'Scientifically I am having a wonderful time': on his scientific achievements, the loss of his letters, a new popular book, and family difficulties.

'Scientifically I am having a wonderful time; it is astonishing that sometimes something can still sprout in an old brain. It's the culmination of something which has been prepared through the work of years and has come to fruition. It makes one doubly happy at a time which otherwise appears so bleak. One works in remembrance of the timeless ones, who are scattered over the centuries [Man schafft im Gedanken an die Zeitlosen, die über die Jahrhunderte zerstreut sind]'.

Einstein has been writing to Maja uncharacteristically frequently, yet all his letters seem to have gone astray: 'There must be some sort of worm which is munching the letters'. From now on, they will send them by registered post. Maja and Paul have been enjoying The Evolution of Physics, the book on popular science which Einstein had written with his assistant, Leopold Infeld: 'It owes its existence to the financial difficulties of a gifted young colleague from Poland (Infeld). We took a lot of trouble about it'. Maja also wrote about a possible new treatment for his younger son Eduard [who suffered from schizophrenia]: Einstein prefers to consult a scientific colleague about this first, 'as there is so much fraud in this area, which is solidly based on the neediness of wretched people'.

As regards the ongoing financial difficulties of his first wife, Mileva, he refuses point-blank to pour any more funds into helping her: 'It would anyway be much better if she lost the house and went to Yugoslavia. There the small rents which she will also receive after my death will be worth significantly more than expensive Switzerland, and living costs there are cheap'. In any case, his small savings must be carefully husbanded, in view of the number of people who depend on him. His son Hans Albert also needed support in order to establish a footing in America, 'but it was worth it', as his future, and that of his children, is now assured. 'Kläusli [the younger of Einstein's two grandsons] is exceptionally cute, and has an open, happy disposition ... The elder child [Bernhard] seems somewhat more problematic. Hopefully he has received no bad inheritance on his life's journey' [Einstein had always been convinced that both his first wife, Mileva, and Hans Albert's wife, Frieda, had a bad genetic input]. Frieda herself has just been to stay: he describes her as 'smart but selfish ... She left behind a real pig-sty'. But, as he grudgingly acknowledges, 'the most important thing is that [Hans] Albert is happy with her – a real wonder'.

Sadly, Einstein's 'exceptionally cute' grandson Klaus was to die of diphtheria at the age of six, only six months after the present letter.
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.