Presented by Nikola Tesla, c. 1897

TESLA, Nikola (1856-1943). BAUWENS, M. et al., Les Affiches étrangères illustrées. Paris: 1897.

Signed and inscribed by Nikola Tesla, seeking financing for the Wardenclyffe Tower. Nikola Tesla gifts a book to Louisine Havemeyer, the wife of sugar baron Henry O. Havemeyer, who was among many wealthy individuals Tesla courted in his efforts to fund the experimental wireless transmission tower that he would build in Shoreham New York in 1901. And while his gift did not result in any backing from the Havemeyers, Tesla did come to the notice of J.P. Morgan, who funded the project until it was abandoned in 1906. Tesla's inscription reads: "Souvenir affectueux à avec chère sur le E de L Havemeyer Nickola Tesla"

Large quarto (310 x 220mm). 68 plates (67 color lithographs and one double monochrome). Blue morocco. Provenance: Nikola Tesla (inscribed to:) – L[ouisine] Havemeyer, 1855-1929 – Horace O. Havemeyer, Jr., 1915–1990 (bookplate).