Description:

Marconi Guglielmo 1874 - 1937 Gorgeous Guglielmo Marconi signed Wireless Telegraph Co. dinner program



This vibrantly colored dinner program commemorates a celebratory dinner given in honor of Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi on January 24, 1903. Hosted by former U.S. Attorney General John G. Griggs (1849-1927) and the Directors of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company, the dinner took place at the Metropolitan Club in New York City. The Tiffany & Co. printed bifold program consists of a colored front cover and French language menu card, the whole adhered to a buff colored stock card. On the cover, a black and white oval portrait of Marconi flanked by American and Italian flags appears above the underlined pencil signature of the guest of honor, "Guglielmo Marconi". Two tricolored ribbons representing the Italian and American flags ornament the front cover. The club name appears in block lettering at bottom left of menu page; Tiffany & Co. is embossed at center along bottom margin of menu. In extra fine condition, measuring 8.5" x 10.5".

The Metropolitan Club, housed in a Stanford White designed Italianate building, was an opulent gentlemen's club founded by its first president J.P. Morgan in 1891. Gilded Age membership was exclusive and included only the most socially prestigious notables of the day. On that winter Saturday night, the Club offered an 8-course dinner menu inspired by Marconi, featuring caviar and anchovy canapes, Cape Cod clams, chicken gumbo, a sardine like fish dressed with cucumbers and tomatoes, lamb with green beans and potatoes, sorbet, red-headed duck with celery and truffle salad, and four dessert options which included "Wireless Telegraph Ice Cream", fruit, candy, and petits fours.

Electrical Review mentioned the 50-person party in its January 31, 1903 issue. It described our program as "elaborately embellished, adorned with an engraving of Signor Marconi on the cover", and also went into some detail about the souvenirs, miniature models of the Cape Cod Marconi station made of pasteboard, paper mache, and wire.

Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) revolutionized communication with his invention of wireless telegraphy in the late 1890s. At the Metropolitan Club gathering of scientists, professors, and Italian diplomats, Marconi "spoke briefly ... of the ultimate practicability of establishing commercial wireless telegraphy all over the world ... reducing the cost of message transmission over long distances and filling a great want of all nations of the earth in bringing them closer together", according to the Electrical Review.

An extremely handsome souvenir commemorating early twentieth-century technology!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

June 14, 2017 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000