Handwritten poem by Thomas Edison entitled “Miss Quay,” one page, 5 x 7, February 4, 1903, signed at the conclusion with his famous umbrella autograph, “Thomas E. Edison.” The poem, in full: “What's 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 / What’s the tell tale tree / and the traitors tree / and the tree that is warmest clad / The languishing tree / the chronological tree / and the tree that makes me sad / The most yielding tree / the Egyptian plague tree / the tree that bears a curse / The reddish brown tree / and the reddish blue tree / and the tree like an Irish nurse.” In fine condition. This unusual poem, each line constructed as a puzzle, was published on several occasions with slight variations, including a lengthy version that was published in the May 10, 1890, issue of Good Housekeeping. This was not a common occurrence for Edison. He enjoyed poetry, but few of his original poems ever made it to publication.
According to an NPR interview with Baylor University’s Blaine McCormick: ‘People don't know this about Edison, but a very literate person, well-read, really loved Longfellow, and ‘Evangeline’ being a favorite. And so, I think he just kind of fancied to write his own poetry and make connections in any way that he could, sort of like his inventions but just, you know, using words instead of machines.’
A hugely desirable and exceedingly uncommon format from Edison, who famously recited the nursery rhyme 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' as the first audio recording on his newly invented phonograph in 1877.
