95: Germain's Mummy Trick carved by his father.ca. 1900

Germain's Mummy Trick. Cleveland, Charles Mattemuller, ca. 1900. A pair of wooden figures hand carved by Karl Germain's father in the form of Egyptian serfs, and specially constructed for the performance of the venerable Bonus Genius vanishing doll trick. Each figure stands 7" high. Paint significantly rubbed on one figure and both showing wear from age, but overall good condition. Unique. Accompanied by a handwritten letter of provenance from Germain's close personal friend and biographer, Stuart Cramer to Jay Marshall stating: "Unfortunately I have very little information about this. The figures were carved by Germain's father (how did he make them look so much like you)… G[ermain] was always intrigued by Egyptology and especially the poisons and precautions taken against tomb robbers. His only reference to this trick was once when he mentioned a trick he'd worked out with a stor about an English explorer being found dead inside a sarcophagus. It was obviously a version of Bonus genus [sic].