Rare book inscribed to Nevil Maskelyne by Houdini in 1920

In February 1920 Houdini was performing in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was aware of Nevil Maskelyne’s interest in astronomy and solar eclipses and must have been pleased to stumble upon this book. Houdini writes in the book: “Dear Mr Maskelyne saw this on a book stand and thought it might interest regards Houdini Edinboro Feb 23/20.” The book title is Remarkable Seventeenth and Nineteenth Century Eclipses of the Sun. It was by Alexander Brown L.L.D. Only one hundred presentation copies were printed in 1889. Ownership of this book passed to Joan Maskelyne, who sold it to John Salisse in 1982. Following John’s death, it came into the Davenport Collection.