A jokey postcard from the Swiss mountains. Einstein writes a verse couplet which suggests that weather conditions for his Alpine holiday may not have been ideal:

'Reich mir Herrn Patris Segen
Viel Hagel, Nebel und Regen'.

Grant me by the Father's blessing
Much hail, fog and rain.

In the same spirit, he annotates various features on the mountain with names such as 'devil', 'daughter', 'Angel Gabriel' and 'mother-in-law'.

1901 was a year in which everything seemed held in suspense for Einstein: he had been granted Swiss citizenship on 21 February, and his first scientific paper was published on 1 March; but he spent much of the rest of the year applying unsuccessfully for jobs, and oscillating between his parental household and his future wife, Mileva Marić. He had however spent the July holiday, as usual, with his mother in Mettmenstetten (outside Zurich), before going walking in the high Alps at Urnerboden.

Post Lot Text
Temporary Admission Regime
This lot has been imported from outside the EU for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime.
Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Shipping Outside the UK
Please note that if this lot is to be shipped outside of the UK an export licence will be required.  A period of 2 weeks should be allowed for the application to be processed.