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Thomas Edison

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:25,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
Thomas Edison

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Auction Date:2016 Sep 14 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Remarkable printed patent schematic diagram, signed “Thomas Alva Edison,” one page, 16 x 22, no date but circa 1880. Schematic submitted to the government of Bolivia in the course of obtaining a patent, illustrating electrical distribution systems related to his invention of the incandescent light. Beautifully signed in full at the bottom by Edison, and countersigned by two witnesses, “Chas. H. Smith" and "Geo. T. Pinckney.” Identified in the upper right as the second sheet, “Lamina 2,” with “Bolivia” penciled below. In very good to fine condition, with light overall wrinkling, some short edge tears, and tape reinforcements to edges on the reverse.

In Menlo Park on December 31, 1879, Thomas Edison made the first public demonstration of his incandescent lightbulb after experimenting for over a year. He began submitting patents for his invention in the United States in 1879 and sought protection abroad beginning in 1880. By 1881, Edison had established the groundwork for large scale production of his lamp and began to focus on the even more ambitious project of developing an infrastructure for the distribution of electricity. This schematic not only boasts an exceptionally rare full Edison autograph, but represents the beginnings of what has become Edison’s most famous achievement.