Lee De Forest Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

LEE DE FOREST

Born: August 26, 1873 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Died: June 30, 1961 in Hollywood, California

Lee de Forest (1863-1961) patented more than 300 inventions in wireless telegraphy, radio telephony, sound-on-film talking pictures, high-speed facsimile transmission, television, radiotherapy and related areas. One of his most important inventions was the triode Audion vacuum tube (patented in 1907) that was used in radios and televisions. The inventor demonstrated his discovery on January 20, 1910 with a broadcast of a live performance from New York City's Metropolitan Opera. By inventing the three-element vacuum tube, de Forest established the technology for all future telecommunication inventions, especially radio and television. He titled his autobiography, Father of Radio, but de Forest did not generally receive that recognition.

Film Credits | show more show less

1927-Westminster-Glee-Singers (Producer), 1927-Harry-and-Max-Nesbitt (Producer), 1927-The-Antidote (Producer), 1927-Syncopation-and-Song (Producer), 1926-Gwen-Farrar (Producer), 1926-Marie-Lloyd-Jr. (Producer), 1926-Santa-Claus (Producer), 1926-The-Flat-Charleston (Producer), 1926-The-Whistler (Producer), 1926-Cuban-Sound-Documentary (Producer), 1926-Brooke-Johns-and-Goodee-Montgomery (Producer), 1925-Helen-Lewis-and-Her-All-Girl-Jazz-Syncopators (Producer), 1925-Paul-Specht-Musical-Number (Producer), 1925-Roger-Wolfe-Kahn-Musical-Number (Producer), 1924-President-Coolidge,-Taken-on-the-White-House-Grounds (Producer), 1924-Franklin-D.-Roosevelt-Speech (Producer), 1924-George-Jessel (Producer), 1924-The-Jubilee-Four (Producer), 1923-Adolph-Zukor-Introduces-Phonofilm (Producer), 1923-Eva-Puck-and-Sammy-White (Producer), 1923-Weber-and-Fields (Producer), 1923-Lillian-Powell-Bubble-Dance (Producer), 1923-Love's-Old-Sweet-Song (Producer), 1923-Lincoln,-the-Man-of-the-People (Producer), 1923-Phonofilm (Producer), 1922-Casey-at-the-Bat (Producer), 1921-Flying-Jenny-Airplane (Producer), 1927-Syncopation-and-Song (Director), 1926-Cuban-Sound-Documentary (Director), 1925-Helen-Lewis-and-Her-All-Girl-Jazz-Syncopators (Director), 1925-Paul-Specht-Musical-Number (Director), 1924-President-Coolidge,-Taken-on-the-White-House-Grounds (Director), 1924-Franklin-D.-Roosevelt-Speech (Director), 1924-George-Jessel (Director), 1924-The-Jubilee-Four (Director), 1923-Eva-Puck-and-Sammy-White (Director), 1923-Weber-and-Fields (Director), 1923-Lillian-Powell-Bubble-Dance (Director), 1923-Phonofilm (Director), 1922-Casey-at-the-Bat (Director), 1921-Flying-Jenny-Airplane (Director), 1921-Flying-Jenny-Airplane (Cinematographer), 1927-Syncopation-and-Song (Cinematographer), 1926-The-Flat-Charleston (Cinematographer), 1925-Helen-Lewis-and-Her-All-Girl-Jazz-Syncopators (Cinematographer), 1924-President-Coolidge,-Taken-on-the-White-House-Grounds (Cinematographer), 1924-Franklin-D.-Roosevelt-Speech (Cinematographer), 1924-The-Jubilee-Four (Cinematographer), 1923-Eva-Puck-and-Sammy-White (Cinematographer), 1923-Weber-and-Fields (Cinematographer), 1923-La-chauve-souris (Producer), 1923-La-chauve-souris (Director), 1928-Ain't-She-Sweet (Producer), 1927-Elga-Collins-the-Versatile-Entertainer (Producer), 1927-Dandy-George-and-Rosie (Producer), 1927-Harry-Shalson-the-Popular-Entertainer (Producer), 1927-I-Don't-Care-What-You-Used-to-Be (Producer), 1926-Alvin-and-Kelvin-Keech (Producer), 1926-Ethel-Hook (Producer), 1926-The-Houston-Sisters (Producer), 1926/II-The-Sheik-of-Araby (Producer), 1926-Billy-Merson-Singing-Desdemona (Producer), 1926-The-Radio-Franks (Producer), 1926-Al-Herman (Producer), 1924-Robert-LaFollette-Campaign-Speech (Producer), 1923-A-Few-Moments-with-Eddie-Cantor,-Star-of-'Kid-Boots' (Producer), 1923-Cohen-on-the-Telephone (Producer), 1923-Conchita-Piquer (Producer), 1923-Fannie-Ward (Producer), 1923-Noble-Sissle-and-Eubie-Blake (Producer), 1923-Rigoletto,-Act-Two (Producer), 1923-Stringed-Harmony (Producer), 1923-Henry-Cass-Demonstration-Film (Producer), 1923-Eubie-Blake-Plays-His-Fantasy-on-Swanee-River (Producer), 1921-Barking-Dog (Producer), 1926-Alvin-and-Kelvin-Keech (Director), 1926-Ethel-Hook (Director), 1924-Robert-LaFollette-Campaign-Speech (Director), 1923-A-Few-Moments-with-Eddie-Cantor,-Star-of-'Kid-Boots' (Director), 1923-Cohen-on-the-Telephone (Director), 1923-Conchita-Piquer (Director), 1923-Fannie-Ward (Director), 1923-Rigoletto,-Act-Two (Director), 1923-Stringed-Harmony (Director), 1923-Henry-Cass-Demonstration-Film (Director), 1921-Barking-Dog (Director), 1926-Alvin-and-Kelvin-Keech (Cinematographer), 1926-Ethel-Hook (Cinematographer), 1926-The-Radio-Franks (Cinematographer), 1924-Robert-LaFollette-Campaign-Speech (Cinematographer), 1923-Conchita-Piquer (Cinematographer), 1923-Fannie-Ward (Cinematographer), 1923-Stringed-Harmony (Cinematographer), 1927-Farewell-Message-of-Mr.-Levine-and-Captain-Hinchcliffe,-Just (Producer), 1927-Farewell-Message-of-Mr.-Levine-and-Captain-Hinchcliffe,-Just (Cinematographer), 1928-Mirth-and-Magic (Producer), 1927-Charles-A.-Lindbergh (Producer), 1927-The-Lard-Song (Producer), 1927-Arthur-Roberts (Producer), 1927-Frivolous-Fragments (Producer), 1927-Norah-Blaney (Producer), 1927-Teddy-Brown (Producer), 1927-The-Actors'-Squad (Producer), 1927-To-See-If-My-Dreams-Come-True (Producer), 1926-I-Want-a-Pie-with-a-Plum-In (Producer), 1926-Knee-Deep-in-Daisies (Producer), 1926/II-Sweet-Adeline (Producer), 1925-Swanee-River (Producer), 1925-Gloria-Swanson-Dialogue (Producer), 1924-Abraham-Lincoln (Producer), 1924-Raymond-Hitchcock-Sketch (Producer), 1923-A-Musical-Monologue (Producer), 1923-Sextet-from-Lucia-di-Lammermoor (Producer), 1927-Charles-A.-Lindbergh (Director), 1927-To-See-If-My-Dreams-Come-True (Director), 1925-Gloria-Swanson-Dialogue (Director), 1924-Raymond-Hitchcock-Sketch (Director), 1923-A-Musical-Monologue (Director), 1923-Sextet-from-Lucia-di-Lammermoor (Director), 1922-Gloria-Swanson-and-Thomas-Meighan (Director), 1927-Teddy-Brown (Cinematographer), 1927-The-Actors'-Squad (Cinematographer), 1927-To-See-If-My-Dreams-Come-True (Cinematographer), 1925-Gloria-Swanson-Dialogue (Cinematographer), 1923-A-Musical-Monologue (Cinematographer), 1991-Empire-of-the-Air:-The-Men-Who-Made-Radio (Other), 1923-Noble-Sissle-and-Eubie-Blake-Sing-Snappy-Songs (Cinematographer), 1922-Lee-DeForest (Cinematographer), 1922-Marie-Rappold (Cinematographer), 1922-Songs-of-Yesterday (Cinematographer), 1922-Songs-of-Yesterday (in person), 1922-Lee-DeForest (in person), 2007-The-Dawn-of-Sound:-How-Movies-Learned-to-Talk (Other), 1928-Mr.-George-Mozart-the-Famous-Comedian (Producer), 1928/II-Almost-a-Gentleman (Producer), 1927-George-Bernard-Shaw (Producer), 1927-George-Jackley,-the-Indignant-Comedian-in-a-Doggy-Ditty (Producer), 1927-John-Citizen's-Lament (Producer), 1927-Mark-Griver-and-His-Scottish-Revellers (Producer), 1927-Sensations-of-1927 (Producer), 1926-Alma-Barnes-the-Internationally-Famous-Mimic (Producer), 1926-Betty-Chester-the-Well-Known-Co-Optimist-Star (Producer), 1926-I-Can't-Take-You-Out-of-My-Dreams (Producer), 1926-Julius-Caesar (Producer), 1926-Nervo-and-Knox (Producer), 1926-The-Man-in-the-Street (Producer), 1926-Thorpe-Bates (Producer), 1926-When-That-Yiddisher-Band-Played-an-Irish-Tune (Producer), 1926-Sidney-Bernstein-Welcomes-Phonofilm (Producer), 1926-Dick-Henderson (Producer), 1926-Joe-Termini-the-Somnolent-Melodist (Producer), 1926-My-Old-Kentucky-Home (Producer), 1926-Bleak-House (Producer), 1926-Jack-Pearl-and-Ben-Bard (Producer), 1925-Chauncey-Depew (Producer), 1924-Five-Minutes-with-Al-Smith (Producer), 1924-John-W.-Davis-Campaign-Speech (Producer), 1924-Sonia-Serova-Dancers (Producer), 1923-A-Boston-Star:-Borrah-Minevitch (Producer), 1923-Ben-Bernie-and-All-the-Lads (Producer), 1923-Charles-Ross-Taggart (Producer), 1923-Noble-Sissle-and-Eubie-Blake-Sing-Snappy-Songs (Producer), 1923-Sammy-Fain-and-Artie-Dunn (Producer), 1922-Lee-DeForest (Producer), 1922-Marie-Rappold (Producer), 1922-Songs-of-Yesterday (Producer), 1927-George-Bernard-Shaw (Director), 1926-Alma-Barnes-the-Internationally-Famous-Mimic (Director), 1926-Sidney-Bernstein-Welcomes-Phonofilm (Director), 1926-Dick-Henderson (Director), 1926-Bleak-House (Director), 1926-Jack-Pearl-and-Ben-Bard (Director), 1925-Chauncey-Depew (Director), 1924-Five-Minutes-with-Al-Smith (Director), 1924-John-W.-Davis-Campaign-Speech (Director), 1924-Sonia-Serova-Dancers (Director), 1923-A-Boston-Star:-Borrah-Minevitch (Director), 1923-Ben-Bernie-and-All-the-Lads (Director), 1923-Charles-Ross-Taggart (Director), 1923-Noble-Sissle-and-Eubie-Blake-Sing-Snappy-Songs (Director), 1923-Sammy-Fain-and-Artie-Dunn (Director), 1922-Lee-DeForest (Director), 1922-Marie-Rappold (Director), 1922-Songs-of-Yesterday (Director), 1927-George-Bernard-Shaw (Cinematographer), 1926-Thorpe-Bates (Cinematographer), 1926-Jack-Pearl-and-Ben-Bard (Cinematographer), 1924-Five-Minutes-with-Al-Smith (Cinematographer), 1924-John-W.-Davis-Campaign-Speech (Cinematographer), 1923-A-Boston-Star:-Borrah-Minevitch (Cinematographer)

LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH 05/03/1924 - HFSID 155633

LEE DE FOREST Signature from the inventor dated in 1924 Signature: "Lee de Forest/May 3. 1924", 3½x2¼ card. Lee de Forest patented more than 300 inventions in wireless telegraphy, radio telephony, sound-on-film talking pictures, high-speed facsimile transmission, television, radiotherapy and related areas.

Sale Price $270.00

$300.00
LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/22/1931 - HFSID 202330

LEE DE FOREST The vacuum tube inventor pens this letter from Los Angeles in 1931 to say that he would sign his autograph for the recipient's five sons Autograph Letter Signed "Lee de Forest.". 1 page, 8½x11. Los Angeles, California,Feb. 22, 1931. In full: "Dear Mr.

Sale Price $595.00

$700.00
LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/26/1947 - HFSID 55262

LEE DE FOREST He pens this rare letter of thanks for tear-sheets from the A.I.E.E. Autograph Letter Signed: "Lee de Forest", 1p, 5½x8¼. Posada Del Sol stationery, Mexico City, March 26, [1947]. Receipt stamp at bottom, "APR 3 - 1947". To Mr. Roe.

Sale Price $765.00

$900.00
LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 01/23/1956 - HFSID 32063

LEE de FOREST. ANS: "Lee de Forest", 4x3. No place, 1956 January 23. To Joe Kraus. In full: "I hope you may work in Electronics-its so absorbing!" Lee de Forest

Sale Price $306.00

$340.00
LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 03/14/1932 - HFSID 31898

LEE de FOREST The inventor pens a note to a fan on this card Autograph Note Signed: "Lee de Forest", 1p, 7¼x6. No place, 1932 March 14. In full: "To Albert J. Wilkinson./'Yours for better Radio programs!'" 5x5 card.

Sale Price $306.00

$340.00
LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 11/04/1930 - HFSID 271578

LEE DE FOREST He pens a note to a fan with good wishes Autograph Note Signed: "To Master Jimmy Timbers/With good wishes,/Lee de Forest", 4¼x1¾. Dated (unknown hand) in pencil on verso: "11-4-1940".

Sale Price $306.00

$340.00
LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 11/05/1933 - HFSID 112640

LEE DE FOREST The vacuum tube inventor signs on this card with "Thanks for good wishes" Autograph Note Signed: "Melvyn R. Jarvis./Thanks for good wishes,/Lee de Forest". Black ink notations in bottom left corner in unknown hand. 5x3 card.

Sale Price $306.00

$340.00
LEE DE FOREST - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 286439

LEE DE FOREST Sentiment on a small slip, accompanied by a printed caption Autograph Sentiment Signed: "Very sincerely/Lee de Forest", 3½x1¼ affixed to 7¾x10¼. De Forest

Sale Price $252.00

$280.00
LEE DE FOREST - COLLECTION - HFSID 90304

LEE de FOREST. Comprises: (1) TLS: "Lee de Forest", 1p, 7½x9½. Los Angeles, Calif., 1958 December 2. On his imprinted letterhead to Albert Jeffrey, Sr., Bedford, Indiana. In full: "I have just written your granddaughter (?), Ella May, and sent her a copy of my photograph - the only one I have here in the house.

Sale Price $1,530.00

$1,800.00
LEE DE FOREST - DOCUMENT SIGNED - HFSID 51571

LEE de FOREST He signs his support for the Bricker Amendment Document Signed: "Lee de Forest", 3¾x8½. He has signed below a typed pledge which reads, in part: "I am supporting the Bricker Amendment and urge you to do so also.

Sale Price $405.00

$450.00
LEE DE FOREST - DOCUMENT SIGNED 04/06/1954 - HFSID 251715

LEE de FOREST The vacuum tube inventor signed this document in 1954 to give Ken Murray permission to photograph him and record his voice for the TV series Where Were You? Document Signed: "Lee de Forest" in blue ink. 1 page, 8½x11, on letterhead of Ken Murray Enterprises.

Sale Price $405.00

$450.00
LEE DE FOREST - INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH MOUNT SIGNED - HFSID 101549

LEE de FOREST The inventor inscribed this photograph to a fan with best wishes Inscribed Photograph Mount Signed: "To Albert De Pippo,/with my sincere best wishes,/Lee de Forest". B/w, 6½x9¾ overall, image 2½x3½ (two surfaces).

Sale Price $450.00

$500.00
LEE DE FOREST - TELEGRAM UNSIGNED 04/09/1955 - HFSID 251719

LEE de FOREST Unsigned 1955 Western Union telegram from vacuum tube inventor Lee de Forest, thanking the recipient for "Your tribute to my work" Telegram unsigned. 1 page, 8x5½, on Western Union form. Datestamped April 9, 1955 in black ink. Addressed to Ken Murray, Beverly Hills, California.

Sale Price $108.00

$120.00
LEE DE FOREST - TYPED LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 45732

LEE de FOREST. Typed Letter signed: "Lee de Forest", 1p, 8½x8. New York, N.Y., 1925 May 26. On letterhead of De Forest Phonofilms to Wm. A. Temple, Des Moines, Iowa. In full: "I appreciate your kindness in sending me the little oriental poster painting, which certainly is an original line of work.

Sale Price $360.00

$400.00
LEE DE FOREST - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/14/1909 - HFSID 47123

LEE DE FOREST Letter expressing his lack of interest for the Luzac Memorial Typed Letter Signed: "Lee de Forest", 1p, 8¼x11. De Forest Radio Telephone Co., New York, 1909 April 14. To Wm. Elliot Griffis, Ithaca, N.Y.

Sale Price $405.00

$450.00
LEE DE FOREST - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/16/1930 - HFSID 295405

LEE DE FOREST The inventor responds to a letter saying "I do not believe that it would be a wise use of time to get into the subject you mention in your letter ... Possibly at some later time ...I may express my views on the subject of true character and greatness." Typed Letter Signed: "Lee de Forest", 1 page, 8½x11.

Sale Price $450.00

$500.00
LEE DE FOREST - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/25/1945 - HFSID 174417

The vacuum tube inventor signed this typed letter to San Francisco's Pony Express on his personalized Lee De Forest Laboratories letterhead in 1945, thanking them for letting him autograph one of his photographs

Sale Price $405.00

$450.00
LEE DE FOREST - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/29/1956 - HFSID 272518

LEE DE FORREST The inventor sends a letter in regards to the whereabouts of a friend Typed Letter Signed: "Lee", 1p, 8½x11. Los Angeles, California, 1956 November 29. On personal letterhead to Carl Haverlin, President, Broadcast Music, Inc., New York, N.Y.

Sale Price $405.00

$450.00