Handwritten letter in ink by Thomas Edison from Menlo Park NJ dated August 27, 1877 to T.B.A. David. David was a close friend of Edison who worked with Western Union and other businesses and formed the Central District and Printing Telegraph Co. in Pittsburgh PA in 1874, adding telephones in 1878. The letter from Edison tells David about his new telephone with separate transmitter and receiver. He describes its clarity and how much better it is than Bell's. He states that he only has Batch & Kreusi (assistants Charles Batchelor and John Kruesi) and it would be a few days until he could send him a pair. This historic document has been written on lined plain stationery measuring 9.75" tall, 7.75" wide. It is in good condition showing the evidence of being framed at one time with water staining along the top one inch which does not affect the writing. Provenance: John J. Hughes collection, Howard Hazelcorn collection. Included with this lot is an internet copy of T.B.A. David's reminescises