The gravestones in the graveyard spell out the conjurer's name: H-E-L-M-A-N-N. The Courier Lithographing Company of Buffalo, New York printed the poster around 1899, and it carries plate number 1109. The McCord Museum in Montreal holds an impression (accession M2014.128.220). Helmann's billing was Napoleon of Necromancy. Designer unknown.
On the poster
A conjurer in black evening dress sits on a gravestone, contemplative, with an infernal audience. Behind him a horned devil in a red coat leans forward with one arm outstretched. At lower left two demons prop up a colossal open book labelled "Mysteries of Magic". Bats cross an olive-green sky above a gothic spire, a skull lies at the conjurer's feet, and red and brown imps fill every corner of the graveyard.
The gold title lettering reads: "NAPOLEON OF NECROMANCY. HELMANN THE GREAT. In His Mysterious Entertainment."
About this print
A digitally restored reproduction, printed on 200gsm Enhanced Matte Fine Art paper with pigment inks.





