The Mummy Designed by Herbert Martin Paufler, Built by German Craftsman

If there is one effect that captures the imagination of most Magic Collectors it is The Mummy or Wandering Mummy routine.   The Gold Standard for The Mummy is still the amazing beauty created by Eddy Taytelbaum. 

I recently received this version from the Ruediger F. Deutsch Collection created by an unknown craftsman.  It is most likely a one of a kind created by a German Craftsman who read the article  Die Mumien in the German Magazine Zauberkunst (1965, Issue 4, pg. 22-27) written by Herbert Martin Paufler.  In this article is a very unusual and beautifully sketched example of the Mummy effect.  The design is very unique and if you look at the images in the magazine and then at this fine version you can see the design is almost identical.  However, the magazine has even more detail and fine points which led me to conclude that the Paufler sketches came first, then this version was created from the article.  There is an interesting patter story included in the article  too. 

This version could even have been created by Paufler himself, though I have no proof of that.  It is known that Herbert Martin Paufler did create some versions of the Wandering Mummy and when he showed them to his friend, Tony Lackner, Tony was inspired to create one of the most popular versions of the Wandering Mummy.

(Thanks to Georg Walter for his assistance in helping piece this information together.)

If you know any more information about this version please contact me.

This beautiful and unusual version closely follows the effect created by Oskar Rey and sold by Joe Wildon in the 1950’s, and continued with Inzani-Henly, Eddy Taytelbaum, and a little later Alan Warner.  In each of these versions the mummy floats, disappears and then reappears in the other sarcophagus.

The main difference with this version is that Mummy when facing up will always float.  If you want it to stop floating you have to turn it face down.  This is different from the other early Mummies which require the Mummy to be turned end for end.  The floating feature has lost favor in recent years and most “modern” Wandering Mummy’s don’t even include it.

This is a really lovely version which works perfectly and I’m very happy to be able to add it to my collection for all to enjoy 🙂

Effect: My patter based upon the Dr. Albo text and Inzani Henly’s Mummy:

In the 1950’s there were four explorers who ventured into the tomb of an ancient Pharaoh. They went deeper than any previous expedition and discovered an undisturbed sarcophagus. They lifted the lid and found a gold bar. One of the explorers took the gold bar and tried to decipher the message on the bar, leaving the remaining three to uncover the Mummy beneath.

They removed the Mummy’s coffin and turned over the coffin to see if there were any markings or messages on the bottom. But they found nothing. They were just about to return the Mummy to the coffin when the first explorer rushed in. He was as white as a ghost and shouted: “This is terrible! The message reads: If ever I am disturbed the curse of death will fall upon you!”

Naturally, all four explorers were freaked out by this news and they carefully replaced the Mummy back into the coffin. But what happened then scared them even more. The Mummy just floated in the Coffin. They all saw this as proof that the curse was coming true, so they quickly replaced the coffin into the sarcophagus. Returned the gold bar and closed the sarcophagus. Leaving the tomb as undisturbed as possible. They made their way back to their main camp and told the other explorers what had happened. Their colleagues needed evidence and visited the ancient tomb themselves. They found the sarcophagus, and lifted the lid and the gold bar, but there was no sign of the Mummy anywhere – just an empty coffin. So, none of their colleagues believed the tale and even the four explorers were having doubts now.

However, over the next 12 months three of the four explorers all met with sudden and fatal accidents. The only remaining explorer knew he had to break the curse, otherwise he would be next. So, he returned to the tomb looking for evidence of the Mummy. None could be found. He then discovered another passage and inside a second sarcophagus. The explorer was hoping to find the Mummy but when he lifted the lid the sarcophagus was empty.

The explorer almost gave up until he noticed there was a message embedded on the lid of the sarcophagus. He was able to decipher it and smiled when he read the words: “Have no fear, Mummy’s here!” He lifted the lid again and now inside was the Mummy returned. He placed the mummy the first sarcophagus and replaced everything as before.

The final explorer was able to break the curse and lived happily for another fifty years, but he never disturbed Mummy’s ever again.

(Click here for more history about The Wandering Mummy)

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