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Lot #18
Albert Einstein

Einstein letter written shortly before his 1923 Nobel Lecture

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Estimate: $5000+
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Description

Einstein letter written shortly before his 1923 Nobel Lecture

TLS in German, signed “A. Einstein,” one page on the reverse of a 5.5 x 3.5 postcard, June 9, 1923. Letter to Dr. Hans Reichenbach, a colleague and important expositor of relativity, in which Einstein offers his assistance in finding a publisher for Reichenbach's work, Axiomatik der relativistischen Raum-Zeit-Lehre, in full (translated): "I have brought up your printing matter with the Academy. I was informed that only the Notgemeinschaft could come under consideration in this case. I have absolutely no connection to the Notgemeinschaft, but am willing to support your application to the Notgemeinschaft most warmly. With friendly regards also to Mr. Regener." Einstein adds the salutation in his own hand, as well as a brief line after his signature, "I will personally talk to Haber." Includes an ALS in German signed "Ilse Einstein," one page on the reverse of a 5.5 x 3.5 postcard, May 12, 1923, addressed to Reichenbach informing him that Einstein has not seen his letter of request as he has already left for the Netherlands, but promises to deliver it to him upon his return. The eldest daughter of Einstein's second wife, Elsa, Ilse Lowenthal Einstein served as Einstein’s secretary for a brief period. In fine condition, with two filing holes at the top.

For his breakthrough work in theoretical physics, in particular his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect, Einstein was named the recipient of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics on November 9, 1922; during the selection process in 1921, the Nobel Committee for Physics concluded that none of the year's nominations met the criteria outlined in the will of Alfred Nobel, and, in accordance with the Nobel Foundation's statutes, the prize was reserved until the following year. Unable to attend the award ceremony on December 10th, Einstein managed to journey to Gothenburg and deliver his Nobel Lecture on July 11, 1923, only a month after writing this letter. Although it wasn't printed by Notgemeinschaft der Deutschen Wissenschaft (Emergency Association of German Science) as Einstein had hoped, Reichenbach's 'Axiomatics of the Relativistic Space-Time Doctrine' was ultimately published in 1924 by F. Vieweg & Son.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: December Auction: Featuring Animation
  • Dates: #514 - Ended December 06, 2017





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