March 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, March 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/30/2017
Albert Einstein letter signed with his hand drawings, elegantly explaining his electrostatic theory of special relativity to a physics teacher struggling to reconcile it with experiments he was conducting. In addition to the letter, which is new to the market, Einstein generously replies to a series of questions the teacher asks him on a questionnaire, providing additional drawings and calculations, initialed ''A.E.'' at the conclusion. Dated 4 September 1953 on Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study letterhead, Einstein writes to Arthur L. Converse, the teacher from Malcolm, Iowa, in part, ''There is no difficulty to explain your present experiment on the basis of the usual electrostatic theory. One has only to assume that there is a difference of potential between the body of the earth and higher layers of the atmosphere, the earth being negative relatively to those higher layers...[Einstein then draws Earth and the atmosphere, referring to it for clarification] The electric potential p rises linearly with the distance h from the surface of the earth...For all your experiments the following question is relevant: How big is the electric charge produced on a conductor which is situated in a certain height h, this body being connected with the earth...'' Einstein then answers Converse's questions on a two-page questionnaire. In one answer, Einstein seems to disagree with the question, providing both a diagram and mathematical equation and then a ''?'' to try to aid understanding. He later writes ''not clear'' to one answer along with a question mark and additional diagram with the notation ''charge of elektroscope increased proportional to h''. An extraordinary lot by Einstein showing the generosity of his time, with rare content on his theory of special relativity. Single page letter and two-page questionnaire each measures 8.5'' x 11''. Also included is Einstein's original mailing envelope from ''Room 115'' of the Institute for Advanced Study, postmarked 7 September 1953 from Princeton. Folds and very light toning to letter, otherwise near fine. Questionnaire has folds, light toning and staple mark, otherwise near fine with bold handwriting by Einstein. With an LOA from the nephew of Arthur Converse and new to the market.
Remarkable Letter Signed by Albert Einstein, Along With His Initialed Drawings -- Explaining the Science Behind His Groundbreaking Work on Electrostatic Theory and Special Relativity
Click above for larger image.