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Nikola Tesla Autograph Letter Signed.... (Total: 2 )
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Description
In the midst of conducting electrical experiments at Colorado Springs, Tesla writes: "The last bath (this is confidential) I took about ten days ago"
Nikola Tesla Autograph Letter Signed. Three pages of a bifolium, 5.3" x 6.75", Colorado Springs, [Colorado]; June 7, 1899. A letter, on Tesla's personal stationary, to Chicago businessman and political power broker Herman Henry Kohlsaat concerning a pamphlet proposed by Tesla. In part: "The last bath (this is confidential) I took about ten days ago and I may soon be able to sleep on my hair and cover myself with my beard, thus dispensing with the necessity of a bed....This will give you an idea of the situation and explain the delay in answering to your kind letter. I am afraid you have misunderstood me in regard to the contemplated issue of the pamphlet. I do not want you to do as I wish but, on the contrary I want to have it exactly as you think best for the interest of the Club. Please do not misunderstand each other on this point. I am sending a line to Mr. McCormick (of the T.H.) in regard to the matter. The dead head scheme worked first rate, many thanks with kind regards to all Sincerely yours N. Tesla."Tesla (1856-1943), the Serbian-American inventor best known for his contributions to the design of the alternating current electricity supply system, moved from New York City to Colorado Springs in May 1899 in order to have adequate room for his high-voltage, high-frequency electrical experiments. This letter is written about a month after his arrival. He returned to New York in 1900.
Tesla's letter to Herman Henry Kohlsaat (1853-1924), a Chicago newspaper publisher, bakery owner, and Republican Party activist, refers to a pamphlet Tesla contemplated writing, probably relating to his May 13, 1899 lecture at the Commercial Club of Chicago, in which Kohlsaat was active. Apparently, Tesla's lecture at the club was somewhat controversial. In this letter, Tesla refers to Alexander A. McCormick, Sr. (1863-1925), who served as editor of the Chicago Times-Herald from 1895 to 1901.
The letter is accompanied by a clipping of a 1924 newspaper article on Tesla's planned electrical plant at Niagara Falls.
Condition: The letter has a horizontal fold, but otherwise is in fine condition. There is a bit of discoloration to the interior pages resulting from the news clipping being placed there for storage.
Auction Info
2017 May 11 Manuscripts Grand Format Auction - Dallas #6175 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2017
11th
Thursday
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