Lot 379

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Description:

Thomas Edison Signed Light Bulb Patent, Fantastic and Rare!

EDISON, Thomas. Patent Signed, "Thomas Alva Edison", with his large "umbrella" paraph, 1p, 16" x 22", (12" x 18" visible), Bolivia, circa 1880. Beautifully matted with an image of Edison and a metal plaque with description of patent, framed to an overall size of 31.25" x 29.25". Not examined out of frame, but according to our reputable consignor, "Lamina 3 / Bolivia" appears at upper right recto and verso has tape repair. Additionally signed by Charles H. Smith and George T. Pinckney as "Testigos" (Witnesses). Document is rippled with creasing and light soiling. Minor tears at blank areas and chipping at edges. Overall, in near fine condition, and very rare as fully signed.

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) patented more than a thousand inventions, including the incandescent electric lamp, the phonograph (his favorite invention), the mimeograph, the alkaline storage battery, and the microphone. Edison also filed and received patents in other countries. Most of them, such as the here-offered patent, duplicated the U.S. patents, but they protected his work in those countries. Edison's first successful test of this invention, now known as the light bulb, was on October 21, 1879, when his incandescent lamp lasted 13.5 hours. Edison continued to improve his original design, and he applied for patents in 1880.

Edison was fortunate that the U.S. Patent Office did not keep track of all patents filed in every country. From the U.S. Department of the Interior: "An invention must be 'novel,' or unique, to receive a patent." That is, inventions must not be described in printed publications before the patent is awarded, or the inventor might lose the patent application. This happened to Edison in 1878, when he filed patent applications at the same time in the United States and Great Britain. The British patent was approved first (number 1644), and unfortunately, the U.S. Patent Office decided that this constituted "prior publication" and rejected Edison's application.

This had devastating consequences for Edison, because the patent included several important innovations to the phonograph, including the making of disc-shaped records. Since his U.S. patent was rejected, Edison's American competitors were allowed to copy it. If Edison had won the U.S. patent, there might still be an Edison recording company today. If Edison had lost his U.S. light bulb patent because of his patent filed in Bolivia, the future would have been far different for his Edison General Electric Company of New York (formed in 1889), which is now GE. 

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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Bid Increments
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$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000