Edison His Life and Inventions

Dyer, Lewis [and] Martin, Thomas

Published by Harpers, New York, 1910

About this Item

2 vols. 1st edition. Signed presentation copy from Edison to his personal physician, John Hammond Bradshaw, "Dr. & Mrs. Bradshaw / from / Thomas A. Edison" in black ink on the front free endpaper. Original cloth (lacking the dustjackets and slipcase), worn at spine tips, but good, sound, and unrepaired. RBH lists only 2 signed, 2 vol. sets of the 1st edition sold at auction (one from 1936), so while this is not a beautiful set, it is the cleanest shirt in the hamper. Half morocco case. Thomas Edison's life spanned a critical phase of the Industrial Revolution, with his work reflecting and driving this transformative period in American society. His timing was impeccable the late 19th century United States was experiencing unprecedented industrial growth, providing fertile ground for Edison's particular brand of innovation that emphasized practical applications and scalable manufacturing processes. The development of his electric lighting system coincided with America's rapid urbanization, fundamentally altering city landscapes and extending productive hours beyond daylight. Edison's approach to invention establishing the systematic research laboratory at Menlo Park mirrored the broader industrial shift toward organized, efficient production methods rather than individual craftsmanship. This industrialization of the creative process itself represented a breakthrough as significant as any single device he patented. Perhaps most tellingly, Edison's business model of forming companies to commercialize his inventions reflected the emerging corporate capitalism that would come to dominate American economic life, cementing his role not merely as an inventor but as an industrial pioneer who helped shape the final stages of the revolution that transformed America from an agricultural to a manufacturing powerhouse. Seller Inventory # 974

Bibliographic Details

Title: Edison His Life and Inventions

Publisher: Harpers, New York

Publication Date: 1910

Condition: good

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: First Edition.