Albert Einstein

German-born theoretical physicist, 1879-1955

"Einstein developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). Einstein's work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. Einstein is best known in popular culture for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2 (which has been dubbed ""the world's most famous equation""). He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his ""services to theoretical physics"", in particular his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect, a pivotal step in the evolution of quantum theory. His intellectual achievements and originality have made the word ""Einstein"" synonymous with ""genius""."

Source: Wikipedia

Einstein, Albert

German-born physicist, humanitarian and Nobel Prize winner; promulgator of the General Theory of Relativity (1879-1955). Autograph Letter Signed ("A. Einstein"), in German. [Berlin]. 4to. 1 page.
$ 32,331 / 30.000 € (60686)

Einstein on the value of relativity for philosophy. Einstein writes to Hans Reichenbach, the philosopher of science and an influential expositor of Relativity. In part (translation): "I am really very pleased that you want to dedicate your excellent brochure to me, but even more so that you give me such high marks as a lecturer and thinker. The value of the th.[eory] of rel.[ativity] for philosophy seems to me to be that it exposed the dubiousness of certain concepts that even in philosophy were recognized as small change.

Concepts are simply empty when they stop being firmly linked to experiences. They resemble upstarts who are ashamed of their origins and want to disown them." The letter was published in the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, vol 10, doc 66, pp 323-324 (CPAE Translation, vol 10, doc 66, p 201). Slightly uneven toning, a few spots in upper margin, two-hole punch at left margin, folding creases..

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Einstein, Albert

German-born physicist, humanitarian and Nobel Prize winner; promulgator of the General Theory of Relativity (1879-1955). Typed Letter Signed ("A. Einstein") with Autograph Postscript, in German Berlin. 4to. 2 pp. Punch holes. On his personal letterhead.
$ 37,720 / 35.000 € (60688)

Einstein writes to Reichenbach (1891-1953), a colleague and important expositor of Relativity, to suggest to him a clearer way of explaining one aspect of his theory. He opens the letter by saying (in translation): "I think the logical presentation that you give of my theory is indeed possible, but it's not the simplest one." After providing a list of four possibilities for "increasing specialization regarding the distant comparison of vectors" he comments: "Of course one can also start with an affine connection and specialize either by introducing a metric or by introducing integrability conditions; i.e.

do it the way you did. But this is less simple, less natural." He goes on to assert that "[t]he naturalness of the field of structure envisaged by me seems indisputable to me. I will only know in a few months whether this construction contains deeper traits of reality; for the problems needed to be solved to make this decision are not at all easy." The letter ends with a postscript in Einstein's hand, inviting Reichenbach and his wife to tea, noting "Schrödinger is supposed to come as well.".

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Einstein, Albert

German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics (1879-1955). Archive of 4 Typed Letters Signed, „A. Einstein“. Princeton. 4to. Each 1/2 page. Personal stationery, onionskin paper; earliest letter mounted at corners to larger sheet and sides trimmed (not affecting text), folds (few with minor loss to signature), most with minor chipping at edges, faint scattered soiling.
$ 26,943 / 25.000 € (78181)

To inventor John Anthony Gillmeier, in German, mostly concerning his invention of a machine to therapeutically stimulate muscles using electric current, and declining his invitation to join an organization [New York Academy of Sciences, of which Gillmeier was a member?]. 22 October 1947: "[…] You seem to overestimate the possibilities of my work, as do many others. Under the present circumstances, I can do nothing but state my opinion from time to time when the opportunity arises, and not too often, so as not to compromise […] [the] effect.

[…]“ 
11 September 1951: "I have read your letter […] and have looked at your drawings, but I cannot judge them either in a positive or a negative sense. The fact that currents can act on muscles is well known. However, whether you can achieve a health-promoting effect in the way you have suggested, I have no judgment. […]" 

Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect", a pivotal step in the development of quantum theory..

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Einstein, Albert

German-born physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Typed letter signed (‘A. Einstein‘) to Hugo Bergmann Princeton. 4to. One page, 279 x 216mm. Blind embossed letterhead.
$ 10,238 / 9.500 € (78396)

In German. ‘The controversy about the foundations of the physics of probability’. Einstein is sending in a separate packet the volume printed for his 70th birthday (Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist). ‘I am sending it to you as I think that the controversy about the foundations of the physics of probability will perhaps interest you’. Once Bergmann has finished with the book, Einstein asks him to pass it to Rosa Dukas, sister of Einstein’s assistant, Helen. Einstein has been discussing the problems of the Hebrew University with the recently-elected president, Selig Brodetzky, who has visited.

Selig Brodetzky (1888-1954) was second president of the Hebrew University during a turbulent period, marked by the forced abandonment of the campus on Mount Scopus and disputes with the University Senate..

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Einstein, Albert

deutsch-schweizerisch-amerikanischer Physiker (1879-1955). Eigenh. Brief mit Unterschrift. ohne Ort. 4to. 1 p.
$ 37,720 / 35.000 € (78416)

An den Wissenschaftler Dr. Gabriel Segall: „[…] Sie haben mir mitgeteilt, dass Sie hier in Süd-Kalifornien eine Organisation für das ,arbeitende Palästina’ ins Leben gerufen haben. Ich wünsche Ihnen von Herzen Glück und Erfolg zu dieser Thätigkeit. Das ,arbeitende Palästina’ repräsentiert zweifellos in erster Linie den den sozialen Fortschritt und die soziale Gerechtigkeit in Palästina und damit jene Ideen, welche nach meiner Überzeugung den idealen Wert des Aufbau-Werkes in erster Linie ausmachen. Diese Gemeinschaft ist es auch, von deren Wirken die so wichtige Erzielung einer befriedigenden Übereinkunft mit dem arabischen Volke abhängt […]“

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Einstein, Albert

deutsch-schweizerisch-amerikanischer Physiker (1879-1955). Typed letter signed. Princeton, New Jersey. 4to. 1 p. Blindgepr. Briefkopf.
$ 26,943 / 25.000 € (78418)

Letter to French mathematician Jacques Hadamard, related to his efforts as a pacifist activist. In part (translated): "I am sorry that I cannot authorize the publication of my private letter addressed to you…This political propaganda and counter-propaganda, which in fact cannot be based on any verified facts, is only suitable to create hatred and hostility. You are also aware that an objective investigation of the case, suggested by the International Red Cross, which was to be carried out by the Red Cross of neutral countries, has been rejected by the North Korean side.

I believe that transnationally minded intellectuals can only serve the good cause effectively by advocating negotiation, understanding and transnational solution of the security problem, but not by engaging in such propaganda ventures as the present one. I find that the Quacker organization [sic!] and the Indian government have served the supranational interests best so far. I think that one should first and foremost stick to the old medical motto: 'Non nocere.'" In fine condition, with some chipping along the edges. Hadamard published an open letter to Einstein in March 1952, accusing the Americans of developing biological weapons for use during the Korean War. Einstein responded privately on March 26, 1952, writing in a letter that has since been published: 'I am really the last person who would excuse these abominable weapons, whether they are atomic bombs or biological means of destruction.' Einstein went on to urge constructive supranational security action. Hadamard evidently asked to publish the letter, which Einstein here declines. A fascinating piece of correspondence between leading intellectuals on the topic of international peace..

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Einstein, Albert

deutsch-schweizerisch-amerikanischer Physiker (1879-1955). Ms. Brief mit eigenh. Unterschrift. Princeton. 4to. 1 p. Gedr. Briefkopf „Prof. Albert Einstein | 112 Mercer Street | Princeton, New Jersey | U.S.A.“. Lochung, alt ausgebessert.
$ 13,471 / 12.500 € (78464)

An William Roth: „For many years I have been increasingly interested in the work of the American Committee for Emigre Scholars, Writers and Artistes. This Committe has welcomed and counselled most of the European professionals of all creeds who have had the privilege of coming to America to escape totalitarian oppression. I know only too well how important it is for an emigre professional to receive this kind of help. The American Committee provides a place where such a newcomer finds advisers who understand his problems and can interpret to him the way of life and institutions of America, while he is being assisted in finding work in the field of his abilities.

This is infinitely more difficult for specialized professionals than for workers in industry and the trades. The services of the American Committee are now needed more than ever before. Many of the professionals who arrived here during the last few years under the Displaced persons Act first gladly accepted low-level jobs if no others were available. They hoped that within a reasonable time they would get a start in their own fields. Unfortunately, all too many are still in their first low level jobs and have become increasingly hopeless. Additional professionals will soon arrive among the 214000 immigrants authorized by the Act recently passed by Congress with the strong support of President Eisenhower. Both the newcomers and those among the earlier arrivals not yet placed have to depend on the American Committee lest their skills are to be lost for our country. I therefore feel strongly that the American Committee should be given the continuing support of understanding American citizens and institutions […] May I express the personal hope that you will be able to contribute to the success of this important endeavor? […]“.

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Vintage signed "A. Einstein, 52." and dated matte-finish photograph of Einstein. no place [Princeton]. 3.5 x 4 inch.
$ 9,160 / 8.500 € (80084)

The photograph shows Einstein seated at his desk in Princeton with book-lined shelves in the background, signed in the lower border in fountain pen, "A. Einstein, 52." In fine condition, with old adhesive residue on the reverse. A superb, intellectual pose of one of the 20th century's greatest thinkers.

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Einstein, Albert

Deutscher Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Photograph signed and inscribed to the photographer ("To Mr Tycko/ Albert Einstein. 1932"). O. O. Photographie: 238 : 188mm. Gesamtgröße: 380 : 300mm. Platinum-Abzug.
$ 59,274 / 55.000 € (80732)

Beautiful photograph showing Einstein head-and-shoulders facing up to his right, the image signed in black ink by the photographer ("Tycko LA"), and on the original studio mount marked 'Study by Tycko/ The Ambassador', A FAMOUS IMAGE, INSCRIBED BY EINSTEIN TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Aaron Tycko had his studio at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, and Einstein greatly admired the photographs taken of him at this sitting, telling Tycko on 2 March 1932 that he finds in them 'a truly artistic treatment of the light effect through which photography approximates the art of painting': 'Man findet auf ihnen eine wahrhaft kuenstlerische Behandlung der Lichteffekte, durch welche die Photographie der Malerei nahezukommen vermag'. The present owner's step-father was given this photograph by Tycko himself, a friend and fellow admirer of Einstein, in exchange for a painting..

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Magnificent vintage signed and dated matte-finish photograph. no place. 200 : 250 mm (8 x 10 inch).
$ 26,943 / 25.000 € (81234)

A pleasant bust-length pose, signed neatly in the lower border in fountain pen, "Albert Einstein, 1931." Reverse bears a credit stamp attributed to The New York Times Studio. In fine condition, with small creases to the lower left corner tip, and silvering to some of the darker areas of the image. A decidedly scarce soft-focus portrait of Einstein. Becoming rare in that format.

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). "Wesen der Relativitätstheorie". Autograph manuscript. No place, [1947-1948]. Small folio. 5½ pp. On paper watermarked "Whiting Mutual Bond – Rag Content".  .
$ 452,634 / 420.000 € (81763)

German-language draft for "The Essence of the Theory of Relativity", an article published in English within volume XVI of "The American Peoples Encyclopedia" (1948). After a general introduction, the "special theory of relativity" and the "general theory of relativity" are discussed, with a few equations and a small graph sketch. – "Die Mathematik hat es ausschliesslich zu thun mit der Beziehung von Begriffen zu einander ohne Rücksicht auf die Beziehung zu Erfahrungs-Gegenständen. Die Physik hat es zwar auch mit mathematischen Begriffen zu thun; diese Begriffe erlangen aber physikalischen Inhalt nur dadurch, dass ihre Beziehung zu Erfahrungs-Gegenständen in klarer Weise festgelegt wird.

So verhält es sich im Besonderen auch mit den Begriffen Bewegung, Raum, Zeit. Die Relativitätstheorie ist jene physikalische Theorie, die auf einer konsequenten physikalischen Interpretation dieser drei Begriffe beruht. Der Name ‘Relativitätstheorie’ hängt damit zusammen, dass Bewegung vom Standpunkt der Erfahrbarkeit stets als relative Bewegung eines Dinges gegen andere (z. B. eines Wagens gegenüber dem Erdboden, oder der Erde gegenüber der Sonne und den Fixsternen) auftritt (Bewegung ist aber nicht wahrnehmbar als ‘Bewegung gegen den Raum’ oder – wie man es auch ausgedrückt hat – als ‘absolute Bewegung’). Das ‘Relativitätsprinzip’ im weitesten Sinne ist in der Aussage enthalten: Die Gesamtheit der physikalischen Phänomene ist so beschaffen, dass sie für die Aufstellung des Begriffes ‘absolute Bewegung’ keinen Anhalt bietet, oder kürzer aber weniger präzis: Es gibt keine absolute Bewegung [...]". – Traces of a paperclip with a slight rustmark to the first leaf..

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Beautiful signed photograph. no place. 11" x 15" (sight).
$ 37,720 / 35.000 € (83489)

Black and white headshot of Albert Einstein taken by photographer Aaron Tycko while Einstein was touring the United States between 1932-1933. Signed by Einstein at the bottom left margin, "Albert Einstein. 1933." Signed by Tycko at the bottom right margin, "Tycko / L.A." Matted and framed to an overall size of 18" x 22". Not examined outside of the frame. Frame is lightly scratched and rubbed in places.

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Einstein, Albert

Deutscher Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Originalfotografie mit eigenh. U. und Widmung („Für Frl. Lotte Marx / Albert Einstein. 1931“). O. O. 166 : 227 mm. Montiert.
$ 30,176 / 28.000 € (87769)

Schönes Brustbild des Nobelpreisträgers, mit Unterschrift und Widmung „Für Frl. Lotte Marx / Albert Einstein. 1931“. Albert Einstein ist einer der berühmtesten Wissenschaftler aller Zeiten. Für die Arbeit am „Lichtelektrischen Effekt" von 1905 erhielt er 1922 den Nobelpreis für Physik. Er hatte es verstanden zu erklären, warum Licht einen Strom zu erzeugen vermag, wenn es auf eine leitende Platte fällt. Heute ist dieser Effekt Grundlage für Lichtschranken und nicht zuletzt für den Laser.

Lotte Marx ist in dem Buch „Journey of Hope and Despair: Volume I. Rise and Fall" von Rudolf Hugo Moos erwähnt. Moos arbeitet darin die Geschichte seines Großvaters Rudolf Moos (1866-1951) war ein Cousin zweiten Grades von Albert Einstein. Als Unternehmer entwickelte er die Marken Salamander, Puma und Fasan. Bis 1933 war Albert Einstein mit seiner zweiten Ehefrau Elsa gern gesehener Gast in der Villa der Familie Moos in Nowawes in der Nähe von Potsdam. Einstein war es auch, der Moos, der jüdischer Herkunft war, und seiner Familie 1939 die Ausreise aus Deutschland ermöglichte. Lotte Marx war in der Villa in Potsdam zu Gast. Erwähnt ist sie anlässlich des 62. Geburtstags im November 1929: „[...] Many friends and relatives sent me greetings and best wishes, and we had a large dinner party in the evening. Our guests included Fritz Heinrichsdorff, Karl and Adele Heinrichsdorff, Helene Einstein, Helene Steiner, and Lotte Marx. We had a stimulating conversation, and then, as always, there was time for dancing. […] Helene Steiner visited us in November 1931 and told us about her niece, Lotte Marx. She had been having an extended affair with the son of Fritz Stahl, the wellknown composer, and she was now living with him. [...]" Am 28. Juni 1929 verlieh die Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft Max Planck und Einstein die Max-Planck-Medaille. Genau 50 Jahre zuvor hatte Planck als 21-Jähriger in München seine Doktorwürde erhalten. Auf dem Weg zum Physikalischen Institut musste Einstein an fast 1.000 grölenden nationalsozialistischen Studenten vorbei. Diesen Tag hatten Regierung und Reichspräsident zum „Tag der Trauer" ausgerufen: Zehn Jahre zuvor hatten die Deutschen Unterhändler in Versailles den Friedensvertrag unterzeichnet. Vor dem zunehmenden Antisemitismus flüchtete Einstein in die USA. Seit den 1930er Jahren war Albert Einstein weltweit bekannt. Wo er auftrat, wo er sprach, waren die Menschen begeistert. Im Dezember 1932 führte ihn eine Reise in die USA, von der er nach der Machtübernahme des NS-Regimes nicht mehr zurückkehrte. 1933 folgte der Austritt aus der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Berliner Universität als Reaktion auf die Machtergreifung der Nationalsozialisten. Im Oktober 1940 nahm er die amerikanische Staatsbürgerschaft an. Eine Anekdote am Rande: Als Einstein 1931 während einer USA-Reise an der Premiere von Charlie Chaplin bei einer Filmpremiere von „Lichter der Großstadt" traf, soll es zu folgendem Dialog gekommen sein: Albert Einstein soll gesagt haben, „was ich an Ihrer Kunst am meisten bewundere, ist ihre Universalität. Sie sagen kein Wort, aber die ganze Welt versteht Sie!“ Worauf Chaplin erwidert haben soll: „Stimmt. Aber Ihre Kunst ist noch größer! Die ganze Welt bewundert Sie, auch wenn keiner ein Wort davon versteht, was Sie sagen.".

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Signed and inscribed photograph. no place. Overall size: 150 : 195 mm . Photograph: 164 : 116 mm.
$ 34,486 / 32.000 € (89405)

Rare photography of Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time, with dedication to Wally Toscanini (1900-1991). The daughter of Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957), one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century. With the political situation in Europe worsening, in 1926 Arturo Toscanini accepted an invitation to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

He continued to appear at La Scala through the 1929 season. In the spring and summer of 1929, Toscanini took the whole Scala company to Vienna and Berlin, where public, critics and professional musicians reacted with admiration to performances of six operas by Donizetti, Verdi, and Puccini. In Vienna they performed „Falstaff“ and „Lucia di Lammermoor“, in Berlin they performed „Falstaff“, „Il Trovatore“, Puccini’s „Manon Lescaut“, „Aida“ at the Staatsoper. At the Städtische Oper Unter den Linden they performed „Rigoletto“, „Lucia di Lammermoor“, which was partly radio broadcasted. Arturo Toscanini was strongly opposed to German and Italian fascism and left Europe for the United States in the mid-1930s. Albert Einstein left Germany for the United States in 1933. Einstein would later release a statement about Toscanini on the presentation of the American Hebrew Medal to him in 1938: “Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason, mastery demands the whole person. Toscanini demonstrates this in every manifestation of his life.” In December 1930, Albert Einstein and Arturo Toscanini met backstage in New York, an article of the New York Times reports: “CERTAIN RELATIVITIES | Einstein and Toscanini Meet Backstage and Afford Demonstrations of Famous Theory | IT will be one week ago this afternoon that Albert Einstein listened to Arturo Toscanini's performance of Beethoven's "Pas total" symphony in the Metropolitan Opera House, applauded that performance warmly, then hastened backstage to talk with a master mind of music about the art that both men love. Mr. Einstein had reason to applaud, especial reason, since nothing illustrated more triumphantly than Toscanini’s performance the fundamental principle of the theory of relativity and its applicability to art as well as physics. Relativity in the realm of physics is, of course, one thing; relativity in the domain of art another. But in both fields a basic principle obtains, which destroys the possibility of fixed standards of measurement and teaches us that the universe itself is a thing of relative and not absolute, irrefragable values. The reviews of the Toscanini interpretation of the “Pastoral” symphony offered a good case in point. All the reviews were emphatic of the superlative qualities of the performance. The only question on which certain reviewers expressed differences of opinion was whether Toscanini’s superlative treatment of the symphony coincided precisely with the thought of Beethoven. [...]” The scientist repeatedly praised the musician, also in personal letters, for his attitude towards the Nazis and his support for Jews. In 1936 he wrote to the “Verehrten Maestro!”: “You are not just an unparalleled interpreter of universal musical literature […] You have also proven that you are a man of great dignity in the fight against the fascist criminals [...] The fact that a contemporary like you exists dispels many of the disappointments that on is continually subjected to [...]” With the help both of Einstein and Toscanini, celebrated Polish violinist Bronisław Huberman (1882-1947) saved some of the world's greatest musicians from the Nazis. They managed to help almost 1,000 musicians escape to Palestine. Together with them, he founded the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, which today enjoys worldwide fame as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Acquired from a German private collection..

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Die formale Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie. Author’s presentation offprint from Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, XLI, 19 November 1914. Berlin: Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Gr.-8vo. S. 1030-85. OBrosch. (Sitzungsberichte der königl. preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften XLI). Leichte Knickfalten durch Versand. Geringe Gebrauchsspuren.
$ 107,770 / 100.000 € (89479)

Author’s presentation offprint of "Die formale Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie [The Formal Basis of the General Theory of Relativity]" from Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, XLI, 19 November 1914. Berlin: Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1914. Gr.-8vo. S. 1030-85. Bound in the original printed wrappers, 7 x 10, inscribed [autograph] in Einstein's hand, "Mit aller Hochachtung [With all respect]," over the imprinted text, "Überreicht vom Verfasser [Submitted by the Author]." On page 1069, Einstein adds a lengthy formula in his hand, and on page 1072 he writes: "Hier ist benutzt, dass auch das System K 2 dem invarianten [oder: unvariiertem] Felde angepasst ist [Here it is used that the system K 2 is also adapted to the invariant [or: unvarying] field].".

In fine condition, with a light central vertical fold, and soiling and handling wear to the covers. Accompanied by a letter of authentication from Viennese Antiquarian Book Dealer Ingo Nebehay, 1982. First edition of this extremely rare offprint, a remarkable association copy. The present paper was the crucial step between Einstein’s Entwurf theory of 1913 and the final form of general relativity which Einstein completed in November 1915: it develops the mathematical techniques necessary for the final formulation, namely the ‘absolute differential calculus’ of Tullio Levi-Civita, as well as the expression of the field equations in terms of a variational principle, which later proved to be of great importance. This author’s presentation offprint, with "Überreicht vom Verfasser" printed on upper wrapper, must not to be confused with the much more common trade offprint which lacks this printed statement (see below). We have located only one copy of this author’s presentation offprint at auction, in the collection belonging to Einstein’s son Hans Albert sold at Christie’s in 2006 (there was no copy in Einstein’s own collection of his offprints sold by Christie’s in 2008). "In summer 1914, Einstein felt that the new theory should be presented in a comprehensive review. He also felt that a mathematical derivation of the field equations that would determine them uniquely was still missing. Both tasks are addressed in a long paper, presented in October 1914 to the Prussian Academy for publication in its Sitzungsberichte. It is entitled ‘The formal foundation of the general theory of relativity’; here, for the first time, Einstein gave the new theory of relativity the epithet ‘general’ in lieu of the more cautious 'generalized' that he had used for the Entwurf" (Landmark Writings in Western Mathematics 1640-1940). "In the year that he was called to Berlin, on October 29, 1914, Einstein was able to present his work "Die formale Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie"…The "formal foundation" of the general theory of relativity was the tensor calculus. Without the tensor calculus, the general theory of relativity could not have been formulated…By October 1914, Einstein was finally able to present his results in mathematical form, and indeed in a manner that became the basis of his general theory of relativity of 1916. He introduced general covariants, contravariants, and also—what was new—mixed tensors, in order to represent the individual arithmetic operations, above all, the various types of multiplication. Thus the mathematical calculus necessary for the general theory of relativity was at the ready in 1914" (Reich). "The principal novelty [in the present paper] lies in the mathematical formulation of the theory. Drawing on earlier work with [Marcel] Grossman, Einstein formulated his gravitational field equations using a variation principle" (Calaprice, 47). The first important stage in the development of Einstein’s theory of gravitation was accomplished, with his friend and classmate the mathematician Marcel Grossmann, in their 1913 work Entwurf einer verallgemeinerten Relativitätstheorie und einer Theorie der Gravitation. "In this book, Einstein and Grossman investigated curved space and curved time as they relate to a theory of gravity. They presented virtually all the elements of the general theory of relativity with the exception of one striking omission: gravitational field equations that were not generally covariant. Einstein soon reconciled himself to this lack of general covariance through the ‘hole argument,’ which sought to establish that generally covariant gravitational field equations would be physically uninteresting" (Calaprice 40). Einstein’s ‘hole argument’, he believed, implied that general covariance was incompatible with the requirement that the distribution of mass-energy should determine the gravitational field uniquely. He believed, therefore, that the field equations should only be valid in certain coordinate systems, which he called ‘adapted’, and that only coordinate transformations from one adapted system to another adapted system should be allowed – he called these ‘justified coordinate transformations’. "Einstein’s move to Berlin in April 1914 marked the end of his collaboration with Grossmann. Fortunately, by this time Einstein no longer seems to have needed Grossmann’s mathematical guidance. By October 1914, he had completed a lengthy summary article [offered here] on his new theory, whose form and detailed nature suggest that Einstein felt his theory had reached its final form. The article contained a review of the methods of tensor calculus used in the theory and, flexing his newfound mathematical muscles, Einstein could even promise to give new and simpler derivations of the basic laws of the ‘absolute differential calculus’. Of great importance was the fact that Einstein had taken the new mathematical techniques of his last paper with Grossmann, generalized them and found in them a quite new derivation of the field equations" (Norton, p. 293). This new derivation made use, for the first time in Einstein’s work on the theory of gravity, of an action principle (or variational principle). Einstein worked initially with an action that was an arbitrary function of the metric tensor and its first derivatives, and then showed that with a particular choice of the action he could recover the Entwurf field equations. He further believed that he had found a simple general covariance condition which forced the action to take the Entwurf form. "Einstein had good reason to be pleased with this result. For it seemed to show that his theory was not just a theory of gravitation, but a generalized theory of relativity, in so far as it was concerned with establishing the widest covariance possible in its equations. His original derivation of the field equations [in Entwurf] had been based squarely on considerations in gravitation theory…The new derivation, however, focused on covariance considerations. He had found a simple way of formulating field equations that would have exactly the maximum covariance allowed by the ‘hole argument’, and they led him almost directly to his original Entwurf field equations. As a result he could promise to "recover the equations of the gravitational field in a purely-covariant-theoretical way" and claim to "have arrived at quite definite field equations in a purely formal way, i.e., without directly drawing on our physical knowledge of gravitation"… "Einstein appears to have remained satisfied with the theory he developed in 1914 through the first half of 1915. In March, April and early May he defended the theory wholeheartedly in an intense correspondence with Levi-Cività, who challenged Einstein’s derivation of the covariance properties of his gravitation tensor. But it seems that by mid-July he was less certain…By mid-October Einstein’s points of dissatisfaction with his theory had grown in number and intensity. They soon culminated in some of the most agitated and strenuous works of his life, in which generally covariant field equations were discovered…Einstein’s work [in the present paper] had brought him both temporally and conceptually closer than ever before to a generally covariant theory…It is hard to imagine that Einstein was unprepared for the ease with which his formalism of 1914 could be applied to his final generally covariant theory" (Norton, pp. 296-303). After publishing the generally covariant theory in November 1915, Einstein gave a further treatment of the variational formulation (Hamiltonsches Prinzip und allgemeine Relativitätstheorie, Sitzungsberichte (1916), pp. 1111-1116). By this time, the great German mathematician David Hilbert had published his own account of general relativity in terms of a variational principle [Die Grundlagen der Physik (Erste Mitteilung), Nachrichten der Königliche Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Mathematisch-physikalische Klasse, November 1915, 395-407]. This led to some controversy over who had been the first to publish the final version of general relativity (although Hilbert himself never claimed priority). "Hilbert, through his important paper of November 1915, is generally thought of as introducing the comprehensive use of these action principles to the theory. My analysis shows that although Einstein might have drawn some of his work of 1916 in this area from Hilbert’s, his basic mathematical apparatus and even the notation itself had its ancestry in his own work earlier in 1914 and 1915" (Norton, p. 303). This author’s presentation offprint is of extreme rarity, and must be distinguished from other so-called ‘offprints’ of papers from the Berlin Sitzungsberichte, many of which are commonly available on the market. The celebrated bookseller Ernst Weil (1919-1981), in the introduction to his Einstein bibliography, wrote: "I have often been asked about the number of those offprints. It seems to be certain that there were few before 1914. They were given only to the author, and mostly ‘Überreicht vom Verfasser’ (Presented by the Author) is printed on the wrapper. Later on, I have no doubt, many more offprints were made, and also sold as such, especially by the Berlin Academy." If the term ‘offprint’ means, as we believe it should, a separate printing of a journal article given (only) to the author for distribution to colleagues, then ‘offprints’ were not commercially available. Although there is certainly some truth in Weil’s remark, in our view it requires clarification and explanation. Until about 1916, most of Einstein’s papers were published in Annalen der Physik; from 1916 until he left Germany for the United States in 1933, most were published in the Berlin Sitzungsberichte. The Sitzungsberichte differed from other journals in which Einstein published in that it made separate printings of its papers commercially available. These separate printings have ‘Sonderabdruck’ printed on the front wrapper, the usual German term for offprint, but they are not offprints according to our definition. They were available to anyone; indeed a price list of these ‘trade offprints’ is printed on the rear wrapper. True author’s presentation offprints can be distinguished from these trade offprints by the presence of ‘Überreicht vom Verfasser’ on the front wrapper. In the period 1916 to 1919 or 1920, the Sitzungsberichte trade offprints are themselves rare: for example, ABPC/RBH list only three ‘offprints’ of Einstein’s famous 1917 Sitzungsberichte paper ‘Kosmologische Betrachtungen zur allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie’ (the auction records do not distinguish between trade and author’s presentation offprints). After 1919 or 1920, however, the trade offprints became much more common, although the author’s presentation offprints are still very rare. The reason for this change is that it was only in 1919 that Einstein became famous among the general public. It might seem obvious that Einstein’s fame dates from 1905, his ‘annus mirabilis’, in which he published his epoch-making papers on special relativity and the light quantum. However, these works did not make him immediately well known even in the physics community – many physicists did not understand or accept his work, and it was two or three years before his genius was fully accepted even by his colleagues. He secured his first academic position, at the University of Bern, in 1908. Among the general public, Einstein became well known only in late 1919, following the success of Eddington’s expedition to observe the bending of light by the Sun, which confirmed Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This was front-page news, and made Einstein universally famous. (See Chapter 16, ‘The suddenly famous Doctor Einstein’, in Pais, Subtle is the Lord, for an account of these events). Before 1919 the trade offprints of Einstein’s papers would probably only have been purchased by professional physicists; after 1919 everyone wanted a memento of the famous Dr. Einstein, whether or not they understood anything of theoretical physics, and the trade offprints of his papers were printed and sold in far greater numbers than before to meet the demand. It is telling that when these post-1919 trade offprints appear on the market, they are often in mint condition – they were never read simply because their owners were unable to understand them. Boni 65; Weil 68. Calaprice, The Einstein Almanac; Norton, ‘How Einstein Found His Field Equations: 1912-1915’, Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences 14 (1984), pp. 253-316; Norton, ‘Einstein and Nordström: some lesser-known thought experiments in gravitation,’ pp. 3-30 in The Attraction of Gravitation: New Studies in the History of General Relativity, edited by John Earman, Michel Janssen, John D. Norton, 1993; Reich, Einstein’s "Formal Foundations of the General Theory of Relativity" (1914) (http://mathineurope.eu/images/information_pic/hist_phil_pic/calendar_pic/2014einstein/Einstein_English.pdf). For the history of tensor calculus, including Einstein’s application of it to general relativity, see Reich, Die Entwicklung des Tensorkalküls, Birkhäuser 2012..

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Einstein, Albert

dt. Physiker, Begründer der Relativitätstheorie (1879-1955). Eigenhändige Unterschrift auf Albumblatt. ohne Ort. Quer-8vo. (85 : 60 mm).
$ 4,850 / 4.500 € (90774)

Eigenhändige Unterschrift auf Albumblatt „A. Einstein“ auf Albumblatt mit aufgezogenem Zeitungsporträt sowie Zusätze von fremder Hand „Professor Einstein. 14.2.30“. Hübscher und mittlerweile seltener Namenszug des Nobelpreisträgers. - Beiliegt: unsignierte Portraitpostkarte aus den 1990er Jahren „Albert Einstein in Caputh, 1925“.

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Einstein, Albert

dt. Physiker, Begründer der Relativitätstheorie; Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Ms. Brief mit eigenh. Korrektur und Unterschrift. Berlin. Gr.-4to. 1 1/4 pp. Gedr. Briefkopf „ALBERT EINSTEIN | Berlin W. | Haberlandstr.5“. Gelocht. Stärkere Randläsuren.
$ 26,943 / 25.000 € (91156)

Wissenschaftlich bedeutender Brief an Ernst Klug in Immenstadt im Allgäu mit eigneh. Korrekturen: „[…] Aus Zeitmangel antworte ich nur auf Ihre erste Frage: betreffend der Natur des Schwerefelds. Richtig ist, dass relativ zu einem (gegen einen feldfreien Raum) beschleunigtes System ein Schwerefeld existiert. Nicht richtig ist aber, dass jedes jedes beliebig gestaltete Schwerefeld (zum B. das der Erde) durch beschleunigte Bewegung eines Bezugskörpers erzeugt werden könne. Die durch Beschleunigung ,erzeugten’ Schwerefelder sind eben solche von ganz spezieller Struktur.

Ich illustriere durch einen Vergleich aus der gewöhnlichen Mechanik. Man kann das Koordinatensystem so wählen, dass in einem bestimmten Augenblick ein Körper, z.B. die Erde in Ruhe ist. Die Bewegung der Erde ist also bedingt durch die Wahl des Bewegungssystems des Koordinatensystems. Man kann aber das Koordinatensystem nicht so wählen, dass relativ zu ihm gleichzeitig sowohl Erde als Mond in Ruhe sind. Durch den Bewegungszustand des mechanischen Koordinatensystems können eben nur solche Bewegungen ,erzeugt’ werden, bei welcher alle Körper dieselbe Geschwindigkeit und Bewegungsrichtung haben. Diese Analogie dürfte den Sachverhalt genügend aufklären. […]“.

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker, Nobelpreisträger; Schöpfer der Relativitätstherorie (1879-1955). Eigenh. Postkarte mit Unterschrift „A. Einstein“. Madrid. Quer-kl.-8vo. 1 p.
$ 9,430 / 8.750 € (91992)

An den Wissenschaftler und Erfinder Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe (1872-1931) in München mit 5 eigenhändigen Zeilen Einsteins. Die Karte wurde von seiner Frau Elsa Einstein adressiert. Elsa Einstein sendet Grüße aus Spanien: „Auch in Spanien ist's schön, aber endlich geht's heimwärts. Herzl[iche] Grüsse“. Albert Einstein fügte hinzu: „Wie freue ich mich zu sehen, was es mit der Konstruktion geworden ist ! Auf hoffentlich baldiges frohes Wiedersehen“ Die Bildseite zeigt ein Gemälde von Francisco de Goya „Episodio de la invasión francesa de 1808.“ Da er aufgrund seiner Erfindungen sehr wohlhabend war, unterstützte und förderte er großzügig Wissenschaft und Technik.

1919 gründete er mit einem Stiftungskapital von 1 Million Mark die Stiftung für Physik, Chemie und Naturwissenschaften. Der Universität München machte er umfangreiche Schenkungen. 1922 erwarb er das Schloss Lautrach in Lautrach (Oberschwaben), ließ es renovieren und stellte es dann als Erholungsheim für Professoren und Studenten zur Verfügung. Er hielt hier mit von ihm ausgewählten Wissenschaftlern sogenannte „Fakultätssitzungen“ ab, so etwa mit Karl von Frisch, Wilhelm Wien, Richard Willstätter, Albrecht Kossel, Arnold Sommerfeld und Albert Einstein. (Wikipedia-Abfrage v. 14.6.2023).

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker, Nobelpreisträger; Schöpfer der Relativitätstherorie (1879-1955). Ms. Brief mit eigenh. Unterschrift. Princeton. 4to. 1 p. Blindgepr. Briefkopf „A. Einstein […]“. Faltspuren, Abdruck einer Büroklammer. Die untere linke Ecke fehlend.
$ 8,083 / 7.500 € (91994)

An den Theaterintendant, Regisseur und Theaterpädagoge Erwin Piscator (1893-1966): „[…] Beiliegend sende ich ein Schreiben von den gewünschten Art in der Hoffnung, dass es zur Ebnung Ihres Weges beitrage. […]“ - Beiliegend: 3 Durchschläge von Schreiben zwischen Pisctor und Einstein.

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Einstein, Albert

German-born physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Autograph manuscript (fragment). No place. ¼ page. 112 x 258 mm.
$ 32,331 / 30.000 € (44184/BN30218)

Draft of most of the final paragraph of Einstein's article, "Relativity: Essence of the Theory of Relativity", published in 1948 in the American People's Encyclopedia: "als sie zwar zu einer bestimmten Theorie des Gravitationsfeldes führt, aber nicht zu einer bestimmten Theorie des Gesamtfeldes (mit Einschluss des elektromagnetischen Feldes). Der Grund liegt darin, dass dies allgemeine Feldgesetz durch das allgemeine Relativitätsprinzip allein noch nicht hinreichend bestimmt ist". - The present draft shows the original text written by Einstein in German.

Written below by a different hand is the English translation as it was finally published: "while it leads to a well-defined theory of the gravitational field it does not determine sufficently the theory of the total field (which includes the electromagnetic field). The reason for this is the fact that the general field laws are not sufficently determined by the general principle of relativity alone". - An exceedingly fine autograph, wherein Einstein implicitly states why he spent so many of his final years searching for a Unified Field Theory. Written on the address side of an envelope addressed to him. Slight damage to edges, somewhat wrinkled..

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Einstein, Albert

German-born physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). 2 typed letters signed ("A. Einstein"). Princeton, NJ. 4to. 2 ff.
$ 16,166 / 15.000 € (72752/BN46795)

To Dr. Alessandro Cortese. The first letter (July 28) concerns Cortese's visit ("If convenient I suggest Wednesday afternoon"), the second (August 16) was written afterwards: "I am grateful for the informations [!] you gave me on your visit last week. The realization of your plan to establish a[n] Institute of International Studies in Rome seems to me desirable; because such an Institute could vitalize that supra-national point of view which is so important for the solution of the international problems and could reach those persons who are most influential in this respect [...]". An unsigned carbon copy is recorded at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Archival Call Number: 59-452).

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Einstein, Albert

physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein"). 112 Mercer Street, Princeton. 20.12.1951. 4to (281 x 217 mm). ½ p. Blindstamped address. Envelope.
$ 10,238 / 9.500 € (77563/BN50013)

To Otto Juliusburger, in German. Einstein is delighted that Juliusburger has written an article about "Popper" [apparently the Austrian Jewish thinker Josef Popper-Lynkeus, in whom Juliusburger had an interest], to whom he refers as "the excellent man": "I feel that you have done Popper justice and have transmitted a vivid impression to a more distant observer". The article was evidently inscribed with a friendly reference to a visit from Einstein himself: "The added written remark on my visit touched me greatly, even if I know well that a friendly illusion lies behind it".

- Popper-Lynkeus was a wide-ranging thinker in both the scientific and social spheres: one of his most notable ideas was the proposition of a new social system in which all individuals are provided with goods of primary necessity..

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Typescript letter with six autograph lines signed ("Albert"). Peacock Inn, Princeton, NJ. 17.10.1933. 8vo. 1 p. With an autograph letter signed by Elsa on the reverse. - Includes: 3 autograph letters signed by his wife Elsa Einstein (folio and 8vo; Caputh, 21 August 1932 and no date), one with a 6-line autograph postscript signed by Albert Einstein, and a.
$ 37,720 / 35.000 € (82616/BN53798)

Intimate correspondence with Einstein's cousin Kuno Kocherthaler, director of a mining company in Spain and also an art collector. - Typing on hotel stationery on the day of his arrival in the USA as a stateless refugee, having escaped from ever-increasing persecution in Nazi Germany, Einstein thanks Kuno for a letter of his about financial matters, adding below in his own hand: "Wir kamen heute erst hier an und suchen uns in dieser exotischen Welt zurechtzufinden. Im Frühjahr um den 1. April kommen wir nach Spanien, wo ich eine Art Lehrtätigkeit auszuüben habe.

Hoffentlich sehen wir uns dort wieder einmal gemütlich [...]". - In an earlier letter of Elsa's, also regarding family investments administered by Kuno (undated but written aboard the "Oakland", probably in the port of Bremen on 10 December 1932, about to depart for a winter cruise to Pasadena via Middle America), Einstein adds a poignant note about his younger son Eduard, who suffered from schizophrenia and had recently been committed to a mental asylum in Switzerland: "Nimm bitte diese schleichende Sorge von uns; das Leben hat in letzter Zeit Schweres gebracht, da mein liebster Sohn, der Jüngere, in einer Anstalt hat untergebracht werden müssen (Geisteskrankheit) [...]". - In the final missive, possibly another postscript torn from a longer letter, Einstein gives his consent in a single word ("Einverstanden"), signing and dating: "Princeton, 9. Mai 1934 / Albert Einstein". Elsa's own letters discuss travel, finances, Albert Einstein's stay in Spa, etc. - Each sheet with marginal binder holes affecting a few letters, otherwise flawless..

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Eigenh. Brief mit U. Princeton, NJ. 13.03.1935. ½ S. 4to.
$ 9,160 / 8.500 € (83091/BN54525)

An den polnischen Erfinder, Komponisten und Pianisten Józef Hofmann, damals Direktor des Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia: "Es ist wirklich sehr liebenswürdig von Ihnen, meiner bei dieser schönen Gelegenheit zu denken. Es würde mir in der Tat die grösste Freude machen, Rossinis lebenssprudelndes Werk nach langen Jahren wieder zu geniessen. Ich habe aber für den Abend des 24. eine Einladung angenommen und kann es nicht mehr rückgängig machen [...]".

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Typed letter signed. Princeton, NJ. ¾ S. 4to.
$ 19,937 / 18.500 € (87366/BN57856)

To the gastroenterologist Isidor Held (1876-1947), thanking him for the gift of a book by Upton Sinclair (probably "Dragon Harvest"), "from which I see how the machinery of world politics is reflected in his brain" and looking forward with hope and trepidation to what will follow the defeat of Nazi Germany: "I am happy with the progress the Germans have made and tremble before the next chapter [...]" (transl.). - Einstein had befriended Held, an Austrian-born physician settled in New York, through their joint efforts to help scientists and doctors escape Nazi Germany.

The two men were by this time watching the collapse of Nazism and hoping that a new peaceful German leadership would emerge from the ashes of war, although Einstein here expresses his fear for the future of Europe. Held appears to have sent Einstein a copy of the latest Upton Sinclair novel, "Dragon Harvest" (1945), which was set during the period between the Munich Crisis and the Fall of Paris. It is not clear if Held had realised that Einstein and Sinclair knew each other; Einstein had contributed a preface to Sinclair's "Mental Radio" (1930), and Sinclair made Einstein a friend of his fictional hero Lanny Budd, an American socialist. - On stationery with blindstamped letterhead. Slightly spotty and wrinkled..

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein"). Princeton, NJ. 4to. 1 p. Signature and one handwritten correction in green ink. In German. Framed, matted and glazed (46 x 62 cm) with a photographic portrait.
$ 8,622 / 8.000 € (88929/BN58981)

To the Russian-French hydrodynamic engineer Wsevolode Grünberg in New York City, concerning a contested inheritance matter in which Einstein had reluctantly agreed to assist. From 1939, Einstein acted as a go-between for Grünberg and his friend János Plesch, an important Hungarian physician who had emigrated to England. "Concerning the inheritance matter", Einstein writes, "I regret having to report that we were not successful in getting my friend to England, as the War prevented it. Nor can I imagine that any hindrance remains to proceeding with the final settlement.

I intend once more to encourage Mr. Plesch to put everything in order. As regards your inventions, I suggest that you send them for evaluation to my friend Professor Karman at the California Institute of Technology, who is a first-class expert and has influential connections to the realm of construction and practical implementation in the field. I enclose a letter to him [...]" (transl.). - Wsevolode Grünberg was the nephew of the Russian orthodontist and collector Josef Grünberg, a close friend of both Albert Einstein, who gave him the nickname "Bolshie", and János Plesch during their time in Berlin. It appears that Einstein and his second wife Elsa had become acquainted with Wsevolode Grünberg shortly before their friend's death in 1932. Travelling to America in 1939, Grünberg approached Einstein for an introduction to fellow engineers in the U.S. and help with his inheritance issue back in Europe. The two men met in June 1939 at the home of Irving Lehman in Port Chester, New York, and Einstein subsequently did what he could for Grünberg. In the early 1940s, Grünberg's important hydrofoil designs were used by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to build a seaplane model that was successfully tested at Langley, VA. Ironically, the classification of the project prevented the French citizen Grünberg from seeing the results of the tests until years after the war. Grünberg later became a U.S. citizen, changing his name to Waldemar A. Craig. - Traces of folds. On Einstein's embossed Princeton stationery..

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Typed letter signed (“A. Einstein”). Princeton, NJ. 1 S. 4to.
$ 10,238 / 9.500 € (90395/BN59911)

To Helene Katzenstein, the widow of Einstein's close friend and sometime sailing companion, the Berlin surgeon Moritz Katzenstein (1872-1932): "I deeply feel what a difficult time you are having under the present circumstances. And I shall gladly do anything to rescue you from this unsatisfactory and depressing situation. I myself have experienced at close quarters what trouble people can create for each other in everyday life when bound together within such a restricted space. Assume as philosophical a stance as you can and remember that a leopard cannot change his spots for all the sharpness of his claws [...]". - On stationery with printed letterhead; traces of folds.

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Printed lettercard with 5 autograph lines signed. Princeton, New Jersey. 1 S. Qu.-kl.-8vo. Mit ms. adr. Kuvert.
$ 13,471 / 12.500 € (91291/BN60299)

To the Swiss jurist and women's rights activist Elisabeth Nägeli (1897-1988) in response to her birthday greetings: "Freundlichen Dank für Ihre Mitteilungen, die alte Zeiten lebendig werden lassen. Ein alter Zigeuner hat es in dieser Beziehung nicht leicht [...]" ("Thank you kindly for your communications, which revive old times. These things are never easy for an old gypsy like myself [...]"). - From a prestigious old Basel private collection. Perfectly preserved.

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein"). Princeton, NJ. ½ S. 4to.
$ 9,160 / 8.500 € (91349/BN60384)

To the Berlin-born film editor Viktor Palfi, the son of the long-time director of the Kurfürstenoper and brother of the German-American photographer Marion Palfi, who contacted him with a request from the actor Curt Bois, who wanted to return to Europe from from his American exile: "I understand very well what Mr Bois wants, but I do not see what I can do [...]". - On headed paper; traces of folding.

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Typed letter signed with 8 autograph words inserted. Princeton, NJ. 1 S. 4to.
$ 23,709 / 22.000 € (91386/BN60441)

To the German-American mathematician Ernst Gabor Straus. Einstein refers to a work he has just written in which he resolves the equations of the gravitational field issues from Bianchi's identities; he also congratulates Straus on a beautiful mathematical discovery and invokes by comparison the proof of transcendence of numbers that the latter had simplified. - An assistant to Einstein from 1944 to 1948, Ernst Gabor Straus detected a computational error in one of Einstein's works and, in order to correct it, wrote a paper with him in 1946 entitled "A Generalization of the Relativistic Theory of Gravitation".

In 1949, having left his position with Einstein at Princeton University, he published "Some Results in Einstein's Unified Field Theory". The two scientists remained in a working relationship afterwards. - On headed paper; perfectly preserved..

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Einstein, Albert

German physicist and Nobel laureate (1879-1955). Typed letter signed "A. Einstein". Princeton. 4to. 1 p. In German. Together with an autograph letter signed by Elsa Einstein and a letter by Max Gottschalk. Both 4to. 1 p. in French.
$ 16,166 / 15.000 € (91432/BN60561)

To a high-ranking Belgian official named Costermann, asking him to renew the passports of his stepdaughter Margot and her husband Dimitri Marianoff: "I am writing you on behalf of my daughter Margot Marianoff and her husband Dr. Dimitri Marianoff. Both are holders of a Belgian foreigner's passport which they obtained last spring thanks to your obliging kindness. My daughter lived with us in Coq-sur-Mer but is currently nursing her gravely ill sister in Paris. She and her husband are stateless, the latter is Russian by birth.

I would appreciate it greatly if you would renew the passports, especially as my daughter is the student of a Belgian sculptor at Bruges" (transl.). - Apparently, the letter was not sent directly to Costermann but was forwarded by the escape agent Max Gottschalk. His letter to the "Director General" is dated 7 May 1934 and accompanied Einstein's letter from 23 April with a further plea to treat the request favourably without delay. - Elsa Einstein's letter from 22 May 1933 to a "Director", very likely the same Costermann, concerns the original foreigner's passport for Margot. Elsa announces that Margot will arrive in Brussels the following day and contact the recipient directly. - Albert and Elsa Einstein were in the U.S. when the Nazis seized power in Germany in February 1933. As they could not return to their home in Potsdam, they sailed to Antwerp in March 1933, immediately renounced their German citizenships, and rented a small villa in Le-Coq-sur-Mer (De Haan) near Bruges, where Margot and her husband joined them. As early as September 1933, Albert and his wife emigrated to the U.S.; Margot and Dimitri would follow them in 1934 after the death of Margot's elder sister Ilse Einstein from tuberculosis. - Following the early death of her mother in 1936, Margot Einstein stayed with her father-in-law in Princeton, studied sculpture, and would live in the family home until her own death in 1986. Little is known about her marriage to Dimitri Marianoff. The couple had married in Berlin on 29 November 1930, much to the displeasure of Albert and Elsa, who distrusted their son-in-law; indeed, Marianoff turned out to be a Russian spy. The marriage probably ended soon after their arrival in the U.S. Marianoff profited from his previous close relationship to the world's most famous physicist by publishing a memoir "Einstein. An Intimate Study of a Great Man" in 1944. - On stationery with typed letterhead of Einstein's first address in Princeton: "2, Library Place". With an official note "Passeport Etr." in ink and a contemporary pencil translation into French. Minimally creased, two minor tears to the left margin and one to the lower margin. - The letter by Elsa Einstein shows three tears and staple holes. The letter by Gottschalk bears an official note "M. Marianoff et Gottschalk le 8.5.34" in ink and "T.U." (possibly "tâche urgent") in crayon and a minor tear..

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). Autograph letter signed ('A. Einstein') to [Emil] Orlik. ohne Ort. 8vo. 1 p. Bleistift.
$ 16,166 / 15.000 € (86524)

Recommending a young sculptor. Einstein asks Orlik to receive a certain Herr Kanders: 'He is coming on account of a young sculptor (24 years old), who to us (also Margot) seems to be quite good'. The recipient, Emil Orlik (1870-1932), was an artist, born in Prague but resident in Berlin from 1905 onwards.

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Einstein, Albert

Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1879-1955). 2 maschinenschr. Briefe mit eigenh. Unterschrift. Princeton. 4to. 2 pp. Bliindgeprägter Briefkopf. Faltspuren; an den Rändern mit kleinen Perforierungen.
$ 37,720 / 35.000 € (89495)

An den Schriftsteller Hans Margolius (1902-1984) in Florida über Ansichten von Kant, Schiller und Spinoza über Ethik und Aberglauben: „Ich danke Ihnen herzlich für Ihr Büchlein mit den feinsinnigen Aphorismen über ethische Werte. Ich bin davon überzeugt, dass dies Werkchen die Publikation verdient, da es geeignet ist, Manchem Trost und neuen Lebensmut zu bringen, ohne zum Opium des Aberglaubens seine Zuflucht zu nehmen. Was ich an dem Büchlein als Beschränkung empfinde das ist, dass es den Blick ängstlich abwendet von den Abgründen und Klüften, die nun einmal in jedem zwei- und vierbeinigen Wesen unleugbar vorhanden sind und sich nicht durch ignorieren beseitigen lassen.

Man muss den Mut haben, die Dinge in ihrer Nackheit zu sehen und zu verstehen, um ein ganzer Mensch sein zu können. Spinoza hat gezeigt, dass man dies vollbringen kann. Es müsste Einer kommen, der ihn in schlichter, einfache Sprache neu erstehen liesse. Vielleicht sin Sie der Mann. […]“ Im Brief von 1950: „[…] Sie haben die Unterscheidung zwischen der ethischen Tat bezw. Zielsetzung einerseits und dem Gefühlsmotiv, das zur Tat bezw. Wertung führt andererseits, hübsch ausgeführt. Der Gedanke selbst ist natürlich nicht neu. So ist z.B. Kand drolligerweise so weit in der objectiven Auffassung des Ethischen gegangen, dass er eine Tat nicht als ethisch wertvoll anerkennt, wenn sie unmittelbar einem elementaren Gefühl (z.B. Mitleid) entspringt; er lässt als legitime gefühlsmässige Basis des Ethischen nur das Pflichtbewusstsein gelten, worüber sich schon Schiller lustig gemacht hat. Nach meiner Meinung ist die objective Auffassung, die dem Gegenstand der Ethik angemessens. Die ethische Tat veranlassende emotionelle Situation gehört eigentlich nicht zur Ethik sondern zu Psychologie. […]“.

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Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), physicist and Nobel laureate. TLS (“A. Einstein”). Princeton, 31 Dec. 1938. 4°. 1 ½ pp. on 2 ff. With addendum (see below). – To Salomon [!] Goldman: “I have just read your book with the greatest interest. It contains the true fire of a prophet; it mercilessly holds a mirror up to the contemporaries, Jews and Goyim alike. Your upright courage and optimism are a pleasure to behold in a man to whom nothing human remains foreign, not in scripture and not in world otherwise. Almost everything is spoken from my soul. I admit that I entertain lesser hopes for salvation through a union of the majority of Jews in a single country or even a state; no matter how we may think about this, the necessity of earnest striving for such a solution today is unavoidable. One must not deliberate whether our people in concentration would perhaps develop those dangerous and hideous weaknesses which we despise in our enemies today. I feel you do not afford the Greeks the friendliness and veneration which they deserve. I believe that we Jews have been strongly and continuously influenced by them in a positive sense due to our common love for the spiritual world, for independence in life and in thought. Your hymn to ‘Romance of a People’ is also good for those who have not witnessed that kitsch on stage; ‘Eternal Road’ was worse still, in spite of Werfel’s fine text. It is dangerous to transfer this great matter to the stage – especially as a whole. I particularly enjoyed the polemical articles ‘Jews and Christians’, ‘The Function of the Rabbi’, ‘Rabbis and Rabbis’; of immediate importance were ‘The Goal of Judaism’ and ‘Can Religion Change!’ [...] P. S. I beg an answer regarding the excellent Max Brod.” – On stationery with printed letterhead. – Includes: Jacob J. Weinstein: Solomon Goldman. A Rabbi’s Rabbi. New York, KTAV Publishing House, 1973. xiii, (1), 295, (3) pp. With several illustrated plates. Original cloth with giltstamped title to spine and original dustjacket. Large 8°.


Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), physicist and Nobel laureate. TLS (“A. Einstein”). Princeton, 3 March 1939. 4°. 1 p. – To Solomon Goldman: “In my telegram, I added the passage ‘IMMIGRATION ISSUE SOLVABLE ONLY BY COMPROMISE BETWEEN BOTH NATIONALITIES’ for the following reason: what we must fear, principally, is disenfranchising and plundering the people and classes who currently represent the construction efforts. This danger must be sought to be avoided first and foremost. That it is a serious one is beyond doubt. If the revision of this constitutional issue is burdened by inflexible constraints regarding immigration, then this threatens not only immmigration, but also the entire current wealthy class. This is why with heavy heart I wrote the last passage. Personally, I do not think it wise to omit it. Of course I see the possibility that you have a clearer view of the situation, and I authorize you to omit the passage if you are prepared to take full responsibility. I have no objection to a dinner being held for my 60th birthday – provided that a practical end can be reached by it. However, I will not be able to appear in person, as I have had to abstain from appearing in other very similar cases and it would be ludicrous to make an exception on this of all occasions [...]”. – On stationery with embossed letterhead.


Einstein, Albert

Portraitphotographie m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. Originalportraitphotographie mit e. Widmung und U. U. O., 1929. 236:176 mm auf etwas größerem Trägerkarton. – Schönes S/W-Portrait (Kniestück im ¾-Profil) mit e. Widmung am Trägerkarton für „S. Fischer, dem erfolgreichen Förderer literarischen Schaffens zum siebzigsten Geburtstage Albert Einstein. 1929“. – Weiters mit e. Signatur der Photographin Gerty Simon in Bleistift. – Der Karton mit einigen kl. Knickfalten, das Portrait bis auf einige kleine Stichlöchlein unversehrt.


Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. Ms. Brief mit e. U. (A. Einstein“). Knollwood, Saranac Lake N. Y., 15. August 1944. ¾ S. Gr.-4°. – An den Violinisten und Komponisten George Perlman (1897–2000): „It was extremely kind of you to send me the two beuatiful [!] Vivaldi Concertos. I consider Vivaldi one of the greatest musicians of all times and your edition as a real achievement of lasting value [...]“. – Auf Briefpapier mit gepr. Briefkopf.


Einstein, Albert

E. Albumblatt mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), physicist and Nobel laureate. AQS ("A. Einstein"). N. p. o. d. [probably March 1929]. ½ p. 8°. – "Herr, verzeiht mir das Plagiat, | Das ich Ihnen mausen that | Ganz beschämt schleich' ich mich fort | Lass dem Gegner nur das Wort" ("My plagiarism pray forgive | I cribbed from you, I will admit | Full of shame aside I go | And surrender to my foe"). – On the reverse of a facsimile thank-you card to his 50th-birthday felicitators. – Slightly dusty and spotty.


Einstein, Albert

E. Brief mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker, Nobelpreisträger; Schöpfer der Relativitätstheorie. E. Brief m. U. („A. Einstein“). [Berlin, nach 1917]. 1 S. 8°. – An den namentlich nicht genannten Physiker Emil Warburg (1846–1931): „Ich komme, um mich von Ihnen zu verabschieden. Es gelang mir nämlich, die Reiseerlaubnis zu erhalten, für eine morgige Reise nach Leiden. Falls Sie mir noch etwas mitteilen bezw. auftragen wollen, bitte ich Sie, mich zwischen 2 und 3 Uhr |Nollendorf 2807 | anrufen zu wollen. Leider kann ich nun morgen nicht zum Musizieren kommen, wie verabredet war [...]“. – Albert Einstein war im September 1917 in die Haberlandstraße 5 in Berlin-Schöneberg gezogen, wo er die oben zitierte Rufnummer hatte. – Etwas gebräunt und fleckig sowie mit einem kleinem Ausriß am oberen, perforierten Rand.


Einstein, Albert

Portraitpostkarte mit e. Widmung und U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. Portraitpostkarte mit e. Widmung und U. O. O. u. D. 1 S. 8°. – „Der lieben Frau Lebach herzlichen Dank | A. Einstein“). – Die Bildseite mit einer Abbildung von Morris J. Kallems Einstein-Portrait a. d. J. 1942. – Kleinere Gebrauchs- und Montagespuren.


Einstein, Albert

E. Nachschrift (fünf Zeilen) mit U. („Dein Albert“).
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Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. E. Nachschrift (fünf Zeilen) mit U. („Dein Albert“). Princeton, 29. September 1952. 4°. – Auf einem zweiseitigen Brief seiner Stieftochter Margot (geb. 1899) an Ogden Steinhardt, den Mann seiner Cousine Alice: „Lieber Ogden! Ich höre, dass auch Du in die 70er eingehst. Ich hab mich schon tief hineingelebt und weiss, wie es ist. Man braucht den Humor immer mehr, um Löcher zuzustopfen. Jedenfalls wünsche ich Dir Gesundheit und sonst alles Gute [...]“. – Margot schreibt u. a.: „So oft waren meine Gedanken bei Dir in den letzten Wochen – wäre Albert durch eine Venen-Entzündung nicht elend gewesen – u. wir etwas in Sorge – hätte ich bei Dir angerufen. Gott sei Dank geht es ihm viel besser – er muss aber noch viel ruhen u. das Bein schonen [...]“.


Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief mit e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. Ms. Brief mit e. U. („A. Einstein“). Princeton, 13. März 1935. ½ S. Gr.-4°. – An den Pianisten Józef Hofmann (1876–1957), den damaligen Leiter des Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia: „Es ist wirklich sehr liebenswürdig von Ihnen, meiner bei dieser schönen Gelegenheit zu denken. Es würde mir in der Tat die grösste Freude machen, Rossinis lebenssprudelndes Werk nach langen Jahren wieder zu geniessen. Ich habe aber für den Abend des 24. eine Einladung angenommen und kann es nicht mehr rückgängig machen [...]“. – Leicht knittrig und mit einer kleinen Notiz von anderer Hand am rechten oberen Rand.


Einstein, Albert

Eigenh. Nachschrift mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), German-born physicist and Nobel laureate. Autograph quotation signed. [Coq sur Mer, summer of 1933]. Oblong 8°. ¼ p. On a picture postcard written by the writer Antonina Vallentin (1893-1957) to her daughter Irène. - Nice quote regarding Einstein's passion playing violin.


Einstein, Albert

Portraitphotographie mit eigenh. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Nice signed 3/4 profile shot of Einstein.


Einstein, Albert

Portraitphotographie mit eigenh. Widmung und U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

A black-and-white bust portrait photograph by John Graudenz (1884-1942); with autograph dedication to "[Youra] Guller, der wunderbaren Interpretin in Dankbarkeit / Albert Einstein / 1928". - Guller's first name has been scratched out. Small creases in the right margin, near the photographer's pencil signature, otherwise in good condition.


Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief mit eigenh. U. ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

In German, to Manfred Hohenemser, expressing his delight that he was able to come to the U.S., thanking him for his letter, inquiring about a young physicist of the same surname and offering to recommend him, and warning that Jewish scholars cannot easily obtain a position at an American university: "Ich freue mich sehr, dass Sie die Möglichkeit gehabt haben, in die Vereinigten Staaten zu kommen [...] Können Sie mir vielleicht mitteilen, was aus dem jungen Physiker Hohenemser geworden ist, der doch sicher ein Verwandter von Ihnen ist? Wenn Sie eine Möglichkeit schaffen können, ihn herüber zu bekommen, würde ich ihn gerne empfehlen. Freilich ist es für jüdische Gelehrte auch hier sehr schwierig, an einer Universität anzukommen [...]". - Mounted to a sheet of black paper cut to size, vertical fold touching end of signature; somewhat wrinkled.


Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief mit eigenh. U. (“A. Einstein”).
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

In German, to Helene Katzenstein, widow of Einstein's close friend and sometime sailing companion, the Berlin surgeon Moritz Katzenstein (1872-1932): "I deeply feel what a difficult time you are having under the present circumstances. And I shall gladly do anything to rescue you from this unsatisfactory and depressing situation. I myself have experienced from close-up what trouble people can create for each other in everyday life when bound together within such a restricted space. Assume as philosophical a stance as you can and remember that a leopard cannot change his spots for all the sharpness of his claws [...]". - On stationery with printed letterhead; traces of folds.


Einstein, Albert

E. U. auf Porträtdruck
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German Physicist and Nobel Laureate (1921). Signed etching, 7.25 x 9.5 inch, Albert Einstein, n. p. n. d. A head and shoulders motif of Einstein. Signed on the lower white border. Also signed by the artist „J. J. Muller“ in pencil.


Einstein, Albert

Portraitphotographie m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German Physicist and Nobel Laureate (1921). SP, 5 x 7 inch, no place, [19]54, one page 8vo. Nice portrait of the elderly Einstein sitting in a chair on his desk.


Einstein Albert

E. U. in "The Meaning of Relativity"
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Albert Einstein (1879-1955), dt. Physiker, Begründer der Relativitätstheorie, Nobelpreis 1921 (verliehen 1922). The meaning of Relativity. The Third edition (revised) including the Generalization of Gravitation Theory. Princeton, Princeton Univ. Press, 1950. Mit e. U. Einstein auf dem Vorsatzblatt. Vorsatz lichtrandig. Umschlag leicht fleckig; an einer Stelle eingerissen.


Einstein, Albert

Brief m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), dt. Physiker, Begründer der Relativitätstheorie, Nobelpreis 1921 (verliehen 1922). Mit gedrucktem Briefkopf „Prof. Dr. Albert Einstein“. Faltspuren. Brief m. e. U., Berlin, 26. April 1927, eine Seite gr.-4°. An das Ehepaar Dernburg mit der Absage einer Einladung: „[…] Ich liege an einer schweren Herzkrankheit darnieder und halte es für ausgeschlossen, dass ich bis zum 6. Mai mit meiner Frau Ihrer liebenswürdigen Einladung Folge leisten kann […]“ – Im selben Jahr beginnen Albert Einstein und Niels Bohr ihre intensive Auseinandersetzung über die Grundlagen der Quantentheorie. Beiliegt: 1 Porträtfotografie, 10 x 15 cm.


Einstein, Albert

A large archive of material featuring a typed and signed letter to Wsevolode Grünberg and a short autograph note by Einstein, an ALS by Elsa Einstein and 2 TLS by Helene Dukas. Accompanied by a large archive of Grünberg's papers, consisting of well over 1
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Grünberg, who later in life changed his name to Waldemar A. Craig, was an aeronautical engineer who developed an important design for the hydrofoil. The letters accompany a large archive of Grünberg's papers, consisting of well over 1,000 pages of material including some of his original drawings for his hydrofoil improvements, copies of his patents, (including a large dossier of declassified tests performed in the years immediately following WWI), photographs, correspondence, and other related documents and ephemera. - Grünberg, the nephew of a close friend of Einstein, appears to have become acquainted with Albert and his second wife Elsa sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, if not personally, by correspondence. In an undated letter from Berlin, written sometime before 1932, Elsa Einstein commented to Grünberg: "I am assuming you are just as kind and clever as your uncle, our dear friend. My husband and I were so glad having been able doing this small favor for you. Mr. Dunne wrote a most gracious note to us from Florida. In particular I want to thank you for the delicious grapefruits [...]" and adding "Feel free to call on me anytime, if you think I could be of help. Please be sure and do". - Apparently Grünberg took her advice, and travelling to the United States in 1939 approached Einstein for an introduction to fellow engineers in the U. S. in order to demonstrate his hydrofoil designs. The two met in June 1939 at the home of Irving Lehman in Port Chester, New York. - In addition to the introduction to the American engineering community, Einstein also agreed to handle a complex inheritance matter for Grünberg. On 1 July 1939, the same day he recommended Grünberg to his American associates, he wrote to him that he had written "a most insistent letter to Mr. Plesch in which I suggested to name an arbitrator in the inheritance matter who would be agreeable to you as well as to me and who could personally communicate with Mr. Plesch and yourself". Enclosing the letter to Dr. Lewis, Einstein advised, "I cannot understand though, how you could succeed to find a position here without a valid residence permit. I urge you to carefully investigate this subject prior to making use of the enclosed letter". Einstein continued to assist Grünberg with the inheritance issue, acting as a go-between Grünberg in the U. S. and Mr. Plesch in France. - Despite some annoyances, Einstein did what he could for Grünberg both for his inheritance and his scientific pursuits - Grünberg's personal papers concern his research on his hydrofoil designs which he first developed in France. The archive includes some of Grünberg's original drawings demonstrating applications for his design as well as some manuscript calculations in his hand, some original U. S. patent certificates for several inventions, one German patent awarded to him in 1930, original photographs, likely from the early 1930s, and several magazines including Popular Science and others discussing Grünberg's work and designs. - Detailed description available upon request.


Einstein, Albert

E. Brief mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Nobel laureate in physics. ALS “Papa”. N. p., 23 Feb. 1927. Large 4°. 1 p. Folded. In German. To his son Hans Albert, regarding his fiancée and later wife Frieda Knecht: “[…] I am pained to hear that you now want to let your wife come. She will never let go of you and will draw you from one disaster to the next. If you find it so boring in Dortmund, why don’t you give up your position there and come here. It will be interesting and a change of pace for you. It all comes from her having seized you first, which is why you now view her as the embodiment of femininity. It is, after all, a common way for sillies to fall victim to fate. In any case: never send or bring Miss Knecht to me, for the way things are, I simply could not bear it. If, however, you ever feel the urge to separate from her, then do not be proud, but confide in me, so that I may help you. For that day will come. Think about whether you really want to stay in Dortmund, or whether I should look for something for you here. That would not be difficult for me; and it would be much more interesting and educating than in Dortmund. If so, must it be in steel engineering, or would a wider field do as well? Where do you take your meals? Are you staying at a boarding house? Be careful not to ruin your stomach, this is so often the case with young persons who are unaccustomed to taking care of themselves [...]”. – Hans Albert studied engineering at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) in Zurich and for some time worked as a construction engineer in Dortmund. He married Frieda Knecht in 1927.


Einstein, Albert

E. Postkarte mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Physiker, Nobelpreisträger. E. Postkarte m. U., Berlin, 8. Juli 1920, 1 Seite quer-kl.-8°. Berieben u. knitterig, 3 geklebte Einrisse. An den Philosophen, Physiker u. Mathematiker Philipp Frank (1884-1966) in Prag: „[…] Es freut mich sehr, dass Sie mir Ihren Besuch in Aussicht stellen. Ich bin stets hier ausser am 12. und 18. Juli (Vortrag in Hamburg). Ich bin auf Ihre neue Gedanken sehr neugierig […]“


Einstein, Albert

Portraitphotographie m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), physicist, Nobel laureate; father of the Theory of Relativity. Portrait photograph with autogr. dedication signed, n. p., 1934, 25 x 20 cm. Small tear; wrinkled and brownstained at the edges. Uncommon head-to-knee portrait of Einstein, standing before a building with the housekeeper. Elsa Einstein is gaily laughing into the camera, holding a parasol. Dedication: “For Mrs. Martha, the wizard | with warm thanks | Albert Einstein | 1934.“ On the reverse, autogr. dedication signed by Elsa Einstein: “For Mrs. Martha in gratitude for many good things! Elsa Einstein”. – The picture was taken in the Spring of 1933 in front of the house of the New York lawyer Samuel Untermeyer in Palm Springs.


Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief mit eigenh. U. ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

To Dr. Friedrich Simon Archenhold (1861-1939), the German astronomer and founder of the observatory that now bears his name. Einstein writes this friendly, brief letter in response to a scientific article Archenhold has sent him, which he analyzes in light of his theory of relativity. "I have read your friendly article and the submitted manuscript with interest. The error of the latter is that a pendulum clock alone is not a 'clock' in the sense of relativity theory, but merely the combination of a pendulum clock with a gravitating celestial body. Failure to ignore this circumstance gives rise to the error of the authors" (transl. from the German original). - Horizontal and vertical folds; short splits starting at each end of horizontal fold; two holes punched along left edge covered with scraps of paper at verso, along with a short tear and tiny hole; small pencil mark at upper left corner; minimal soft rumpling around edges. Small stain at verso; mild darkening along creases. Overall in good condition.


Einstein, Albert

E. Brief mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. E. Brief mit U. O. O. u. D. „Samstag“. 1 Seite 4°. – An seine geschiedene Gattin Mileva Maric (1875–1948): „Ich werde Eurem Wunsch, der mich sehr freut, dadurch nachkommen, dass ich mich auf der Rückreise, d. h. auf der Reise zwischen Bologna und Leiden in Zürich aufhalte. Ich würde am liebsten in Eurem Haus wohnen, wie ich es in Aussicht genommen hatte. Aber ich kann es nicht thun wegen des öffentlichen Skandals, der damit verbunden wäre. Ich bin schon ohnedies zu viel im Mittelpunkt des Geredes. Ich kann ja in der Pension neben Euch wohnen. Wir können dann über alles reden. Hauptfrage: Wo soll Albert [d. i. Einsteins Sohn Hans Albert, 1904–1973] studieren? Ich bin nicht mehr so unbedingt dafür, dass Ihr nach Deutschland ziehet. Es hat seine zwei Seiten. Ich reise Samstag 15. [m]orgens ab und komme nachts um halb zwei nach Innsbruck. Dort übernachte ich in der ‚goldenen Sonne’. Am besten wäre es, ich würde Albert dort finden. Wenn er aber nicht da ist, warte ich dort Sonntag auf ihn. Wir reisen dann wahrscheinlich direkt nach Florenz ev. mit Aufenthalt in Verona. In Florenz ist Maja [d. i. Einsteins Schwester Maria Winteler-Einstein, 1881–1951]. Sie wird sich sicher sehr freuen, Albert nach so langer Zeit wiederzusehen. Abends am 20. spätestens muss ich in Bologna sein. Am 26. habe ich dort meinen letzten Vortrag [...]“.


Einstein, Albert

Ms. Brief mit eigenh. U. ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

In German, to the Austrian politician and writer Heinrich York-Steiner, a pioneer of Zionism, in answer to a request for permission to reprint a statement on Palestine. Einstein expresses his deepest admiration for York-Steiner's book "Die Kunst als Jude zu leben" (1928), which he has read in its entirety, fully agreeing with its analysis and finding it gratifying that the book has attracted so much interest. Einstein writes that he has published various items about recent conflicts with the Arabs and is unaware to which one York-Steiner refers, but gives permission to reprint whatever he finds appropriate. Einstein writes that he became acquainted with the concept of Zionism only in 1914, at the age of 35, after moving to Berlin, having previously lived in a totally neutral environment. "But ever since then it has been clear to me that to maintain, or rather regain, an existence in decency, we Jews have an urgent need to revive a sense of community. I recognize Zionism as the only effort that brings us closer to this goal. However, it is now necessary to ensure that this movement avoids the danger of degenerating into blind nationalism. Foremost, I feel, one must seek to replace resentment towards the Arabs with psychological understanding and an honest desire for co-operation. In my opinion, overcoming this difficulty will be the final touchstone on which will depend our community's right to exist in a higher sense". Unfortunately, Einstein must acknowledge that the attitude in official circles and the majority of published statements leave much to be desired in this regard. - On headed paper; small tears to centerfold re-backed.


Einstein, Albert

Copy of typewritten script of the episode "The Atom" of the TV programme "Your World Tomorrow" by Joseph Mindel, signed by "A. Einstein".
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Autograph letter signed ("A. E.").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Autograph manuscript for "Bivector Fields II" (1944).
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Faksimilierte Dankeskarte mit 5 eigenh. Zeilen und U.
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A word of thanks to a well-wisher on the occasion of his 50th birthday.


Einstein, Albert

E. Brief mit U. [Bleistift]
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. E. Brief (in Bleistift) mit U. O. O. u. D. [Zürich, 1909 bis 1911], 1 Seite quer-kl.-8°. – Wie e. auf der Verso-Seite vermerkt an Prof. Dr. B in Karlsruhe: „Um 11 Uhr von einem Spaziergang heimgekehrt finde ich Ihre Karte vor. Nun suchte ich Sie im Institut und in Ihrer Wohnung. Da ich Sie nicht finden konnte, bleibt nichts anderes übrig, als dass ich in meiner Wohnung (Moussonstr. 12) warte, ob Sie mir nicht vielleicht eine zweite Mitteilung zugehen lassen. Es ist Telephon im Haus (Notar Güller), das benutzt werden kann [...]“. – Einstein war von 22. Oktober 1909 bis 30. März 1911 unter der erwähnten Adresse (heute Nr. 10) gemeldet. – Am unteren Rand gelocht (keine Textberührung).


Einstein, Albert

Portraitphotographie m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Nobel laureate in physics. Half-length portrait photograph with autogr. dedication signed. N. p., 1845. 257 x 202 mm. – For Dr. Haussner. Caption on the reverse by a different hand: “Dr. Albert Einstein. Princeton. Feb. 1945. Photo by Alan W. Richards. Palmer Lab. Princeton NJ”.


Einstein, Albert

Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Autograph letter signed ("A. Einstein").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Einstein, Albert

Brief m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Physiker, Nobelpreisträger; Schöpfer der Relativitätstheorie. Brief m. e. U., Princeton, 22. Januar 1954, 2/3 Seite 4°. Blindgeprägter Briefkopf. Gefaltet. Mit Briefumschlag. An Hanne Walz in Hannover, die ihn zu dem wohl berühmtesten Bild Einsteins mit ausgestreckter Zunge (Fotografie: Arthur Sasse) befragt hatte: „[…] Ihr Brief […] hat mich besonders gefreut nicht nur wegen des munteren Stiles, sondern auch weil er einen sehr zutreffenden Gedanken äussert. Mein Verdienst an dem Bild ist allerdings insofern gering als es an jenem Tage nicht an die Haupthandlung sondern nur eine unbeachtete Nebenszene angeschlossen war. Ihr Vorschlag dürfte darum in den beteiligten Zirkeln keine begeisterte Aufnahme finden, weil da meist kein moralisches Gewicht übrig bliebe, wenn man den tierischen Ernst wegnähme. […]“ Beiliegt: Kopie des Gegenbriefes. – Das „Zungenbild“ entstand am Rande seines 72. Geburtstags, am 14. März 1951 in Princeton. Man hatte eine Feier für ihn ausgerichtet. Einstein wurde an diesem Ehrentag immer wieder von Fotografen bedrängt - schließlich war Einstein ein Medienstar. Die Journalisten wollten hören, was der große Physiker und Nobelpreisträger zur Weltpolitik zu sagen hätte. Doch Einstein war der ganze Medienrummel zuwider. Beim Verlassen der Feier nach dem Lunch konnte er den Kameras aber nicht mehr entgehen. Er sollte sogar in Geburtstagspose in die Kamera lächeln. Schon hatte er im Fond der Limousine des ehemaligen Chefs am Institute of Advanced Studies Platz genommen. Links von ihm warteten Frank Aydelotte, rechts dessen Ehefrau Marie. Immer wieder sagte Einstein: „Es ist genug, es ist genug“, aber die Paparazzi gaben keine Ruhe. Sich der Konsequenzen durchaus bewusst, streckte er mit seinem schalkhaften Lachen dem verblüfften Fotografen Arthur Sasse die Zunge heraus. Der drückte auf den Auslöser und so entstand das Foto, das um die Welt gehen würde.