Original 1907 Maro "Cabinet of Balsamo" Stone Lithograph Window Card

This is an original stone lithograph window card from my private collection of Magic posters advertising Maro The Prince of Magic's show from 1907. It is in excellent condition and measures approximately 13" x 18". It is titled, "The Cabinet of Balsamo".

Walter Truman Best, like the sleight of hand illusions he was once renowned for, became Edward Maro, “The Prince of Magic”. Maro was an accomplished Shadowgraphist, creating ‘amusing and grotesque’ shadowgraphs of animals, faces and figures. In his Art Séance act, he rapidly executed crayon sketches of impressionistic scenes. According to newspaper clippings of the era, the almost 2 hour performance became one of the finest shows ever sent out by a bureau. Standing room only. An unmistakably popular and deft performance (Providence R.I Journal). A great evening of merriment and bewilderment (Richmond, Va. Leader). He was said to travel with nearly a ton of baggage. Maro was also admired by and influenced other magicians like Karl Germain and Harry Kellar, popular magicians in their time.

In 1908 he performed his act while suffering from a high fever. Hospitalized he died a month later aged 39 from typhoid fever.