$8,500
Bodie, Dr. Walford. The Great and Only Dr. Walford Bodie. London & Birmingham: James Upton, ca. 1910. A court scene in which Bodie passes 30,000 volts through his body in front of wig-clad judges and “an expert electrician” at the High Courts, London. The scene is complemented by vignettes of an electric chair, x-rays, a “cage of death,” and “electric bombs.” 27 1/2 x 19". Remargined, minor restoration in image at old folds. B. Scarce.Nearly equal parts conjurer and con man, Scottish-born Bodie was undoubtedly a great showman. He practiced hypnotism, ventriloquism, and presented electrical experiments on stage as well as demonstrations of “bloodless surgery.” This poster, commemorating the great “Bodie Trial,” in which he was sued and lost a case for misrepresentation of his credentials, bears a striking resemblance to the famous 1902 Houdini poster advertising the escape artist’s triumph in a Cologne courtroom.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2016-06-25
