Dyer, Frank Lewis, and Martin, Thomas Commerford.

8vo, FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY THOMAS A. EDISON "TO OSCAR AND MARION [EDISON-OESER]", THE GREAT INVENTOR'S DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND, 2 volumes, publisher's dark blue cloth, spines decorated and lettered in gilt, rubbed, volume one splitting at upper hinge

BOOKS INSCRIBED BY EDISON TO FAMILY MEMBERS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ON THE MARKET. Dyer and Martin's book was Edison's authorised biography, written with access to Edison himself, his laboratory and papers. This copy was given by Edison to his eldest daughter Marion (1873-1965) and her husband. Marion had a difficult relationship with her father's second wife, Mina, and had been resident in Germany since the 1890s, where she had married Oscar Oeser, a professional soldier. As the gift of this book shows, Edison's relationship with the couple was cordial but he did not visit them in Germany until 1911. Dyer and Martin's discussion of Edison's family life is restricted to a terse list of his marriages and children and a brief paean to his "happy and perfect domestic life". This is the only leaf in the book that has had its corner turned over.