makes me ill. I am herewith returning the book."

Many other interesting items as well...

Here's the original post from Nov 13th in the Cervon thread:
http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubb ... Post205308

Glad it's not buried there any longer. :-)

I just posted a chat with Gabe Fujari who is curating the Vernon/Cervon Auction on January 30th for Potter & Potter Auctions. In addition to discussing some of the items that are in the sale, he also shares some interesting stories about the Jay Marshall auction including the "secret location" in which he found Jay's first edition copy of the Discoverie of Witchcraft.
http://bit.ly/8WF7Er

more...

http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/s ... docid=1656

The auction is today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4TxCaUB5hs

It's fun to watch the live auction even if not bidding!

The Vernon/Phyfe print just sold for $2000.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6941509

What are some other realized prices?

I caught the tail end of the auction (when books were being auctioned) and the prices were fairly high. Looks like the recession in magic book prices is over...

$4,000 Henning
$3,400 Hofziner card
$2,000 "Dead List"
$16,000 prop case
$5,000 14k coin
$1,800 biz card plate

Here are some highlights. The first price is the actual sale price and the second is estimated auction value set in the catalog.

Buchinger Portrait :: 2800 :: 700-900
Buffum, Richard. Dai Vernon Interview Transcript :: 1400 :: 750-850
Bruce Cervon's private files - magic correspondence :: 2000 :: 500-600
Archive of Roger Klause/Bruce Cervon correspondence :: 1000 :: 250-350
18 packs of playing cards owned/used by Dai Vernon :: 1300 :: 200-300
Archive of 116 letters from Faucett Ross to Bruce Cervon :: 2200 :: 1000-1200
Dai Vernon's Academy of the Art of Magic Medallion :: 6500 :: 5000-6000
Bamberg, David (Fu-Manchu). Sepia-toned length portrait :: 2200 :: 300-400
Archive of Doug Henning/Dai Vernon ephemera. :: 4000 :: 350-550
Hofzinser, Johan Nepomuk. Hofzinser Playing Card :: 3400 :: 1000-1500
Dai Vernon's Address Book and book of routines :: 1100 :: 150-250
Dai Vernon's "Dead List." Handwritten by Vernon :: 2000 :: 300-500
First U.S. Passport of Dai Vernon. Issued in 1958 :: 1700 :: 150-250
Dai Vernon's Prop Case :: 16000 :: 5000-6000
Dai Vernon's personal scrapbook and photo album :: 6500 :: 5000-6000
Scrapbook from Dai Vernon's 82nd Birthday. Compile :: 1100 :: 100-200
Dai Vernon's personal 14K solid gold Spinning Coin :: 5000 :: 2000-3000
Servais Leroy's Magic Wand :: 950 :: 75-150
Mysto Magic Set No. 2010.., ca. 1921 :: 2800 :: 1000-1500
Triangular Production. Okito, circa 1946 :: 1500 :: 300-500
Ganson, Lewis. Dai Vernon's Inner Card Trilogy. :: 1000 :: 250-350
Archive of C. A. George Newmann manuscripts :: 1500 :: 100-200
Nicola's unique antique Chinese embroidered vest :: 3000 :: 500-1000
Contract for Okito's Employment with Thurston :: 3600 :: 400-600
Wallace the Magician 3 sheet poster :: 1300 :: 500-750

4. 2,800 Buchinger
12. 2,000 BC Correspondence
24. 1,000 RK/BC Correspondence
34. 1,300 DV Playing Cards
35. 2,200 FR/BC Corresopondence
56. 2,600 Ball and Cone
57. 2,200 Bamberg S.P.
61. 1,300 DV Card Clip
117. 1,700 DV 1959 Passport
240. 1,000 RJ copy of DV BoM w/ return letter
274. 1,100 Private DE of DV Chronicles
303. 1,500 Newmann Archive
310. 3,600 Okito Contract

Was that the final price pre/post buyers premium? At 20%, the prices will go up if pre.

Anything good in Houdini? I didn't see a catalog, so I didn't bid.

Terry wrote:Was that the final price pre/post buyers premium? At 20%, the prices will go up if pre.

Pre.

Kevin Connolly wrote:Anything good in Houdini? I didn't see a catalog, so I didn't bid.

Not much about Houdini, other than some photos: you can see what was available here.

The catalog was available both as a PDF AND on LiveAuctioneers (and printed, of course :) ).

I thought the auction was today (Sunday), so I missed the first 2/3 of it!!! :mad: I've still been able to secure some of the later lots, but those I was really interested in had already gone :( It's only thanks to the Genii Forum that I've realized that the auction was already ongoing.

All the best,

I cannot find a complete list of results at the site. Am I missing it, or is it not available?

(Oh, and those prices realized sure shoot to hell my thought that magic collectables--at least some of them--are in a world of hurt; Cheese & Crackers!)

Dustin

There were quite a few unique items in this auction and I think that's why certain prices went high. The general value of magic collectibles has not returned to where it was a decade ago.

Dustin Stinett wrote:I cannot find a complete list of results at the site. Am I missing it, or is it not available?

You can find the results on live auctioneers

I am seeing the catalog (with the low & high estimates),which I always could, but not the results. Oh well...

You have to be registered, Dustin. When you do that you get the realized prices.

Someone popped $16,000 for Vernon's prop box. Adding in the premium brings it up to nearly $20,000.

I was able to watch a few items 'live' on line. As the lot was sold, the final price was temporarily posted (hence the $2K for the Phyfe photo).

If you're registered and logged on LiveAuctioneers, you'll be able to see the prices realized (but I'm not sure if you also have to be registered for that particular auction...).

I think Gabe Fajuri will publish the prices in a few days on the Potters & Potters site.

Yeah, don't I just feel like the idiot (of course I am what I am). I registered and they are there.

Thanks David!

Dustin

Many thanks to all who participated in what was a successful, strong sale.

The prices realized in PDF format will be posted at www.potterauctions.com in the next week or so. In the meantime, feel free to visit Liveauctioneers.com to review the results of the auction.

Also, visit our blog at www.potterauctions.com for information about upcoming sales. Our next is scheduled for May 16th, and will feature more rarities from the collection of Jay Marshall - including props used by Fred Kaps and other vintage apparatus, rare posters, books and ephemera.

Gabe Fajuri