[Herrmann, Alexander] | Herrmann the Great's personal scrapbook, spanning 1884 to 1894

[Herrmann, Alexander]

Alexander Herrmann’s scrapbook. 1884-94

Folio ledger album (375 x 295 mm). 31 pages of press clippings and handbills mounted, some annotated in Herrmann's hand, photograph of Adelaide Hermann (140 x 95 mm) with autograph signature tipped in, photograph of Adelaide (155 x 155 mm) mounted, photograph of Alexander (205 x 151 mm) with autograph signature tipped in; short closed tears and chips to some pages not affecting clippings or annotations, some leaves crudely repaired with tape at binding. Red morocco binding, "A. Herrmann" blindstamped on upper board, woodcut portrait of Herrmann to rear board, spine in six compartments ruled in black, second compartment with "Mournaux" stamped in black, fourth compartment with "1886" stamped in black, marbled endpapers; binding worn and dampstained, loss to woodcut on rear board, wear at head and tail of spine with loss at head, chips and wear to endpapers.

Herrmann's personal scrapbook containing international clippings and signed photographs.

Herrmann the Great, was the foremost American magician in his lifetime. Born into a family of magicians, he carried on his family's legacy from his older brother, Carl Herrmann, achieving "stardom even by today's standards, with a splendid mansion on Long Island, a personal yacht, and a private railroad car, with two additional cars to transport his equipment. He commanded exceptional salaries and his exploits were cited in the papers on a regular basis" (EE).

Almost all of the clippings and handbills collected in his scrapbook are from his European tour of 1884 to 1886, most annotated with the name of the newspaper and the date in Herrmann's hand. However there are also clippings from as late as 1894, one of particular note being an announcement in The New York Herald of a performance of his dangerous Bullet Catching Trick, for a charity show at the Metropolitan Opera House. He performed this dangerous feat "only seven times in his career, saving it for special occasions ... Herrmann appeared to catch the marked bullets in his clenched fists, and then dropped them onto a plate for identification" (Magic, 472).

In one of the photographs, Adelaide Herrmann, a star in her own right, is depicted holding two parasols, one with a banner reading "Alexander" draping down its handle, and gazing longingly at it. Her signature appears at the foot of the portrait. In the other, she appears to be floating in the night sky, surrounded by stars and the moon, with one star crowning her head. The photograph of Alexander features him in his typical moustache and goatee, and is signed at the foot: "Alexander Herrmann | Herrmann the Great."

Herrmann was such a celebrity that news of his death made headlines across the United States in December 1896. Following his death, Adelaide "remained on the road, with Alexander's nephew playing the role of Herrmann the Great" and continued to perform to great acclaim (Magic, p. 292).

REFERENCE:

EE, p. 154; Magic, p. 292, p. 472