Houdini Handcuff Key, ca. 1906-1908

An authentic handcuff key from a remarkable collection originally assembled by Harry Houdini for his Defiance Handcuff Act. This framed piece comes with two letters of authentication—one of which is notarized—detailing the history and provenance of the key.

The collection was first acquired in 1976 by James J. Matthews when he purchased the assets of the “new” Thayer Magic Manufacturing Company from the estate of Clayton Jacobson.

In 2001, the key was purchased by Clyde L. Lowe. Through extensive research, Lowe confirmed that Houdini amassed a wide range of handcuffs and corresponding keys. In 1908, Houdini began offering The Defiance Handcuff Act for sale—a complete act including handcuffs and matching keys. The keys in this collection were found in numbered envelopes that corresponded to specific handcuffs, strongly suggesting they were part of this commercial endeavor.