ALBERT EINSTEIN To a Holocaust survivor, still living in hard times, who asked Einstein if she may auction off letters he wrote to her father. Typed Letter signed: "A. Einstein", 1½p, 8¼x11. Princeton, N.J., 1949 April 19. To Dr. Dora Stern, New York. In German, translated. In full: "I thank you heartily for your amicable congratulations and am very glad to have in this way again heard something from you directly after so long a time. You can imagine how sorry I am that you, your sister and her husband are all living in such difficult circumstances. If you see any way in which I can be of help to you or your sister and her husband in seeking employment, I would esteem it a particular happiness to be able to try. I can write to anyone, but have too little experience to know what step would have the best prospect of success. Of course, I do not object to your auctioning the few letters you have in your possession together with your father's collection. I do not even need to see the letters, as they are surely quite harmless and unfortunately also quite uninteresting. Your sister Toni already turned to me some time ago because she believes that my help will make it easier to effect the publication of her memoirs. read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN As Germany descends upon the world, Einstein takes action. TLS: "A. Einstein", 1p, 8½x11. Princeton, N.J., 1939 October 27. To Professor Rudolf Ehrmann, Jackson Heights, L.I. In German with English translation. In full: "A talk with Bernard Flexner (570 Lexington Ave.), a brother of our [friend] Flexner, is more advisable because he himself is a member of the Emergency Committee and as such knows all practitioners. The best thing would be if you visit him with someone from the University, so that you can find out and the university will also know how to fabricate the pill ["pill" is a euphemism for action], so that the Emergency Committee can swallow it. It would be best if I wrote to Bernard Flexner for this purpose. I ask you for immediate notification if and when the step has been taken. Such a visit with Dr. Duggan would be equally appropriate. I do not know who the activist is. I heartily greet you." ANALYSIS: The letter presented in this lot was written on October 27, 1939, a critical time marked by the first of the famous correspondences between Albert Einstein and President Roosevelt. Einstein's letter to Roosevelt was written on August 2, 1939. read more...

PIERRE CURIE A week after he and his wife Marie Curie were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in radiation, he sets up a meeting with the Dean of the Science Department at the Sorbonne; he was only 47 when he was killed in a traffic accident three years later. ALS: "P. Curie", 1p, 4½x5½. Paris, Friday (1903 December 18). In French, fully translated. Paris Express Letter postmarked Paris, December 18, 1903 to Paul Appel. Addressed by Curie to: "Mr. Appel, Dean of the Faculty of the Sciences, Sorbonne". "Sorbonne" has been crossed out and "17 rue Bonaparte" is added in another hand. In full: "I have just seen Mr. Brusson and I have arranged a meeting for Monday morning at 11:00 at his house 29 rue Lauriston. If this time is convenient to you, I will come and pick you up by car Monday morning at 10:15 at the Sorbonne or at your house if you prefer." On verso, where the address, printed stamp and postmarks appear, Curie has penned his name and return address: "Curie/108 Rd Kellerman" read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN. TLS: "A.E.", 1p, 8x9½. Le Coq-sur-mer, 1933 May 4. To L.M. Ettlinger, Brussels. In German, with translation. In full: "I shall be very pleased to see you Saturday, the 6. May in the Fondation Universitaire, rue d'Egmont 11 in Brussels between four-thirty and five o'clock in the afternoon.-By the way I already initiated steps, some weeks ago, on behalf of Mr. Lasareff to get his German visa". Albert Einstein (1879-1955) developed the theories used to build models of the universe. Einstein's first major contribution, the "Special Theory of Relativity", was published in 1905. The "General Theory of Relativity" followed in 1916. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". Written from his temporary home on the Belgian coast less than five weeks after Einstein renounced his German citizenship and resigned from the Prussian Academy of Sciences. When Hitler came to power in January 1933, Einstein's property was seized and a price put on his head. His books were among those burned publicly on May 10, 1933, six days after this letter was written. read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN Handwritten statement in German [translated here] to the Pacifist Students of Southern California, supporting their cause: "I am rather convinced that the pacifistic activities of student youth are of great importance." He refers the students to a recent speech on the topic. Autograph Statement signed: "A.E." in pencil, 1p, 8½x11. No place, no date. "To the Pacifist Students of Southern California". In German, translated in full: "I had already written a short address for your meeting. It has now been pointed out to me that there would be significant problems as a result of my coming to your meeting because I have already turned down several similar invitations. Further, it is not in the sense of the Oberlaender Trust to whom I am indebted for my trip this year to California wishes that the effect of the speech held under its auspices be affected in its effective from more or less similar speeches by me of fairly similar content. I have therefore been forced to decide retroactively to stay away from your presentation. However, please do not think therefore that it is less near to my heart. read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN This typed letter is signed by the physicist and framed in the Gallery of History style to a size of 34x20 Typed Letter Signed: "A. Einstein" in ink. 6½x8½ letter. One page. Letterhead from Knollwood, Saranac Lake, New York. Dated August 1, 1940. Sent to Dr. Alvin Johnson. In Full: "Mr. Hermann Broch has informed me that I may be asked about Professor Karl Feldmann of Leyden(Holland). My knowledge of Professor Feldmann's work, however, is not sufficient to give a valuation of it. I should be grateful if some papers by him would be sent to me. / With the expression of my highest appreciation of your admirable activities". Framed with two plaques and a 7x9 color reprinted painting by Rick Parks to a total size of 34x20. Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was born in Ulm, Germany. When he was a teenager, his family moved throughout Europe due to his father's work. At various times in his life, he held citizenship from Switzerland, the Weimar Republic, and the United States. Most of his ground-breaking work in physics came well before WWII in the form of his special theory of relativity and his studies in the general theory of relativity. read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN He begins an "intellectual refuge" at the time of his and fellow professors' exodus from Hitler's Germany. TLS: "A. Einstein", 1p, 8¼x10¾. Loe Coq-sur-mer, Belgium, 1933 May 2. To Countess Hetta Treuberg, Hotel International, Geneva. In German, translated. In full: "I share fully the views expressed in your letter: Destruction of the entire upper layer by the now fully mobilized masses. (However, how does it stand with the Reichswehr)" The Reichswehr was the German Army. Typed postscript: "Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Speyer." On January 30, 1933, three months before Einstein wrote this letter from Belgium, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. On February 28th, Hitler was granted emergency powers and on March 24th, he was given dictatorial powers by the German Parliament. On April 2, Einstein's bank account of 30,000 marks was confiscated. Between April 4 and May 15, 1933 no less than 164 German professors resigned or were dismissed from their jobs in Germany. On April 12th, Einstein's two stepdaughters left Germany for France. By the time of this letter, Einstein was in Belgium, knowing he would not return to Germany. read more...