Monroe, our fifth president, died in New York in 1831 and was buried in the East Village’s Marble Cemetery. This delicate silk ribbon calls to mind that time when Southerners decided President James Monroe’s corpse was no longer safe in New York City. This time around, they’ll materialize in Chicago on October 28 as part of the collection of Vaudeville magician Harry Blackstone Sr. These cuffs last appeared at auction in Vegas in 2004. Hence the estimated sale price of $8,000-12,000. According to the auctioneer, this set is among the most prized Houdini owned/used restraints. (He also tried to patent his tricks.) This Lilly Iron was made around 1875 and then customized with a special bolt by Houdini in 1905 any performer who made the attempt would thus demonstrate his own mediocrity. So he had handcuffs modified to “break,” or stump, his competitors. What really pissed him off were copycat escape artists, particularly those who tried to usurp his faux-regal title. Harry Houdini, master magician and ‘king of handcuffs,’ loved to flaunt his cuff-cracking act. Image: Courtesy of Potter & Potters Auctions

Houdini handcuffs