American magician (1849-1922) known for his spectacular stage illusions; referred to as the 'Dean of American Magicians,' Kellar was a predecessor of Harry Houdini who earned great popularity and toured the world over. Extremely rare vintage matte-finish 4.5 x 7 oval portrait of Kellar by the Marceau Studio of Philadelphia, affixed to the original 7 x 9 studio mount, signed and inscribed on the mount in fountain pen, "To John E. Wilkie, Esq., With kind regards & best wishes of his friend, Harry Kellar, Baltimore, May 3, 1908.” In very good condition, with toning, cracking, and scuffing to the borders, and irregularly trimmed edges which clip off the "B" in "Baltimore." John Elbert Wilkie (1860-1934) was a journalist and amateur magician, who later served as the Chief of the United States Secret Service from 1898 to 1911. During his tenure, Wilkie occasionally employed performers and magicians in Secret Service work, in particular for tasks such as understanding counterfeiting, safecracking, and escapes. Kellar remains rare across all signed formats, with this photo representing the first we have ever offered.
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