The Illustrated London News. No. 2656. Vol. XCVI. Saturday, March 15, 1890. by Ingram Brothers (Printers and Publishers)

(London: Ingram Brothers, 1890). 400 x 296 mm; magazine, disbound from volume XCVI, and contained within a film fronted bag; wrappers discarded; pp. [321-352]; several woodcuts and advertisements, and with the double-page supplementary portrait of inventor Thomas Alva Edison. Some moderate foxing; stitching loose; occasional light fingering. The Edison portrait is in excellent condition. The inspiring biography of Thomas Alva Edison accompanies his portrait. In comparison with his 'hundreds of other devices, all of them of sufficient merit to make famous their author', the phonograph is considered to be the invention to which Edison 'owes his wide popularity, inasmuch as the dream of philosophers of all ages - and who does not remember Byron's remark when looking at the portrait of this mother, "Only the voice is wanting"? - was accomplished, the recording and reproduction in a simple way of human speech. Certainly Edison dropped his phonograph to proceed with the electric light and other important inventions more appropriate to the immediate requirements of the time, but he said, "The phonograph is my baby, and it is going to support me in my old age."' .