August 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, August 27th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2020
Interesting letter signed by Elsa Einstein, dated 8 May 1934 with content on Albert Einstein's love of sailing. Elsa writes to her cousin Erich about a possible trip to Nantucket and Cape Cod, before ultimately rejecting the idea due to the dangerous sailing conditions there, as Albert ''wants to be independent and splash around on his own.'' With much more content on Albert's sailing passion, letter reads,
''Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful gesture of sending us the map and providing information concerning our planned stay in the countryside. We have traveled to Nantuket [sic] in our mind's eye many times. But we always abandoned the idea because Albert's sailing would be too dangerous there. After all, Albert will contemplate everything from the sailing point of view. For him, the entire stay in the country means an endless sailing trip. Going to Nantuket [sic] island would be very nice, and to Cape Code [sic] even nicer. But sailing is a bit more dangerous there than at the place, where we will be forced to go. A great many people do sail there, but all of them have somewhat larger boats and usually take a boatswain along. He categorically refuses this, he wants to be independent and splash around on his own. In Natuket [sic] island and Cape Code [sic], he would be able to do a lot less of that than on Long Island. Last Sunday we were in Greenport on Long Island. I did not like it; I am certain that it will be sunny and oppressively hot. But it is supposed to be simply ideal for sailing. There is a gigantic bay there, calm and gentle water, and no cliffs, nothing that is particularly dangerous in this regard. So it will have to be some kind of jerkwater town like it on Long Island, and we cannot go where it is beautiful and cool, because either it will be on the open sea or something else there would make sailing dangerous. The problem would be solved if he took a larger more solid boat. But since he will not do that, I will have to thank God if he chooses a relatively cool place by the water...Unfortunately I hear very little - and nothing good - from Ilse and Margot. My life would be easier if I had them here with me...[signed] Elsa''.
Elsa's daughters, Ilse and Margot, were still in Europe at this time, and Ilse would die of cancer two months after this letter was written, in July 1934. Single page letter measures 8.5'' x 11''. Shallow folds, overall near fine condition. With full translation from the original German.
Elsa Einstein Letter Signed From 1934, With Copious Content on Albert Einstein's Love of Sailing -- ''...Albert will contemplate everything from the sailing point of view...''
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