Date: Fri 09-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Edison

Full Text:

Thomas Edison Documents

CHESTER, N.Y. -- William Jenack Auctioneers, Inc. conducted its most recent

sale of books, ephemera, photography, autographs and manuscripts in February

with good results. All prices quoted reflect the ten percent buyers premium.

The sale was highlighted by a collection of Thomas Edison documents, circa

1860-1898. The 12 lots collectively sold for $58,465 with all but one lot

selling to New York dealer Bruce Gimelson. The top lots of this group include

two agreements between Western Union Telegraph Co. and The Chicago Baseball

Club, regarding telegraph transmission of the games during the 1882-93 season,

signed by A.G. Spaulding, which hit a home run at $6,325. In addition, a group

of three agreements between Thomas Edison of Menlo Park, N.J. and the Gold and

Stock Telegraph Co (1871) concerning the assignment of Canadian Telephone

patents reached $7,150. Amid heavy bidding, a single signed agreement between

Thomas A. Edison of Menlo Park, N.J. and The Western Union Telegraph Co. (May

1878) addressing the purchase of Edison's telephone invention brought $7,700.

An invitation to Abraham Lincoln's National Inauguration Ball, with vignettes

of Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, dated March 4, 1865 was hotly contested,

finally reaching $1,650.

A very interesting group of articles and documents offered as one lot

concerned the appointment of Senator John M. Birch of West Virginia as

Ambassador to the Imperial Court of Japan 1885. This lot included the

President Grover Cleveland signed appointment and signed diplomatic passport;

the Imperial Court's acceptance signed by Emperor Mutso Hito; Senator Birch's

cane and fraternal sword; and two photographs of the ambassador's

residence/staff in Japan. This impressive lot was pushed by several Japanese

Nationals, finally selling in the gallery at $3,630.

A fine postmortem daguerreotpye of Elizabeth Seaman, circa 1858 (age

approximately four years), consigned from the Seaman family's Historic Sweet

Clover Farm, Woodbury, N.Y., brought $1,100 against numerous phone bidders. A

folio volume "Peter Titus Book, N.Y., June 29, 1802," with wonderful technical

illustrations, generated $1,430 and was aided by the Sweet Clover Farm

provenance. A Victorian folk art carved walnut framed grand carte-de-visite

collection (50) including military, circus, and portrait subjects reached

$1,320. Two vintage Harry Houdini promotional photographs sold magically for

$990. At the same price, a dealer took home a first edition of The History of

the World, by Sir Walter Raleigh, 1614.

A fine postcard collection from an Olivebridge, N.Y. estate and the Seaman

family's Historic Sweet Clover Farm provided the best fresh-to-the-market

collection seen in years. Sold individually, in small lots and in albums, 65

lots reached prices many ranging from $200 to $475. The top lots in individual

cards included 48 Rose O'Neill Kewpie postcards at $660; seven Hold-to-Lights,

circa 1906 at $192; 37 Black subject at $192; ten railroad subjects at $165;

24 Lincoln Open Books at $165; seven Halloween at $88.

The next sale of books/ephemera and related items is scheduled for September

1999. Complete details and post sale results can be obtained by contacting

William Jenack Auctioneers, Inc. at 914/469-9095.