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TLS and typed concert itinerary from Harry Houdini, both signed in pencil as “Houdini,” and sent to writer Faber Birren of the Regan Publishing Corp., in Chicago. The TLS, one page, 8.25 x 10.75, The Saint Paul Hotel (St. Paul, Minnesota) letterhead, February 17, 1923, sent from the Orpheum Theatre, with a memo of “Next Wk. Orpheum, Winnipeg, Canada,” reads, in full: “Glad you saw the Show of the Chicago Assembly. I knew there would be something there that you would like. Enclosed you will find my Tour. Let me hear from you every once in a while. Why don't you put my books on sale at your establishment. You know they are published by E. P. Dutton & Co.: ‘Miracle Mongers’ and ‘Paper Tricks.’ You cannot lose very much and I will be pleased to have you push the sale.” Houdini appears to have written “Capt.” over ‘Mr.” in the salutation.
The typed itinerary, one page, 8.25 x 10.75, is annotated in pencil by Houdini, who writes at the top, “Route Houdini.” The list contains 20 dates for Houdini's ongoing North American tour, dated from December 31, 1922, to May 13, 1923, with Houdini striking through the top eight dates and writing “Orpheum” next to the Winnipeg show. The magician adds notes next to three more upcoming shows: “Moore Theatre,” in Seattle, Washington, on March 4th; “Orpheum Th.,” in San Francisco, California, on March 18th; and “Orph,” in Los Angeles on April 1st. In overall very good to fine condition, with a tear beneath the signature on the tour sheet, which is affixed to a backing sheet, and file holes, paperclip impressions, and old tape repairs to both of the sheets.
Faber Birren was an American writer and consultant on color and color theory (1900–1988) who began publishing articles on color in 1924; his first book, Color in Vision was published in 1928. In 1934 he established his own company and worked as an industrial color consultant, advising clients on the psychological effects of color on safety, employee morale, productivity, and sales. Before his life of color, however, Birren worked at a bookstore that sold Houdini's books. Birren became a friend of Houdini, who even asked Birren to investigate self-proclaimed psychics and spiritualists and to send Houdini his opinion as to their veracity.
