Listen: David Copperfield Gives a Tour of the "Summer of Magic" Exhibit At NYHS

Handcuffs used by Harry Houdini for the London Daily Mirror challenge, 1904. (Photo by Homer Liwag)

Handcuffs used by Harry Houdini for the London Daily Mirror challenge, 1904. (Photo by Homer Liwag)

07213ed0b1-mirror-cuffs-display-jpg.jpeg

Handcuffs used by Harry Houdini for the London Daily Mirror challenge, 1904. (Photo by Homer Liwag)

Gothamist

Harry Houdini’s Metamorphosis Trunk, ca. 1900. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Harry Houdini’s Metamorphosis Trunk, ca. 1900. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

de5a2846d2-houdini_metamorphosistrunk-jpg.jpeg

Harry Houdini’s Metamorphosis Trunk, ca. 1900. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Gothamist

Broadside showing the Houdinis performing the Metamorphosis, 1895. Reproduction. Copperfield Collection.

Broadside showing the Houdinis performing the Metamorphosis, 1895. Reproduction. Copperfield Collection.

d4d47ac473-metamorphosisposter-jpg.jpeg

Broadside showing the Houdinis performing the Metamorphosis, 1895. Reproduction. Copperfield Collection.

Gothamist

Harry Houdini’s Milk Can, ca. 1908. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Harry Houdini’s Milk Can, ca. 1908. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

8bfdfbf324-houdini_milkcan-jpg.jpeg

Harry Houdini’s Milk Can, ca. 1908. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Gothamist

Houdini preparing to perform the Milk Can escape, ca. 1908. Reproduction. Copperfield Collection.

Houdini preparing to perform the Milk Can escape, ca. 1908. Reproduction. Copperfield Collection.

4196ff56b5-houdininmilkcan3photos-jpg.jpeg

Houdini preparing to perform the Milk Can escape, ca. 1908. Reproduction. Copperfield Collection.

Gothamist

Regulation straitjacket used by Harry Houdini, ca. 1920. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Regulation straitjacket used by Harry Houdini, ca. 1920. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

ddc8836cd6-houdini_straitjacket-jpg.jpeg

Regulation straitjacket used by Harry Houdini, ca. 1920. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Gothamist

Stage costume worn by Beatrice Houdini, early 1900s. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Stage costume worn by Beatrice Houdini, early 1900s. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

08b08196e7-besshoudinicostume-jpg.jpeg

Stage costume worn by Beatrice Houdini, early 1900s. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Gothamist

Dress likely worn by Adelaide Herrmann, 1880–1910. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Dress likely worn by Adelaide Herrmann, 1880–1910. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

1169ce62d9-adelaideherrmanndress-jpg.jpeg

Dress likely worn by Adelaide Herrmann, 1880–1910. Copperfield Collection. (Photo: Glenn Castellano)

Gothamist