Archive of 37 British patent letters regarding Thomas Edison and electric light will be sold May 14

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - May 5, 2020 - PRLog -- An important collection of 37 original British patent letters pertaining to Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb and the birth of incandescent lighting, dating from 1878 to 1884, is the expected headliner in an Internet-only auction ending May 14^th at 8 pm Eastern time by One of a Kind Collectibles. Bidding is open now, at www.OAKauctions.com.

The historical significance of Edison's inventions, and the 37-patent archive that documents their development in Europe, cannot be overstated. The man who said that genius was "one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration" saw his sweat pay off handsomely, as all of humankind was pulled out of the nighttime darkness and into increased productivity, albeit a little less sleep.

"This is one of the most historic science archives to ever come to market, representing the very dawn of electric light," said David Gindy of One of a Kind Collectibles. "These patents comprise the European holdings of Edison's archive, to include his patent in 1879 for the light bulb, only the most valuable patent ever granted, and the 1880 patent relating to the incandescent lamp."

The archive also features patents for Joseph Swann, the English inventor also working on the light bulb at the same time; and George Westinghouse's Chesbrough patent of 1878, which he used to get the contract to illuminate the Columbian Exposition, as chronicled in the film Current Wars. All 37 patents are being offered as a single lot. The minimum bid has been set at $10,000.

The rest of the auction – around 150 lots in all – is no less impressive, and features items in a wide range of categories, to include historical, presidential, science, sports, aviation, art and literature. The names in the sale are also impressive and wide-ranging, such as Abraham Lincoln, George and Ira Gershwin, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, Albert G. Spalding and Rain in the Face.

Lincoln is always a big attraction with collectors. A letter written and signed by Lincoln on Jan. 5, 1861 – after his victory as president and before his inauguration – has a minimum bid of $500. The letter, on a 6 inch by 3 inch sheet, is in response to an autograph request from an "R. M. Green". "I herewith send you my autograph which you request," Mr. Lincoln very kindly wrote.

To learn more, or to register and bid now for the May 14^th auction, visit www.OAKauctions.com.