Phonograph Records And Books Auction - ONLINE ONLY
Lot 2039:
Description
This exceptional ephemera lot centers on the legacy of America’s most prolific inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, anchored by an incredibly scarce 1879 first-edition printing of Edison and His Inventions edited by J.B. McClure and published by Rhodes & McClure of Chicago, Illinois. This antique softcover volume represents a landmark contemporary account of Edison’s early achievements, complete with its original illustrated paper covers and fascinating period back-cover advertisements for railroad-car reading material. Accompanying this 19th-century treasure is a copy of The Papers of Thomas A. Edison, Volume 5: Research to Development at Menlo Park (January 1879–March 1881), a definitive academic reference published by The Johns Hopkins University Press of Baltimore, Maryland, and a 1997/98 copy of the NARAS Journal featuring a special commemorative issue honoring Edison’s 150th birthday. The items exhibit a range of wear consistent with age, most notably on the 1879 booklet which shows significant foxing, heavy staining to the front cover, minor edge chipping, and spine wear, while the hardcover volume and journal remain crisp with only light shelf wear and minor dust jacket rippling. The individual pieces measure as follows: Edison and His Inventions H 9″, W 6″, D 0.5″; The Papers of Thomas A. Edison H 10″, W 7.5″, D 2.25″; NARAS Journal H 9″, W 6″, D 0.25″. Please see photos for condition.
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