EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955). Draft autograph letter signed ("A. Einstein") to the Reichsdruckerei (German National Printing House), Berlin, 20 February 1925. The verso bearing autograph equations and calculations related to his article, "Quantentheorie d

Los 136
05.02.2026 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
VeranstaltungsortVereinigtes Königreich, London
Aufgeldsee on Website%
ID 1540385
Los 136 | EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955). Draft autograph letter signed ("A. Einstein") to the Reichsdruckerei (German National Printing House), Berlin, 20 February 1925. The verso bearing autograph equations and calculations related to his article, "Quantentheorie d
Schätzwert
$ 10 000 – 15 000
EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955). Draft autograph letter signed ("A. Einstein") to the Reichsdruckerei (German National Printing House), Berlin, 20 February 1925. The verso bearing autograph equations and calculations related to his article, "Quantentheorie des Idealen Gases," published in 1925.

In German. One page, 280 x 218mm (pinholes along heavy creases, scattered soiling an occasional foxing).

An unsent letter, which calculations on verso, to the printing house which published the transactions of the Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften, where many of Einstein's most important papers of this period appeared, Einstein writes: "Enclosed is that which you desired [a set of corrected proofs?]! I missed the corrections as it arrived during my absence. One other work of mine is being printed, for which I wish to receive the proofs as soon as possible, because I will be travelling from the beginning of March for three months. I would like to take the opportunity to observe that the slowness with which the Academy's Transactions [Akademie Abhandlungen] are printed at present is almost unbearable. I am seriously considering complaining to the Academy, if the situation does not improve..."

The text of the letter has been neatly lined through by Einstein with diagonal strokes, which may indicate that the letter was a draft, or that he had decided not to send it. In any case, he apparently made use of the blank verso for some of his theoretical investigations, as that page includes complex equations and explanatory notes in Einstein's hand. The sheet is headed "With respect to the movement equation of a small particles" followed by a series of equations. Beneath, he notes, "from this follows in regard to the movement equation of small particles," followed by two additional equations. At the bottom is a long note in reference to a Greek character, which functions, he writes, "as a constant because of the condition that the distribution in the thermodynamic equilibrium of an isotope should be...depicted in that form...." The equations relate to the article "Quantentheorie des Idealen Gasess," Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Phys-math. Klasse, Sitzungsberichte, 1925, pp.18-25.
Adresse der Versteigerung CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
Vereinigtes Königreich
Vorschau
22.01.2026 – 05.02.2026
Telefon +44 (0)20 7839 9060
E-Mail
Aufgeld see on Website
NutzungsbedingungenNutzungsbedingungen