The Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection
Lot 3004:
Description
A 1878 original steel engraving of Thomas Alva Edison and his tinfoil phonograph, custom-made for publication in The Eclectic Magazine of Foreign Literature, Science, and Art by J.J. Cade of New York. This engraving was done from the famous 1878 Matthew Brady photograph of Edison in Washington D.C. During this era, The Eclectic Magazine regularly commissioned elite engravers to create fine steel-plate portraits of prominent scientists, writers, and global figures to accompany their literary and technological profiles. The late 1870s marked the period where Edison became a worldwide celebrity, moving beyond industrial telegraph tools into consumer sound and lighting. The Eclectic Magazine capitalized on this public fascination by providing its readers with a collectible, framing-quality engraving of the “Wizard of Menlo Park” with his legendary talking machine. The image measures approx. 4.75” wide X 7”tall and is mounted in a 1960’s style frame. Fine print at the bottom reads,” Engraved for the Eclectic by J.J. Cade, New York. J.J. Cade was an American steel and stipple engraver based in New York during the late 19th century. He was highly regarded for his detailed portraiture and historical illustrations, which frequently appeared in prominent literary magazines and commercial publications of the era. From the Allen Koenigsberg collection.
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