Adrian Plate

Adrian Plate (June 10, 1844 - February 24, 1919) born in Utrecht,, Holland who moved to New York (in 1877) and became a successful society magician. He held a position for over thirty-five years as an accountant for a railroad company.

He was known as an expert card manipulator, mentalism and memory feats. Plate was one of the first members of SAM (No. 25) in 1902.

In the Sphinx, June 15, 1906, it was reported that Dr. Ellison thought that Plate was without a peer in pure sleight of hand card work and John N. Hilliard thought his card work was superior to any he had seen.

Plate had a large library of books and magazines on magic which found its way into Houdini's collection.

He was one of the magicians mentioned by Roterberg in his book New Era Card Tricks.

Honors

• Cover of Mahatma Vol 2, No. 7 (January, 1899)
• Cover of Sphinx, June 15, 1906

Creations

• Excelsior Change in New Era Card Tricks by Rotenberg.
• Untying knot, which consisted in tying a knot in the center of a twisted handkerchief, and, while the same is held in full view in one hand, the knot unties itself.

Books

• Magicians' Tricks, How They Are Done with Henry Hatton (P. H. Cannon) (1910)

References

• Sphinx, JUNE 15, 1906, page 39
• AN APPRECIATION OF ADRIAN PLATE. By Harry Houdini, MUM Vol 8, No. 72 (March 1919)
• Adventures in Magic By Henry R. Evans (1927) page 86