Incredibly Rare Nikola Tesla Signed 1908 Letter with Laboratory Letterhead “…the order for the 220 volt motor.”

“The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.”

-Nikola Tesla

One of the greatest inventors of all time, Nikola Tesla, “The genius who lit the world.” An American electrical and mechanical engineer and prolific inventor best known for developing alternating current (AC) and his Tesla coil (which laid the foundation for wireless technologies).

Nikola Tesla was born in 1856 in Smiljan, Croatia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father was a priest in the Serbian Orthodox church and his mother managed the family’s farm. In 1863 Tesla’s brother Daniel was killed in a riding accident. The shock of the loss unsettled the 7-year-old Tesla.

Tesla immigrated to the US in 1884 at the age of 28. He briefly worked for Thomas Edison but left after disagreements between the two.

After an unsuccessful attempt to start his own Tesla Electric Light Company and a stint digging ditches for $2 a day, Tesla was able to find financial backing to support his research into alternating current. In 1887 and 1888 he was granted more than 30 patents for his inventions. Tesla was invited to address the American Institute of Electrical Engineers on his work and his lecture caught the attention of George Westinghouse, a successful inventor who was looking to compete in the ‘Current War.’ Tesla’s patents on AC technology were licensed by Westinghouse Electric in 1888, earning him a considerable amount of money. He developed the Tesla Coil (transformer circuit) in 1891, and became Vice President of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers from 1892-94.

This incredibly rare document features Nikola Tesla’s remarkable laboratory shown at the top. Something we’ve only seen on one other letter that has survived and that one rests in a museum. In this letter Nikola Tesla writes to Bernard A. Behrend (1875-1932), electrical engineer, and author of “The Induction Motor” (1901), and important friend to Tesla. The letter reads “I am writing to tell you that you will hear from one of my business friends with reference to the order for the 220 volt motor. I trust that you will be able to deliver it immediately.” Signed at the bottom in his own hand, “N. Tesla.”

Next to this we’ve included a color enhanced photo of Tesla from inside his laboratory and below this quote from Tesla that speaks to every inventor or entrepreneur.

“The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.”

-Nikola Tesla

All of this is beautifully framed in our hand built, contemporary, wide frame, enhanced with professional white matting.

As with all of our works, every piece is original.  Only the highest quality materials have been used in the assembly of this item.  Sourced from the best manufacturers around the world, we build every frame tailored specifically for the item it will hold.  Protected with 99% UV museum quality glass, and carefully crafted with acid free paper whenever possible.  Our premium wood moldings are cut using the newest technology and every single piece is assembled and inspected by our team here in Los Angeles.

All autographs have been authenticated by third party experts from the top authenticators in the country, and notarized certificates of authenticity are included in a black leather portfolio.  Copies of the original authentications are kept on file with Billionaire Collectibles and can be retrieved by the original purchaser.

We stand 100% behind all of our works of art, and offer a lifetime guarantee on every piece, for as long as you own it.

Condition: Fine condition, horizontal center fold visible, normal aging to paper. Tesla’s Wardenclyffe project, known as the Tesla Tower pictured on the stationery of our letter, was his costly and prescient concept to develop wireless transmission of electrical power.