Sance Collection

Helen Duncan - Ectoplasm & Teleplasmic hand
Piece of card showing two undated photographs of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan blindfolded during a sance, producing " ectoplasm" and a " hand"

Seance room at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research
Undated photograph of corner of the sance room at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, with trumpets on table. HPG/1/2/1 (vi)

Harry Prices investigations into Helen Duncan
Photograph of Esson Maude recreating where she sat during sitting with the Scottish medium Helen Duncan at the sance venue in Edinburgh, January 1933

Alleged Abnormal levitation of a table
Undated photograph of the alleged abnormal levitation of a table (inverted), photographed at a sance with Mrs Poole of Winnipeg. HPG/1/7/25

Photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan during sance with " ectoplasm" wrapped around her head and the end tucked into her nostrils, May 1931

Automatic photograph of sitters and Rudi Schneider at sance
Automatic photograph of sitters and Rudi Schneider at a sance at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, 8 March 1932. Harry Price and Professor David Fraser-Harris are controlling Schneider

Helen Duncan emitting ectoplasm from her mouth
Photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan emitting " ectoplasm" from her mouth, containing magazine cut-out head, during sance, May 1931. HPG/1/4/2 (i)"

Scottish medium Helen Duncan during sance with ectoplasm
Photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan during sance with " ectoplasm" wrapped around her head and the end tucked into her nostrils, May 1931. HPG/1/4/2 (x)"

A sance with Willi Schneider
Undated flashlight photograph taken during a sance with Willi Schneider in his home town of Braunau, Austria, showing a white cloth " phantom" pinned to a curtain by means of a safety pin

Helen Duncan during a sance showing ectoplasm
Double photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan during a sance showing " ectoplasm" wrapped around her head and reaching down to the floor, May 1931

Rudi Schneider evading control of Harry Price
Undated photograph of Rudi Schneider evading control of Harry Price at a sance. This is one of series of photographs documenting Harry Prices investigations into the mediumistic abilities of

Undated photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan, blindfolded during a sance, with her head covered with ectoplasm reaching down to floor. The photograph is annotated to show fraudulence

Sance summons spirit
From: Hours with the Ghosts, Henry Ridgely Evans, Laird & Lee, 1897: Sance summons spirit, Ouija board, Ghost, Apparition. Date: 1897

Scottish medium Helen Duncan starting to emit ectoplasm
Photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan starting to emit " ectoplasm" with " glove" during sance in Edinburgh whilst being controlled, May 1933. HPG/1/4/2(i)"

Undated photograph of Ethel Beenham with cheesecloth
Undated photograph of Ethel Beenham with six feet of 30 inch wide cheesecloth in her mouth, showing how easily it can be rolled up and secreted in the mouth

Esson Maude at Edinburgh seance venue
Photograph of Esson Maude recreating where she sat during sitting with the Scottish medium Helen Duncan at the sance venue in Edinburgh, January 1933

Pencil sketch of a phantom Egyptian
Undated photograph of pencil sketch of a phantom, supposed to be an ancient Egyptian, drawn from life by the Austrian medium Maria Silbert during its materialisation which occurred at a s顮 ce

Undated automatic photograph of a handkerchief leaving a table at a Rudi Schneider sance. This is one of series of photographs documenting Harry Prices investigations into the mediumistic abilities

Photograph of a reconstruction of one of the teleplasmic ha
Photograph of a reconstruction of one of the teleplasmic " hands" or pseudopods, often witnessed at the Rudi Schneider sances, 1929

Undated photograph of enlarged piece of teleplasm
Undated photograph of enlarged piece of " teleplasm" consisting of ordinary paper, secured from Helen Duncan during a sance, with scale annotations

Scottish medium Helen Duncan blindfolded
Undated photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan blindfolded during a sance, producing " ectoplasm" and a " hand". The photograph is annotated to show fraudulence

Photograph of undervest, masquerading as the spirit Pegg
Photograph of undervest which, masquerading as the spirit " Peggy", led to the Scottish medium Helen Duncans conviction for fraudulent mediumship at Edinburgh, 11 May 1933

Double photograph of the counterpoise table
Undated double photograph of the counterpoise table from above during the Rudi Schneider sance. This is one of series of photographs documenting Harry Prices investigations into the mediumistic

Money for the Helen Duncan seance
Photograph of envelope with the following written upon it: " Received from Miss Maule, The sum of Four Pounds, 5th January 1933, for tonights sance. Helen Duncan", January 1933

Thermograph chart showing fall of temperature inside cabinet at sance at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, possibly with Rudi Schneider, dated 17 April 1929. HPG/8/5/6

Five tags attached to the undervest
Photograph of the five tags attached to the undervest, signed by witnesses at the Edinburgh exposure of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan, 11 May 1933

Special fraud-proof double cage sance table
Undated double photograph on one card of special fraud-proof double cage sance table for testing telekinesis, showing inner cage raised and trap door open, and inner cage raised and trap door closed

Mediums William and Ira Davenport
Undated illustration of American mediums and spiritualists William and Ira Davenport. The Davenport Brothers were instrumental in building the popularity of the American Spiritualist movement prior

Scottish medium Helen Duncan blindfolded during a sance
Photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan blindfolded during a sance with " ectoplasm" wrapped around her head and reaching down to the floor, May 1931. HPG/1/4/2 (xi)"

Scottish medium Helen Duncan during a sance
Photograph of the Scottish medium Helen Duncan during a sance with her head covered with " ectoplasm" reaching down to her lap, May 1931. HPG/1/4/2 (xv)"

Undated photograph of enlarged portion of ectoplasm
Undated photograph of enlarged portion of " ectoplasm", showing rents, warps and weft. This is one of series of photographs of Harry Prices investigations into the mediumship of Helen

Automatic photograph of sitters and Rudi Schneider at a sance at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research during which a rising handkerchief was photographed, 3 March 1932

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"Séance: Unveiling the Supernatural Realm through Helen Duncan's Extraordinary Abilities" Step into the enigmatic world of séances, where the boundaries between our reality and the spirit realm blur. Helen Duncan, a Scottish medium renowned for her astonishing gifts, captivated audiences with her ability to summon spirits and manifest ectoplasmic phenomena. In this captivating photograph, taken during a séance at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, we catch a glimpse of the ethereal wonders that unfolded. Harry Price, an investigator fascinated by paranormal activities, dedicated himself to unraveling Helen Duncan's mysteries. His relentless pursuit led him to witness remarkable events such as alleged levitation of tables and teleplasmic manifestations from Helen herself. Here we see her emitting ectoplasm from her mouth—a mesmerizing display that left spectators in awe. The séance room was a portal into another dimension; its atmosphere charged with anticipation as seekers connected with departed loved ones or encountered otherworldly entities. Through automatic photography like this one featuring sitters alongside Rudi Schneider—an individual known for evading control—evidence emerged supporting claims of genuine supernatural encounters. In this particular séance captured on film, Helen Duncan channels Willi Schneider—a momentous occasion when two mediums merged their powers to bridge realms beyond comprehension. The image freezes time but hints at an exchange between worlds that transcends human understanding. Séances remain shrouded in intrigue and skepticism alike; yet they persist as gateways for those seeking solace or proof of life after death. As we explore these extraordinary phenomena through historical accounts like Harry Price's investigations into Helen Duncan's abilities, let us embrace both wonderment and curiosity about what lies beyond our mortal existence—the eternal dance between our world and theirs continues unabated in every séance held throughout history.