If a magic auction conjures dreams of signed photographs of Harry Houdini, then, in the case of Swann's sale on October 25th, you won't be disappointed. But the Christian Fechner Collection of American and European Magic is much more than that. It contains everything from antique sleight of hand gags, to evocative Chinese posters, to turn-of-the-century children's magic sets.

Photograph of Houdini, circa 1920.

Some of the most wonderful things are also the most modest. Wooden boxed magic sets from the 19th Century are filled with colorful blocks and figures and create their own little world--they're like props from a Wes Anderson film.

"Der Klein Zauberer" German magic box

And a group of vintage photographs from 1912 shows the legendary Hugard performing his "Birth of a Pearl" routine--a vision of Oriental splendor featuring an exotic woman emerging from a gigantic oyster shell.

Photograph of Hugard performing his "Birth of a Pearl" routine, 1912.

--David Coggins