Potter & Potter is pleased to announce its next public auction, featuring magic memorabilia from the collection of Jay Marshall, will be held in its Chicago gallery on Sunday, May 16th.

The auction - the fourth from Marshall's legendary collection - will feature Houdiniana, rare posters, books, apparatus and ephemera, including many objects of significant historic association. Seen at right is the "Rabbit from Cane" prop used by famed Dutch magician Fred Kaps in many of his stage performances.

Kaps appeared on Ed Sullivan's famous variety program, Toast of the Town several times. Most notably (but unfortunately for Kaps, in some regards), he first performed on the Sullivan show immediately following the Beatles' debut performance on the program (in fact, that spot was the Fab Four's first American television appearance).

The cane, a unique prop, allowed Kaps to apparently produce a live, kicking rabbit from its end. First, a set of wiggling, fuzzy ears sprouted from the wide tip of the walking stick, as seen in the image above. When Kaps grasped the ears and yanked on them, out of the cane came the wriggling bunny.

The auction coincides with the 41st annual Magic Collectors' Weekend, which takes place from May 13-15th, in Rosemont, Illinois (a Chicago suburb). Visit www.magicol.org for details on the conference, to which attendence is limited. Attendees of the MCA Weekend will receive a complimentary auction catalog -- a $25 value -- free with their registration.

Stay tuned to website for details regarding the upcoming auction.