MAGIC CONJURES A PROFIT FOR ALI BONGO

The value of antique and collectible magic props and ephemera gets some attention from the Daily Mail. Magic Circle president Ali Bongo hosts the reporter as they explore the home of London's exclusive magic club and discusses some of the many magic treasures within.  'Modern props are usually trashed after use, but early ones were more substantial and were regularly repaired and used again. Magicians do not want their secrets exposed, so the most expensive part of the investment might be buying how the illusion works.'  Jack Devlin talks a bit about Chung Ling Soo's lithographs as well. 'Ling Soo, who produced a large range of Oriental posters. They were used as wrapping paper for magic tricks in the Second World War during a paper shortage. Now they fetch £12,000 to £20,000.'