France, Compagnie Continentale Edison, 50th Anniversary, 1932, a fine bronze art Deco plaque by P. Turin, power lines above head of Edison, reverse allegorical figures, 73 x 53mm (Jones, art of the Medal, 422; cf. Baudey Mail Bid Sale, Sept. 1992, no. 169). Powerful, strong design, extremely fine and rare, in original green box of issue

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), invented the electric light bulb in 1879, and by 1881 had built a generating station supplying over 80 customers.