Potter & Potter Auctions

Potter & Potter is an auction house based in Chicago. Founded in 2007, the company specializes in the sale of antiques and collectibles, such as vintage posters, paper Americana, gambling memorabilia, and rare magicana.

Auction Headquarters

History

Potter & Potter was founded by Gabe Fajuri in 2007. Business was initially conducted out of Gabe's home before relocating to a larger space in the Chicago neighborhood of Ravenswood. The first auction was held on July 27, 2008, and featured the magic collection of Jay Marshall. Though the company primarily sold magicana and magic related collectibles in their early years, Potter & Potter began to incorporate a wider variety of items in their third year, beginning with the January 2011 gambling memorabilia auction and the March 2011 rare posters auction. As the business expanded, so did the inventory, leading to the company's 2021 move to a 15,000 squre foot space in the west side of Chicago's Belmont-Cragin neighborhood, allowing for more storage and a larger showroom. Potter & Potter continues to hold monthly auctions that can be attended virtually or in-person.

Notable lots sold

• A custom-tailored tuxedo worn on stage by Cardini for over 100 performances was sold in Potter & Potter's April 6th, 2013 magic auction for $60,000.
• Cardini's last known pair of stage gloves sold in the same auction for $22,000.
• A two volume spiritualism scrapbook made by Houdini and containing handwritten notes from the magician sold on August 23rd, 2014 for $36,000.
• An 1843 edition of W. H Crambrook's Catalogue of Magical Curiosities and Deceptions sold in an October 31st, 2015 auction for $54,000.
• A vintage poster depicting Harry Houdini's famous Water Torture Cell, which is one of only three known in existence, sold in a February 4th, 2017 magic auction for $95,000, making it the largest sale to date in the company's history.
• A brooch owned by Houdini's wife and stage assistant, Bess Houdini, was sold on April 8th, 2017 for $60,000.
• An important archival letter handwritten by Dai Vernon and Faucett Ross was sold in an August 19th, 2017 auction for $42,000.

External links

https://www.potterauctions.com/