Edison Post Card

[gramophone78]

In a box was this Edison PC. It was not mailed as a PC but used as the stationary and then mailed in a envelope. It is dated in the top left Dec. 1911. I will have to translate the letter as it is in Spanish.

[bbphonoguy]

That picture is my favorite! I've always wanted to find a large version of it to hang on the wall. Anyone know what the title of the painting is?

[gramophone78]

Is it "Enrico"????. Here is a very interesting address on the back. Is that where Edison had his distribution set up???. I think I will run by there and see what's happening.

[3victrolas]

Sometimes the letters can be more interesting that the picture on the front.

[Starkton]

Anyone know what the title of the painting is?

The inspiring title is "The Phonograph". I took the following from an internet source:
The original painting of the "old couple" was based upon a picture by Pompeo Massani (1850-1920), a Florentine artist. It was exhibited at a salon in NYC in 1905 and purchased by an agent of Edison for $1050.

Here is one of the last paintings by Massani, showing Thomas A. and Mina in the privacy when cashing-up.

[Amberola 1-A]

This was also very popular as a dealer trade card and was handed routinely out to customers. I picked this one up years ago from the son of the dealer that owned the store mentioned on the back. The entire block where this store was located is, sadly, completely gone.

Bill

[barnettrp21122]

I noticed on the back of the card that it says that the original painting was in Edison's home. Does anyone know if it's still there?
Bob

[gramophone78]

Bill,
That is so cool. I take it that is a trade card about the same size as a PC??. I have now translated the letter. It is a man writing to a women Chayo (Rosario) his friend or Sister that he met a younger girl and has asked her to marry him. He is very worried to be single all his life and hopes that she will accept his proposal. Tomorrow, I will pass by that address and see what is still there. I see this PC (or the image) is copyright 1905 but, the letter is 1911. So, I guess they were used for awhile.
The part I find most interesting is the whole card is printed in English and yet it was issued in Mexico.

[Amberola 1-A]

Yes Gramophone 78, it is exactly PC sized. What is interesting about both our cards is the difference in horns. Yours depicts the latter MG style w/crane while mine has the earlier style "witch's hat" horn.
How cool............

Bill

[gramophone78]

WOW!!!, you can tell I have not had my first Mexican coffee yet........I never even noticed the horns are different. I wonder how many different ones there are. Please excuse me. My knowledge on cylinder is very weak. This card is now the only Edison thing I own and only because I just found it..... .