RARE OFFICIAL PATENT “PETITION” FOR HIS PHONOGRAPH, BOLDLY SIGNED BY THOMAS ALVA EDISON

EDISON, Thomas Alva. Document signed. United States Patent Office “Petitition” Representing Edison’s Improvements to the Phonograph. New Jersey, circa 1886. Original leaf (measures 8 by 13 inches), typewritten and signed on the recto.

Original official patent document, circa 1886, boldly signed by Thomas Alva Edison, this excceedingly rare typewritten application serving as Edison’s “petition” for a caveat to protect future patents on improvements to his phonograph.

This official typewritten U.S. Patent Office petition for a caveat, signifying Thomas Edison’s intent to file further patent (or patents) on the phonograph, is boldly signed by him in his rare full “umbrella” signature. Below a printed application fee of “$10” and the typewritten heading of “Petition,” this reads: “The petition of Thomas A. Edison a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, represents: That he has made certain Improvements in Phonographs and that he is now engaged in making experiments for the purpose of perfecting the same, prepatory to applying for Letters Patent therefor. He therefore prays that the subjoined description of his invention may be filed as a caveat in the confidential archives of the Patent Office.” [Signed] Thomas Alva Edison.” Edison patented his phonograph in 1877 while working on improvements to Alexander Bell’s telephone. Additional work on the electric light prevented his return to the phonograph until 1887 when he created the Edison Phonograph Company. This petition for a caveat, which served as an official notice of intent to file a patent application at a later date, ostensibly would cover at least some, if not all, of the 58 patents improving the phonograph applied for by Edison from 1886-89. In Edison’s patent No. 406.567, executed January 28, 1886, his stated address was “Menlo Park, in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey.” In subsequently executing a patent on February 17, 1886, he gave the address of “Llewellyn Park, in the County of Sussex and State of New Jersey”—correcting the county to Essex in succeeding patents. Edison purchased Glenmont, his home in Llewellyn Park, in mid-January 1886. Given that this document identifies Edison as “residing at Llewellyn Park, in the County of Essex,” it would have been filed after January 28, 1886. Edison filed a similar petition for a caveat relating to “certain improvements in Phonograph” in 1889 (Thomas Edison Papers, Rutgers University). With typewritten “1.” at lower edge; printed red margin lines. Two tiny ink markings not affecting text or signature.

Signature and text clear and fine, with two small file holes at upper margin, faint foldlines. A rare signed document in fine condition.