Mr. Handel | The disappearing handkerchief  

Mr. Handel

Theatre Royal. By Permission of His Excellency the Captain General. Mr. Handel Most respectfully begs leave to return thanks to the Public of Antigua, for the Patronage that has been conferred on the First Two Evenings' Performances; and informs them that a Third Exhibition of a Variety of Novel and Extraordinary Experiments, Will Take Place on Saturday Evening… [Antigua: np, 1823]

Broadside (376 x 228 mm). Printed on orange clay-coated paper; corners trimmed, toning to edges, discoloration at corners where adhered. Mounted, framed and glazed with Plexiglas; not examined out of frame.  

"The celebrated feat of the Ne Plus Ultra"

"Mr. Handel appeared on the island of Antigua after successful long runs, if his handbill is to believed, in London, Dublin, Liverpool, and various provincial towns. The show is the third in a series of performances, implying that he was capable of varying his repertoire… The highlight of the show was an illusion here called 'The Celebrated Feat of The Ne Plus Ultra, The most interesting and impenetrable secret in the Arcana of Philosophical Illusions.' It was indeed impressive: Handel borrowed some personal effects—ring, watches, gloves, handkerchiefs—and made them vanish 'before the eyes of the Spectators'" (Jay 80). A version of this illusion was performed by Robert-Houdin in 1845, and Houdini mentioned precedents for "flying handkerchiefs" in an illusions performed by Testot in 1826 called "The New Plus Ultra of the Cabalistic Art." 

REFERENCE:

EE, pp. 80-1