Celebrate the early career of one of history’s most famous illusionists with this elegant 1895 poster presenting Harry Houdini as the King of Cards.
 
At the centre of the design is a refined portrait of the young Houdini in formal evening dress, framed by sweeping red ornament, pale blue-grey panels and expressive period lettering. Smaller vignettes show him performing with playing cards, reinforcing the image of Houdini not yet as the celebrated escape artist, but as a polished stage magician and master of sleight of hand.
 
The restrained red, blue and cream palette gives the poster a sophisticated late nineteenth-century character. Its decorative flourishes, theatrical typography and portrait-led composition reflect the visual language of American vaudeville and magic advertising at the beginning of Houdini’s career.
 
With its combination of card magic, performance history and turn-of-the-century design, this print is especially suited to a study, library, home theatre, games room or collection of vintage magic and illusion art.
 
This reproduction has been carefully prepared from the surviving historical image while retaining the original lithographic texture, muted colour character and period appearance.