Jul 30, 2020 - Sale 2543

Sale 2543 - Lot 14

Price Realized: $ 5,000
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
INVITING IBM FOUNDER TO VISIT HIS LABORATORY EDISON, THOMAS A. Typed Letter Signed, to IBM founder Charles R. Flint ("Friend Flint"), inviting him to visit and consider commercially exploiting one of his own inventions. 1 page, 4to, "From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison" stationery; mounted to larger board, slight fading to signature, remnants of prior matting along all edges (not affecting text). Orange, 31 December 1907

Additional Details

". . . I beg to state that if your commercial working days are not over, and your ambition is still at working pressure, get into your automobile and come over and see something that I am not going to take commercial advantage of; but which you could. Ask on telephone if I am sure to be here. You can make it in 45 minutes."
With--Thomas A. Edison. Photograph Signed and Inscribed, "To Charles R Flint," half-length portrait by Pach Bros., showing him seated and holding a book on his knee. The portrait and signed inscription have been separated from each other. The inscription, signed boldly with an "umbrella" flourish, 2 1/2x5 1/2 inches. The portrait, 9 1/2x7 1/2 inches. Each mounted to board, remnants of prior matting along all edges. Np, [1907].
Charles Ranlett Flint (1850-1934) was a financier who, in 1911, formed the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company which, in 1924, was renamed International Business Machines.