$1,800
Teale, Oscar S. Houdini – Was He Right? An undated, likely unpublished thirteen-page typescript of an essay against spiritualist mediums in which Teale challenges the claims and motives of adherents such as Arthur Conan Doyle, writing “by their (Conan Doyle’s and Oliver Lodge’s) public lectures and Spiritualistic propaganda, they are simply continuing the mortuary service over their departed, thrusting it upon the people at large and permitting them, the ‘dear public,’ to participate in the obseques [sic] at a price of admission from 50c to $2.50 plus war-tax; while incidentally, by the procedes [sic]… lived-on-the-fat-of-the-land.” In the latter half of the essay, Teale reviews Houdini’s activities in exposing spirit mediums and his own involvement alongside Houdini in those dealings. Consists of disbound 8.5 x 5.5” leaves. Two pencil and ink corrections to the text, presumably in Teale’s hand. First leaf corner chipped and other edge wear, else good.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2014-11-01
