EDISON, THOMAS ALVA. (1847-1931). American scientist; inventor of sound recording, electrical illumination, motion picture cameras and other epoch-making devices. CS. (“Thos A. Edison”). 1p. 16mo. N.p., N.d. A fine ink example of his “umbrella” signature boldly penned on a 2” x 4” card.

Edison, who held 1,093 patents at the time of his death, is credited with ushering in the age of electricity. Backed by financiers J.P. Morgan and the Vanderbilts, he developed operable electric lighting as well as alkaline batteries to power another of his inventions, the phonograph, which Edison created while attempting to record telegraphed messages. He also worked on linking his phonograph device to moving pictures and invented a camera and viewing machine (Kinetoscope) that made silent movies commercially viable.

In very fine condition with very slight creasing to the lower right corner.