Lot 326

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Description:

Thomas A. Edison 100+ Word Letter Draft Re: South Dakota Lithium Ore Mines

A fascinating pair of documents relating to prolific inventor Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) and the history of American technology, bearing a 100+ word inscription in Edison's hand and his signature as "E."

The lot is comprised of:

1. An original 2pp typed letter signed sent to Edison from Dr. Herman Reinbold in Omaha, Nebraska on June 23, 1923. On "Reinbold Metallurgical Company … Mine Operators and Manufacturing Chemists …" letterhead. Signed by Herman Reinbold as "Herman Reinbold" near the top of the second page. Expected light overall toning and paper folds. Double hole-punched at top for clerical filing, and with a partly rusted staple mark in the upper left corner, else near fine. 8.125" x 10.5."

Dr. Reinbold wrote Edison to inquire if he wanted to purchase a spodumene mine called the Bull-Con (short for "Bull Consolidated") among the former's holdings in the Black Hills region of Keystone, South Dakota. Spodumene is a mineral harvested as a high-quality source of lithium. Lithium had applications in the manufacture of batteries--of obvious interest to Edison-- but also of glass, steel, ceramics, and medicine.

Herman and Hugo Reinbold (presumably a brother) of Omaha, Nebraska were veteran mine operators of the American West. Period sources and patent materials indicate that the Reinbolds mined and exported additional minerals and elements such as scheelite, tungsten, and amblygonite, and were also interested in technology linked to petroleum extraction.

2. Edison reused the first page of Dr. Reinbold's letter as scratch paper, scrawling a reply in pencil of approximately 112 words including one strikethrough. Edison wrote in the original:

"I have a long contract with Standard Essence + will not work a mine - I bought the Swazy mine + paid $6000 - I will give you $3000, for Use adjoining mine which I understand is called the Bull Con - [strike through] neither of these mines have any value to me as long as the Standard Essence Co remains in business + furnishes me Lithia their only value would be should the stop + go into Liquidation then I could work these mines - of course I know you will not accept my offer but that I all I will give + holds only for 3 months from date - E."

3. A 1p typed letter draft by Edison, dated June 29, 1923, which a competent secretary had transcribed from Edison's original pencil inscription. Light toning and scattered stains near the bottom of the page. Double hole-punched at top for clerical filing, and with a partly rusted staple mark in the upper left corner. One of the typed words is smudged. Else very good, reading:

"I have a long contract with the Standard Essence Co. and will not work a mine. I bought the Swazy mine and paid $6,000 for it. I will give you $3,000 (three thousand dollars) for the adjacent mine, which I understand is called the 'Bull-Con.'

Neither of these mines has any value to me as long as the Standard Essence Co. remains in business and furnishes me with lithia. The only value these mines would have would be in case the Standard Essence Co. would stop and go into liquidation. Then I could work these mines for myself.

Of course, I know you will not accept my offer, but that is all I will give and this offer will hold good only for three months from this date…"

Edison had become interested in energy storage in the 1890s. He was granted a patent for a rechargeable nickel-iron battery in 1901, the same year he founded the Edison Storage Battery Company.

Thomas A. Edison was America’s most prolific, and arguably its most important, inventor. His 1,093 patents span the fields of electricity, printing, telecommunications, and motion picture and sound recordings, as well as a myriad of other technologies. Edison’s legacy consists of his two laboratories in Menlo Park and West Orange, New Jersey and in 300+ international companies that capitalized on his inventions.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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