signed first edition
by Patent, Trolley
Original patent documentation for Edmond Verstraete’s innovative 1888 railway car design, an uncommon surviving artifact from the era of rapid industrial expansion and technological advancement in American rail transport. Verstraete, Edmond. Railway Car. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office, July 24, 1888. Patent No. 386,512. First edition. 2 printed lithograph sheets measuring 9" x 7". Signed by inventor and witnesses. Includes two detailed mechanical drawings by Verstraete, with formal submission details signed by the inventor and his attorney.
This patent, filed during a period when the U.S. railroad network was transforming American commerce and mobility, documents Verstraete’s reconfiguration of the passenger car interior and structural layout. The diagrams show side and overhead views of a self-contained passenger railcar, marked by articulated platform entries, segmented internal seating, and a defined vestibule region. Of note are the annotated elements marked “x” in red ink, labeled as “Lower entries” and “Passengers,” likely indicating areas of operational focus or examiner queries. The first sheet offers a longitudinal cross-section, while the second presents a plan and elevation, revealing design emphasis on safety, comfort, and structural balance.
The late 19th century witnessed a proliferation of railway car patents as inventors sought to enhance efficiency, passenger experience, and operational safety in the context of growing urban transit systems and long-haul travel routes. Verstraete’s work fits within this inventive surge, paralleling the emergence of Pullman cars, electric trolleys, and elevated rail networks. As cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco expanded rail-based infrastructure, designs such as this laid the groundwork for more integrated mass transit and intercity rail travel. Light toning, minor smudge at lower margin of first sheet, archival notations in red and pencil at margin; “EXAMINER” hand-stamped at top. Overall very good condition. A scarce and compelling primary document reflecting the ingenuity and regulatory mechanics of the Gilded Age railroad boom, ideal for researchers in industrial history, transportation technology, and the evolution of public transit. (Inventory #: 22166)
This patent, filed during a period when the U.S. railroad network was transforming American commerce and mobility, documents Verstraete’s reconfiguration of the passenger car interior and structural layout. The diagrams show side and overhead views of a self-contained passenger railcar, marked by articulated platform entries, segmented internal seating, and a defined vestibule region. Of note are the annotated elements marked “x” in red ink, labeled as “Lower entries” and “Passengers,” likely indicating areas of operational focus or examiner queries. The first sheet offers a longitudinal cross-section, while the second presents a plan and elevation, revealing design emphasis on safety, comfort, and structural balance.
The late 19th century witnessed a proliferation of railway car patents as inventors sought to enhance efficiency, passenger experience, and operational safety in the context of growing urban transit systems and long-haul travel routes. Verstraete’s work fits within this inventive surge, paralleling the emergence of Pullman cars, electric trolleys, and elevated rail networks. As cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco expanded rail-based infrastructure, designs such as this laid the groundwork for more integrated mass transit and intercity rail travel. Light toning, minor smudge at lower margin of first sheet, archival notations in red and pencil at margin; “EXAMINER” hand-stamped at top. Overall very good condition. A scarce and compelling primary document reflecting the ingenuity and regulatory mechanics of the Gilded Age railroad boom, ideal for researchers in industrial history, transportation technology, and the evolution of public transit. (Inventory #: 22166)
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