Very nice place card, 4.25 x 5.25, for an 1889 dinner in honor of Edison by the “Societe Des Ingenieurs Civils,” signed on the reverse in ink with a beautiful umbrella signature, “Thomas A. Edison, Eiffel Tower, September 10, 1889.” Signed underneath by “G[ustave] Eiffel” and “Ch[arles] Gounod,” who adds a two bar AMQS next to his signature. In fine condition, with a bit of scattered light soiling to bottom of signature side.
Gustave Eiffel, away at a spa in Evian, missed Edison’s first visit to his tower. Subsequently, Eiffel hosted a festive champagne luncheon on the tower for the American inventor, his wife Mina, daughter Dot, and a few French engineers. Afterwards, all repaired to Eiffel’s private apartment atop the tower, where Edison demonstrated his new improved talking phonograph, one of the other huge sensations of the fair. Eiffel, who had spotted Charles Gounod dining at a nearby table in the Café Brebant, invited the composer to join them. High above Paris, Gounod serenaded Edison and played the piano until late into the evening.
An unbelievable, certainly one-of-kind triumvirate of signatures from one historic meeting at the 1889 World’s Fair.
Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
