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- This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods LtdChristie Manson & Woods Ltd
8 King Street, St. James's, London, SW1Y 6QT, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2869
Lot Essay
'On the track of the riddle of electricity': on his grandchildren, his vanished youth, continuing work and the mass misfortune brought on by the Nazi catastrophe.
Einstein has spent a few happy days on the bay [at Peconic] with his son Hans Albert and his family: 'I have at last seen my grandkids in natura and heard them chirruping. The elder is reserved and closed in on himself, the younger droll and patient like a grandson of Sancho Panza'. Hans Albert is beginning his new post [studying sediment transport at the US Department of Agriculture] on 1 July: 'If it weren't for the newspapers, one could be harmlessly cheery'. He has had news from some childhood friends, 'a ray of vanished youth. I absolutely cannot conceive that they too have become old and portly as I have myself. But the water, my sailing boat and mathematics have stayed young, and Mozart too'.
His work is going well: 'I have the feeling that I am on the track of the riddle of electricity. I will only be able to say in a few months' time whether it is really so'. He is happy to hear that Maja and Paul have made the acquaintance of Alfred Einstein, the famous musicologist, and his family: 'Das sind ganz besonders famose Menschen'. He has 'a sort of wandering office with Miss Dukas. We try lots of things and sometimes succeed in something. But one feels paralysed in the face of mass misfortune. One wonders that people still have the courage to bring children into the world. Nature is a thousand times preferable: she is hard, but eternally guiltless'. A postscript enquires after a member of the Winteler family.
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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.
Einstein has spent a few happy days on the bay [at Peconic] with his son Hans Albert and his family: 'I have at last seen my grandkids in natura and heard them chirruping. The elder is reserved and closed in on himself, the younger droll and patient like a grandson of Sancho Panza'. Hans Albert is beginning his new post [studying sediment transport at the US Department of Agriculture] on 1 July: 'If it weren't for the newspapers, one could be harmlessly cheery'. He has had news from some childhood friends, 'a ray of vanished youth. I absolutely cannot conceive that they too have become old and portly as I have myself. But the water, my sailing boat and mathematics have stayed young, and Mozart too'.
His work is going well: 'I have the feeling that I am on the track of the riddle of electricity. I will only be able to say in a few months' time whether it is really so'. He is happy to hear that Maja and Paul have made the acquaintance of Alfred Einstein, the famous musicologist, and his family: 'Das sind ganz besonders famose Menschen'. He has 'a sort of wandering office with Miss Dukas. We try lots of things and sometimes succeed in something. But one feels paralysed in the face of mass misfortune. One wonders that people still have the courage to bring children into the world. Nature is a thousand times preferable: she is hard, but eternally guiltless'. A postscript enquires after a member of the Winteler family.
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.
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Lot 67
Sale 16447
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Peconic, Long Island, June 1938
'On the track of the riddle of electricity'
Estimate: GBP 2,500 - 3,500
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.
Lot 67
Sale 16447
Peconic, Long Island, June 1938
'On the track of the riddle of electricity'
Estimate: GBP 2,500 - 3,500
Bid amount
Buyer's premium
Estimated total cost exclusive of duties