The recordings date from 1889-90. Although discovered in 1957, being in German I think they were pretty much ignored. Rediscovered a few years ago, the curator figured out what they really were. I suspect that any English language recordings have been studied more closely. Twain's Edison recording was from made ca. 1908-09 and supposedly destroyed in the Edison Lab fire ca. 1913. There's also an early recording of a German pianist playing a small portion of a Chopin Concerto (badly) in this "new" batch of Edison recordings. Kevin @ Mac Donnell Rare Books 9307 Glenlake Drive Austin TX 78730 512-345-4139 Member: ABAA, ILAB ************************* You may browse our books at www.macdonnellrarebooks.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Edstrom" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 6:00 PM Subject: Historical sound recording > We all know about the long--and so far, vain--search for an extant sound > recording of Twain's voice. There may yet be hope, given the news that a > long-lost wax cylinder of the voice of Otto von Bismarck has been found > among a trove of recordings made by Thomas Edison. You can see an > article on this news item at > http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2012/02/05/nj_museum_finds_re > cording_of_otto_von_bismarck/. It's not Twain, but it's a reminder that > there might still be a recording out there somewhere. > > Jim Edstrom > > P.S. You can hear part of the Bismarck recording at > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Qnh8AIjbo&feature=related . > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4790 - Release Date: 02/05/12 > ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4790 - Release Date: 02/05/12