1911 signed Edison photo sells in NH for $31K-plus

[rodpickett]

The material is copyrighted so I can only post the link to the article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... TE=DEFAULT

[Andersun]

Here it is.....

[brianu]

I read about that yesterday but forgot to post... here are excerpts from the thursday 12/8/11 article on this:

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CONCORD, N.H. — A 1911 photograph of Thomas Edison holding an alkaline battery with his penned declaration about the invention's importance in transportation has sold for more than $31,000, believed to be a record for a signed Edison photo.

RR Auction of Amherst, N.H., says the photograph was sold Wednesday night in an online auction for $31,554. Its estimated value was $5,000.

Edison started his work on the alkaline battery in the 1890s, just after the motorcar had been introduced. About 50,000 experiments later, he produced a successful nickel-iron alkaline battery in 1910 that was used for lighting railway cars, miners' lamps and other devices.
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I had no idea that his autograph, even with brief inscriptions like this one, were so valuable. I'm curious if it went to a library or museum, or just to a private collector.

[rodpickett]

Sorry that my initial posting was ambiguous. I had the capability to post excerpts or images from the article. AP’s copyright statement specifically excludes the electronic reposting of any content or images, partial or complete, from the article on any electronic forum, regardless of personal or commercial use. Their copyright does allow the hardcopy reprint of an article for personal use.

Probably not a big deal unless AP wants to make it one. I just try to avoid stepping into a gray area with this forum or others I participate in with respect to copyright laws. I have always sought written permission from authors like Ron Dethlefson or Bob Baumbach before I have used or posted their copyright content in the same manner.

[Starkton]

I follow RR auction prices of Edison autographs for several years now. Prices for better pieces are extremely high, usually double or triple the amount I expected (and paid myself for similar items). Although the autograph is quite interesting, $31K is unreal - to say the least.

[brianu]

I guess there's no way of knowing where it ended up at such a price?

[TinfoilPhono]

I'm seeing what I consider to be insane asking prices for Edison autographs on eBay, though I'm not seeing anything sell at such prices. I have to wonder if merely having such wild prices posted week after week may be misleading some people who are not as familiar with the market?

I assume that in this particular instance the comments might be seen as very prescient, given the growing interest in electric cars. That still doesn't warrant that kind of price, in my opinion. Some seller got very lucky.

Whenever I see plain, clipped Edison signatures offered at $3K-plus I start thinking about selling my collection of Edisonia. If that sort of thing is worth the money being asked (and in this instance, obtained) then I'm sitting on a gold mine.....

[Stephen_Madara]

I have seen that photo before with the same or similar inscription. I hope the buyer verifies it from another source that it was actually hand signed as the inscription reads like a promotional item. Steve

[52089]

Just as with phonographs, the price of an autograph depends on many things. In this case, not only was there a signature, but a very lengthly inscription with excellent content. Nonetheless, I was quite shocked at the final price. I own a small photo of Edison pictured with a cylinder machine and signed by him in a darker area, and this cost me maybe 5% of what the battery photo cost.

If you just want an Edison autograph, the least expensive thing to buy is the signed payroll checks from the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory, which ordinarily sell for around $600-$700 these days. These are extremely common. In the 1970s, these were sold at auction in bundles of 10 for $150-$200 (i.e., $15-$20 each). Another good alternative is the meeting minutes from the various Edison companies that Edison signed. Also common, most of these sell for about the same as the checks, unless there is really interesting information present. I have not monitored ebay prices on these, but these are typical dealer prices and will vary widely depending on the dealer.

[TinfoilPhono]

I agree that the "Botonic Research" (misspelled)checks and corporate minutes are the most common Edison autographs around. You can add to that the memos he wrote in a loose scrawl, which are abundant. But people do get some crazy ideas. Currently on eBay:

One-page signed report: $25K

Corporate minutes: $17K

Corporate minutes: $10K

Memo: $5.5K

Unsigned sketch: $5.5K

Intra-office memo, initial 'E' instead of signature: $$4.5K

Signature only, cut from document: $2900

What is particularly disturbing is that aside from the last one, all of these are from professional autograph dealers. Either they're trying to set a market or major greed has hit the Edisonia market.