World War I-dated TLS, signed prominently with his “Thos. A. Edison” umbrella signature, one page, 8.5 x 11, personal 'From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison' letterhead, July 3, 1917. Marked “Personal,” a letter to George H. Quinn, an employee of the Edison Storage Battery Company, in full: “Accept my warm appreciation for your efforts in obtaining the very handsome subscription to the Liberty Loan. Also extend this appreciation to all subscribers in your Department for their patriotism and sacrifice in meeting the payments for the Bonds, which I trust you will facilitate with the Banks in the same spirit of cooperation.” In very good to fine condition, with lightly trimmed edges, some wrinkling to the top, and slight blotting to the ink in the signature.
On May 24, 1917, Thomas Edison appealed to executives of his West Orange plant to support the ongoing war effort by investing in the Liberty Loan. A day later, Edison’s address was read in the storage battery building of the West Orange plant, where an organization was effected to sell bonds to the 5,000 employees of the plant. At the night meeting, 300 department heads of the Edison works subscribed $25,000 to the loan and each man enlisted as a Captain to solicit subscriptions from the men working under him. Mr. Edison's appeal read:
‘How much is it worth to you to be an American citizen? How much are you willing to pay for the privilege of living under the Stars and Stripes? The fathers of some of you fought to save the Union; the great-grandfathers of a few of you fought to make this a free nation. Some of you came to America in order that your children and your children's children might have a fair chance in the battle of life. They are saying in Germany that the hearts of the American people are not in this war. Traitors to this country are secretly working to that end. Most of you here tonight are ineligible to military service, but it is within your power to help refute the slander that has been put on American patriotism. I do not believe we have become a decadent race in the last fifty years. I believe we are ready to make every sacrifice we are called upon to make. "More than 500.000 of our young men sacrifice which a man can offer to his country. "What sacrifice are you willing to make? Will you pay what it is worth to you to be an American citizen? The first volley fired by the United States In this war will be a volley of silver bullets. Will you help mold these bullets? Your country asks but one thing of you now. She offers you the best security in the world and asks you to lend her what you can afford. If you can afford only $1 a week your country will still be grateful to you. I will co-operate with you in every way possible. I am already doing what I can in a certain direction. It is not something I can talk about, but I am trying to do my bit for Uncle Sam.’
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