BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID SARNOFF - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 182606

DAVID SARNOFF
Large b/w photo of Sarnoff with cigar, suit, tie and a woman at his side
Annotated photograph signed "To Dorothy R. Baller, With all good wishes. David Sarnoff/ '51". B/w, 11x14 overall, 9½x12½ image, one surface, mounted on 12x14½ sheet of cardboard. Sarnoff (1891-1971, born in Minsk, Russia) was an American radio and television executive and pioneer. He studied to be a Jewish Talmudic scholar in Russia, but left school in 1906, after moving with his family to Albany, New York, to be a messenger for a telegraph company. He became proficient enough at Morse code that he was hired as a radio operator for the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. On April 14, 1912, the 21-year-old Sarnoff was the first to pick up distress signals from the sinking Titanic; he remained at his post for 72 hours, receiving and passing along news, and was hailed for his dedication. In 1921, he became general manager of the newly-formed Radio Corporation of America, and attracted national interest when he broadcast a bout between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier on July 2, 1921. In 1926, Sarnoff founded the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and established an experimental television station two years later; his television was demonstrated at the New York World's Fair in 1939. During World War II, Sarnoff, who had been made President of RCA in 1930, served as a communications consultant to General Dwight D. Eisenhower and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. In 1947, he became chairman of the board of RCA, serving until his retirement in 1970. Lightly toned and creased. Light crease in lower right corner. Pencil notations in unknown hand near bottom edge of photo. Adhesive residue near top of photo. Pen skipped during signature. Otherwise in fine condition.