Buyers from within the EU: VAT payable at 17.5% o… Read more
EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955). Autograph letter signed ('Albert') to his first wife, Mileva, n.p., 15 May 1915, and autograph postcard signed ('Papa') to his eldest son, Hans Albert, [postmarked Berlin, 23 November 1915], together 2½ pages, 8vo (postcard evenly browned).

Details
EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955). Autograph letter signed ('Albert') to his first wife, Mileva, n.p., 15 May 1915, and autograph postcard signed ('Papa') to his eldest son, Hans Albert, [postmarked Berlin, 23 November 1915], together 2½ pages, 8vo (postcard evenly browned).

THE TENSION OF DIVORCE NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE PROMISE OF A HOLIDAY Einstein opens the letter in a fractious mood, insisting that a bank deposit in Prague should be transferred in his own name for investment for the children, 'and I am persuaded that this is the surest way of putting the money to the children's benefit [und bin überzeugt, dass die Summe so am sichersten den Kindern zu gute kommt]', adding a barbed comment on his wife's financial mismanagement, 'Bevor Du in dieser Sache Dein Schuldigkeit gethan hast, werde ich Dir nichts mehr senden'. The letter concludes with an impatient request for news as to when his holiday with Hans Albert can take place, and the postcard to Hans Albert goes on to discuss the arrangements for a holiday tour between Winterthur and Krummenau (where they would see Michele Besso) which he is very much looking forward to after a period of hard work ('Ich freue mich sehr darauf, zumal ich in der letzten Zeit furchtbar gearbeitet habe'); he asks Hans Albert to fix the date quickly, as it is not easy to organise such journeys during the war, and reproves him for being 'almost as lazy a letter-writer as your father [Du bist ja fast so faul im Schreiben wie Dein alter Vater]'. (2)
Special notice
Buyers from within the EU: VAT payable at 17.5% on just the buyer's premium (NOT the hammer price) Buyers from outside the EU: VAT payable at 17.5% on hammer price and buyer's premium. If a buyer, having registered under a non-EU address, decides that an item is not to be exported from the EU, then he/she should advise Christie's to this effect immediately.

More from Valuable Manuscripts and Printed Books

View All
View All