American scientist and head of the Harvard College Observatory (1885-1972) who used RR Lyrae stars to estimate the size of the Milky Way Galaxy and the Sun's position within it by using parallax. Three ALSs, signed either "Harlow Shapley " or "HS," four total pages, ranging in size from 5 x 3 to 5.75 x 7.75, dated between 1950 and 1966, each addressed to Ken Browne. The earliest letter, postmarked February 8, 1950, penned on a Harvard College Observatory stationery card, in full: "If you get snowbound and lonely, here is a heavy lightsomeness from the star man—his bimonthly cheer-them-up for the 150 who help him rassle with the universe"; the second, dated December 18, 1965, in part: "Arizona is full of astronomers, and good ones"; and the third letter, penned on the reverse of a postcard dated January 31, 1966, in part: "You are right—no time here. 'Time' as Mr. Einstein puts it is 'always going but never gone.'" In overall very good to fine condition. Each letter is accompanied by its original mailing envelope.
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