Josef P. Freud (also known as Joseffy) (3 March 1873 – 26 May 1946) was a Viennese magician.[1]

Joseffy
Frontispiece, "The Marvelous Creations of Joseffy" (1908)
Born
Josef P. Freud

3 March 1873
Vienna, Austria
Died26 May 1946(1946-05-26) (aged 73)
San Antonio, Texas
Occupationmagician
Known formagic

Life

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Joseffy came to the United States of America at the age of 19 where he worked at a Chicago Magic Store, building props and illusions. He invented a self-contained, no-thread version of The Rising Cards that astounded magicians of his day.[2] One of his mechanical creations was "Balsamo, the Living Skull".[3]

Joseffy was a performer at Coney Island as the Chautauqua & Lyceum headliner, and also played violin.[4] He eventually stopped performing and became an electrical engineer.[5]

Literature

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Jim Steinmeyer newsletter Fall 2003".
  2. ^ a b "Biographies Page H–I–J".
  3. ^ David Phelps Abbott (1908). The Marvelous Creations of Joseffy. Open Court Publishing Company. p. 7.; Peabody, J. L. 'Spirit Pictures and a Speaking Skull.' Popular Mechanics Magazine.39:6 pp. 817-820.
  4. ^ "Chautauqua & Lyceum Magicians".
  5. ^ "Joseffy MagicPedia entry".
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