Auction details
Signature House Auction XXII
offered by
407 Liberty Ave
Bridgeport, WV 26330 
|
"EVERY TRIFLING DEFECT IS SHOWN UP"584. THOMAS A. EDISON TLS, 1p, 4to, Orange, NJ, Dec 7, 1915. Excellent content. On his "From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison" letterhead to John W. Lieb at New York Edison Company regarding a candidate for Edison's phonograph recordings. In part, "I am sure that you fully appreciate the fact that it is always a pleasure to me to do anything I can to make you happy, but am afraid that I shall have to disappoint you in regard to Miss Munn, who made a trial record over at our Recording Laboratory a short time ago. My system of recording is the most severe test of a singer's voice that I know of. An artist may sing ever so acceptably on the concert platform or on the operatic stage, but on recording the voice on the phonograph every trifling defect is shown up and cannot be eradicated...I had an expert travelling all over Europe for two years obtaining trial records of all the opera and concert singers who were of reputation. These were sent over to me, and I have pretty near 3,000 of them. It will surprise you to learn that not more than 3% of these were acceptable...There are certain technical requirements which we are obliged to insist upon for our recordings, and I am sorry to say that Miss Munn's voice was not one that came up to our standard..." Boldly signed. Original folds, one of which transverses single letter in signature; single edge nick; else Fine example. Est: $3000-4000ImagesClick on thumbnails to see larger images:
View Signature House next auction.Similar lots up for auction |
92886
