Thomas Edison Signed Work Memo

nendee

Just picked this up last month:


Thomas Edison Memo

magikbilly

Hi there,

Nice - how many lines on that stationary? Would like to see the paper in hand. I am pretty sure there is no problem....many diagnostics - just fine. The added date of 1926 is just a little bit odd. I had to have a friend help me to put my finger on that - something struck me ever so slightly off. You got it rather cheap

Best,
Eric

Dboneesq

Really kewl item. Do you guys think that the "1926" may have been written by the "owner" of the memo? Maybe he researched it and determined, to his satisfaction, that it was written in that year? How would this effect the price? I am into autos, but mostly on sports cards.

magikbilly

Hi there,

maybe - it rubbed me the wrong way a tiny bit but I am overtly careful. Just the sort of thing to add "authenticity" - having said the the whole note appears in his hand and shares many diagnostics. It could be from a bunch of stuff that was broken up and annotated with date. Very likely genuine. I know he did not ask for opinions but I prefer that to mindless "that's beautiful"

Eric

nendee

I finally checked back and I'm excited you guys gave it a look - thanks! I thought the 1926 on it was odd as well - its a lighter shade and I think I just assumed it was someone in the future noting it was written in 1926. It comes with a PSA Pre-Certified thing - but to be honest, I'm not really sure what that means. I'm kind of starting out in this (collecting cool history items). My next question is if there is a better place than ebay to find similar type items?

magikbilly

Hi,

happy to see you respond - it is almost always hit and run here. I've been here for 6 years with little else.
To your question - what it means? Nothing. See your PM sir

Eric

magikbilly

Actually nendee - turn you PM on please

Eric

nendee

Eric - it's on now. Learning the ropes on the board.

magikbilly

Hi Dboneesq,

Sorry - I missed your question about price and the date added in another hand. "It depends" is the answer. To an investor condition and so on is everything. To a collector..well, lemme give an example of "collector" vs. "investor"...
I collect signed photographs of Hollywood stars. The example I have of Judy Garland's signature (almost always forged) is a 4" x4" old b/w snapshot photograph taken with deckled edges. If I recall correctly it was late 1955. It was taken by Grace Cunningham (The Grace Cunningham Collection of TV candids) and shows Grace's TV close - up with its tiny screen in a dark room - fuzzy but you can see what is going on. What is going on is Judy Garland's first TV appearance, I think at the premier of he Man with the Golden Arm or possibly the third broadcast premier on TV of A Star is Born. She took this small photo, drew a small "x" on the front and mailed to Judy Garland with a return address on the back and a request to sign by the "x'". Judy signed, with a greeting, in nice blue fountain - Grace had used early ball point which thankfully contained more blue pigment than varnish so no skipping and no yellowing. Now, I can't sell this unique unpublished photo to an investor. He will want a razor sharp 8"x10" uninscribed pro portrait, glossy or matte or pearl finish...in perfect condition with no issues, no "x". Thing is.... I have seen and passed on hundreds such photos...even owned some, but I have only ever seen the one signed candid....one other from another period - and that's it. The investor wants something easily resold - I wanted something as close to the release date of A Star is Born as I could find. The date was confirmed by a Garland author who knows her every move - he was able to tell from the clothes she had on when it might have been taken - there are no photographs from the third A Star is Born premier so that was a possibility. I had the date narrowed to a year from her signature. Anyway - did i mention all these dynamics allowed me to buy this photograph in broad daylight on eBay for $68?

Best,
Eric