Extraordinary handwritten mathematical expressions and notes in
Einstein’s hand on both sides of an off-white 8.5 x 11 sheet of New
York’s Hotel Commodore letterhead, no date, but likely 1921. On the
front of the sheet, side, he pens ten lines of notes in German regarding
the purchase of a boat, listing five Berlin residents advertising boats
for sale along with their prices, in full (translated): “Mrs.
Lippert—German Workshop for Leather industry—Noll 1436. How much does
the boat cost? Length, surface of the sail, how many sails? How many
persons? Kurfürst 8143 Price? Amount of sails and surfaces. Name?
Weight-bearing capacity? Kreutner, Hannoversche Strasse 2, Berlin N.W.O.
Price 16500. Letter regarding inspection / Karl Weber, Price 15000,
Grünstrasse 16, Berlin—letter regarding inspection / J. Padschadel,
Jasmundstrasse 8—letter regarding inspection, price 15000, 22 square
meters surface of sail.” On the reverse of the sheet, Einstein pens a
series of seven mathematical expressions. Intersecting folds, light
scattered creases, and slight foxing, otherwise fine condition; the
mathematical side of the sheet also bears an ink notation in an unknown
hand.
In 1921, Einstein received a celebrity’s welcome when he
arrived in New York for his first visit to the United States. Staying at
the Hotel Commodore, he gave three weeks of lectures and attended
countless receptions in his honor before moving on in his travels.
Passionate about sailing since his university days, embracing the
solitude and simplicity of being at sea, the jet-setting physicist now
had his sights set on buying a boat of his own upon his return to
Germany; making a list of sellers in Berlin, he questions prices, sail
sizes and numbers, weight-bearing capacities, etc. Eight years later, in
honor of his 50th birthday, he was given a custom-made ship, which he
held as one of his most prized possessions: when asked in 1933 if he
would renounce other loyalties to be an American citizen (which he had
just become), he cheerfully replied that he ‘would even renounce [his]
cherished sailboat’ if necessary. With the wonderful sailing association
on one side and always-sought-after equations on the other, this is a
highly desirable piece from the legendary physicist. Pre-certified John
Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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