still image Book illustrations 1890-1900. gmgpc Title pages 1890-1900. gmgpc Prints 1890-1900. gmgpc 1891. In "Revelations of a spirit medium, or spiritualistic mysteries exposed" (1891), a seminal text in the field of escapology, the anonymous author(s), "A Medium," described how individuals thought to be tied by ropes and confined in sacks and cabinets effected their escapes. Free of restraints but not known to be so, these mediums were able to present phenomena allegedly proving communication with the world beyond. The evolving art of seance magic utilized spirit knots, musical instruments, slate writing, rapping hands, sack tests, and spirit collars. Magician Harry Kellar incorporated into his performances tricks learned from the famous mediums (and brothers) Ira Erastus and William Henry Davenport. But it was through Houdini that the new field of seance magic found full expression. He emphasized the responsibility of magicians to acknowledge that magic is a purely human skill, and to expose fraudulent mediums who claimed their illusions were the result of contact with the world beyond. Mediums--1890-1900. Seances--1890-1900. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3g03280