Sale 2461 - Autographs, November 7, 2017

49 48 c   EDISON,THOMAS A.W.K.L. Dickson and Antonia Dickson. Life and Inventions of Thomas Alva Edison. Signed and Inscribed on the front free endpaper: “From Orange New Jersey March 15 1895 /Thomas A Edison.” 4to, publisher’s cloth, spine ends worn; moderate uneven toning affecting signature page, newspaper clipping mounted to front pastedown, faint dampstaining to upper edge throughout, pages adhering after p. 319 with occasional loss to upper edge affecting text and images. NewYork and Boston, (1894); inscription: Orange, 15 March 1895 [700/1,000] PUZZLING POEM FOR AYOUNG FRIEND 49 c   EDISON,THOMAS A. Autograph Manuscript dated and Signed, version of a pop- ular poem written for “Miss Quay” beginning “What’s the social tree.” 1 page, 8vo, board; small hole at upper right (not affecting text), faint scattered foxing. Np, 4 February 1902 [1,000/2,000] “Whats the social tree / and the dancing tree / and the tree that is nearest the sea /The dandiest tree / and the kissable tree / and the tree where ships may be . . . .” This poem was published on several occasions with slight variations including a lengthy version in the May 10, 1890 issue of Good Housekeeping . Each line of the poem is a kind of puzzle: the answer to the first line is ‘Pear’ or ‘Tea’ (as in a pair are enough for society, and tea is often served at social events); the answer to the second line is ‘Hop.’