Lot 1280: WATSON, THOMAS A.

1280. THOMAS A. WATSON (1854 - 1934) Assistant to Alexander Graham Bell, notably in the invention of the telephone in 1876. He is best known because his name is reportedly the first word spoken over the telephone. "Mr. Watson! Come here; I want you!", were the first words Bell said using the new invention. A fine and rare pair of A.L.S.'s, each 1p. 8vo., London, Oct. 20, 1910 and Venice, May 6, 1912, both to "George". The 1912 letter, signed "Thomas A. Watson", reads in part: "...I have written the Telephone Company to put in the Telephone both Exchange and private line and have them working by June 5th. I shall sail from Liverpool May 28th...". The Oct. 20, 1910 letter, signed "T. A. Watson", asks whether he should consider selling his house, cow, hens and other farm items and whether anything to that effect had been done. He adds: "Did I you tell the Electric Light men to put the current off of the house and make everything safe?...". A few yellow stains to this letter, else very good. Also included is another A.L.S. by an E. S. WATSON, presumably his wife, 1p. 8vo., Munich, Nov. 2, 1911, also to George asking that some bills be paid. Three pieces. $750 - 1,000