Evanion Collection facts for kids
The Evanion Collection is a special group of old paper items from the Victorian era. It was put together by a famous magician, ventriloquist, and comedian named Henry Evans. He was known by his stage name, 'Evanion'. This collection is now kept at the British Library in London.
Contents
What's Inside the Collection?
The collection has about 5,000 different items. The British Museum Library bought it in 1895. It's like a time capsule showing what life was like in Victorian England.
Fun Entertainment Posters
- Posters that advertised popular shows from the Victorian times. These include posters for Music Halls, big variety theaters, and circuses.
- You can see posters for famous performers like Marie Lloyd, Dan Leno, the magic duo Maskelyne and Cooke, and even Evanion himself!
Everyday Life Advertisements
- Advertisements and price lists for things people bought every day. This includes clothes, food, medicines, and household items.
- There are also old store catalogs and trade cards. These show what daily life was like in the second half of the 1800s.
Tickets to Events
- Tickets for exciting events like theater shows, horse races, interesting lectures, and big exhibitions.
Houdini's Excitement Over the Collection
The famous escape artist and magician Harry Houdini was amazed when he first saw parts of the collection. He described it like this:
He opened his parcel with a loving touch. "I have brought you, sir, only a few of my treasures," he said. I heard no more. I felt as if I had been dazzled by a sudden shower of diamonds. In his hands were priceless treasures I had looked for everywhere. When I was with his collection, I completely lost track of time.
Many items from the original collection that were about magic were later bought by Houdini. These special items are now kept at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
A Glimpse at Some Items
Here are a few examples of what you might find in the collection:
- An advertisement for teas by Cooper, Cooper and Co. from 1887.
- A poster for Maskelyne and Cooke's amazing show at the Egyptian Hall in London, from 1887.
- A seed catalog from Webb and Sons, who were the Queen's Seedsmen, from 1885.
