Books and Manuscripts

Magician's Trunk, With Cards, Tricks, and Assorted Objects
Amateur magician Walter C. Groff's large metal trunk containing his personal collection of vintage playing cards, tricks, and other magic paraphernalia and ephemera. Containing approximately 120 decks of cards, including two-way decks, forcing decks, short corner decks, long and short decks, miniature and oversized decks, etc. Also containing approximately 50 varieties of magic tricks and objects, including metal rings, balls, batons, fans, bottomless glasses, ribbons, coins, trick golf balls, metal cups, trick eggs, silk handkerchiefs, wands, and approximately 27 pieces of magic-related catalogues, periodicals, and printed tricks. 13 x 16 1/2 x 31 in. (330 x 419 x 787 mm).

The late 19th and early 20th centuries in America saw a period commonly referred to as “The Golden Age of Magic” when performers such as Harry Houdini, David Devant, Howard Thurston, and many more, were staples of Broadway theaters and other music halls, where they left audiences awed. Many of the genre's biggest names were well-versed in multiple different facets of the craft, including stage magic, illusions, sleight of hand, and card magic. Inspired by these giants was longtime Philadelphia-area resident Walter C. Groff (1903-1971), who as a young man, in the 1920s became interested in the magician's craft and built this large collection. Over the decades he practiced and perfected many card and sleight of hand tricks, building his library of books and tricks along the way.

A rare and extensive survival of the magician's craft.