The Paul Daniels Collection

From 1979 to 1994 The Paul Daniels Magic Show was a fixture on BBC1 evening television, making Daniels (1938-2016) a household name. At its peak in the 1980s, the show regularly attracted viewing figures of 15 million and was sold to more than 40 countries.

Daniels was highly respected by fellow professional magicians and in 1982 he was awarded the prestigious 'Magician of the Year' award by the Hollywood Academy of Magical Arts in Los Angeles. He was the first magician from outside the US to receive the award and is credited with inspiring many professional magicians to begin their careers.

Daniels was also known for this catchphrase: "You'll like this... not a lot, but you'll like it!" which he first used to put down a heckler.

Ironically, perhaps, each of the items here is 'a lot' in the sale at Special Auction Services in Newbury.

Director of Special Auction Services, Thomas Forrester says: "We are honoured to be selling Paul's collection. He really was the seminal magician of the 20th century and for many, like me, who grew up watching him on the TV, he brings back lots of happy memories. Paul brought magic to the masses and was a fabulous entertainer; his collection is testament to his successful and sustained career."

This Geometrix illusion involves the magician thrusting swords into the box while somehow not harming his assistant. It was built by Daniels' father and is estimated at £8000-£12,000.

One of the more affordable tricks in the collection, this 'Multum in Parvo' trick involves the magician filling a small glass with milk and then pouring the same volume of milk into increasingly larger and larger glasses while somehow still filling each vessel to the brim. Estimate £250-350.

The doll's house illusion featured assistant Debbie McGee appearing from an inside a seemingly empty prop. The estimate is £2500-3000.

Among the many highlights is the biggest collection - more than 350 lots - of magic posters ever to be sold in the UK. They depict Paul and many other renowned magicians in magic shows both in the UK and worldwide. 

There are several posters of Chung Ling Soo who is considered one of the premier magicians of all time. Chung Ling Soo was killed on a London stage in 1918 when his ‘catching the bullet’ trick went wrong and after that the public realised he was not Chinese but in fact an American who had been working under a pseudonym.

This poster featuring magician Chung Ling Soo is estimated at £1500-£2500.

This lot comprises two posters from the c.1980s featuring magician Peter Reveen and is estimated at £30-50.

This is one of 25 posters in a lot, estimated at £30-50, featuring Daniels and his assistant, who became his wife, Debbie McGee. It is Debbie who is selling all the items in the sale. She said: "Parting with Paul's collection was a huge decision for me and not one that I took lightly. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to go through everything and while Paul's collection holds some very dear memories of our time together, I now feel that it's time to pass on his legacy for another generation of magicians to enjoy and entertain audiences just as Paul happily did for many years."

Take a look at the full catalogue for the Paul Daniels collection to see more lots in this sale.