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272

Thomas Edison

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:30,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Thomas Edison

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Auction Date:2010 Jun 16 @ 10:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, 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
Bid online at www.rrauction.com. Auction closes June 16.

Significant DS, signed “Thomas Alva Edison,” one page both sides, 8 x 12.75, August 11, 1883. Edison files a patent application for the light bulb with the governor general of India. In part: “The Petition of Thomas Alva Edison of Menlo Park, New Jersey, United States of America for leave to file a specification under Act 15 of the Legislation Council of India…That your Petitioner has obtained Her Majesty’s Letters Patent, dated the 29th day of December 1882 and numbered 6206 for ‘Improvements in incandescing conductors for electric lamps and in moulds for the carbonization of the same,’ and that such Letters Patent are to continue in force for fourteen years, that your Petitioner believes that the said Invention is not now and has not hitherto been publicly known or used in India. The following is a description of the Invention. The Invention relates to a flexible carbon filament for an incandescing electric lamp, formed of a number of separate continuous filaments, consisting of natural vegetable fibres, seaweed, together and each capable of independent expansion and contraction. The Invention also relates to a mould for the carbonization of straight filaments, having a moveable block or blocks for the reception of one or both ends of the filament and allowing for contraction during the operation.” Flamboyantly and boldly signed in black fountain pen, “Thomas Alva Edison.” In fine condition, with light soiling, filing punch holes (masked by paper tape on the reverse), a strip of paper tape on the right edge, and an official stamp affixed at the left edge. There is a clean slit along the arc of the umbrella from minor ink erosion. Accompanied by a customized presentation binder for the document and a letter of authenticity from James Spence.

Also accompanying is a signed letter from Arthur St. John Carruthers, Edison’s intermediary in India, verifying the inventor’s patent. In full: “I Arthur St. John Carruthers of 10 Government Place East in the Town of Calcutta Solicitor do solemnly and sincerely declare that I have been appointed by Thomas Alva Edison of Menlo Park New Jersey United States of America an Inventor his agent for the purpose of applying for and obtaining from the Government of India an exclusive privilege or Letters Patent for ‘Improvements in an incandescing conductors for electric lamps and in moulds for the Carbonization of the same’ and I verily believe that the declaration purporting to be the Declaration of the said Thomas Alva Edison annexed to the Petition was signed by him and the contents thereof are true. Dated this 11th day of August 1883.”

Edison received his historic US patent for the incandescent lamp in January 1880—an event that paved the way for the universal domestic use of electric light. The road toward such worldwide enlightenment, however, was dotted with various pit stops in the form of securing individual patents in different countries, with this item significant in that it represented a major advancement in his design. Rather than employ various metal filaments, as he had with his US patent and that resulted in a bulb that would burn for about 13 hours, this design used carbon compounds, like the seaweed mentioned in this application, resulting in a light that could shine for 1,200 hours.

The application was kept on file in the country of India during its 14-year enforcement where manufacturers of Edison's new invention were required to pay him and his laboratory residual fees. When the 14-year patent term expired, this document was no longer valid, and so returned to Edison's laboratory office in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

Few who worked in the offices of Edison's laboratory realized the historic importance of his expired patents as the 19th century came to a close, and so most of them were discarded, lost, or destroyed. This most prized patent somehow survived, and has come to light after more than one hundred years of darkness. An unbelievably scarce document pertaining to one of Edison’s most famous inventions, one that transformed the world into a much brighter place.
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