A Rare Horace Goldin Poster

Welcome to a new blog series. For magic collectors, magic history buffs and anyone who just loves magic and its amazingly unique imagery–especially from 100 years ago–I will be posting the fruits of a decades long search for vintage magic posters, broadsides and ephemera.

© 2021, Kenneth M. Trombly, All Rights Reserved

What better way to begin than with a striking stone litho that is both celebratory and beautiful? This unusual half sheet (c. 20 x 30 inches) for Horace Goldin, memorializes his Royal Command performance for King Edward VII some 119 years ago at Sandringham in the UK.

Born Hyman Goldstein in Eastern Europe, he migrated to the USA, where he would become an American citizen. He found considerable success in the country that he had embraced–literally cloaking himself in the stars and stripes in this poster. Performing for European royalty and American Presidents, he deservedly took the moniker, "The Royal Illusionist."

In Goldin's later years he moved to the UK, taking British citizenship. As Goldin therefore had an American side and a British side–just like Vanishing Inc.–it seems especially apt to share this lovely litho here. Enjoy!