Original 1936 "Dante The Magician" Stone Lithograph Poster

This is an original 1936 Dante The Magician stone lithograph from my private collection of Magic posters. This panel size lithograph was in terrible condition when I found it as you can see from the " Before & After" photographs above. This is an excellent example of what a fine and dedicated poster restoration artist can achieve! A lot of love and care went into restoring this poster (As well as $$$) but in the end, it is money well spent as this poster now completely restored and gorgeous, will be passed on to future generations some day. This is a piece of stone lithography history, as well as Magic history, that was almost thrown into the trash to be forgotten forever. As all of us poster collectors say, "We are only temporary keepers of these relics".

Dante (1883-1955) was born Harry August Jansen in Denmark. He emigrated to the U.S. as a small boy. He started out in magic as an illusion builder.

Dante toured the world with his show "Sim-Sala-Bim", including on Broadway. "Sim Sala Bim" was Dante's trademark which he used as his magic words. He was often billed as "King of Magicians".

Dante made his last public appearance a week before his death at the combined convention of the Society of American Magicians and the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians in Santa Barbara where he gave a lecture about his tours. He died at his Northridge ranch in San Fernando Valley (near Los Angeles) of a heart attack on June 16, 1955.