EINSTEIN, ALBERT | Autograph letter signed, one side addressed to wife Mileva Maric, the other to his sons Hans Albert and Eduard, 5 December, 1919.

EINSTEIN, ALBERT

Autograph letter signed, one side addressed to wife Mileva Maric, the other to his sons Hans Albert and Eduard, 5 December, 1919.

2 pages on single sheet (277 x 225 mm), signed "Albert" and "Papa", in German, black ink. creases where previously folded. 

An excellent letter to Einstein's ex-wife and their two young sons, on one side to Mileva, concerning their recent divorce and their children, and on the other, to Hans Albert and Eduard, discussing both his education and theirs. Einstein and Mileva divorced in 1919 after five years of separation, and clearly dealt with the same issues modern divorced parents do, of custody and child support arrangements. A fascinating letter giving us a glimpse into the very human side of one of the 20th century's greatest minds. 

Translated in part:

To Mileva: "It seems that we are condemned to a kind of gypsy-life. Under the present circumstances I can understand you very well. So we will postpone, for the time being, the issue of moving house for half a year. Time will bring an answer. You will immediately receive 4000 DM from Mr. Karr… I also prefer, of course, that Albert will not have to change schools. Completing school as soon as possible is not a good enough reason. He should, by all means, get his education as long as he is still of an educable age and should not think of a profession too soon. I suppose that he will study a technical profession. He shall have all the time just as I did.”

To Hans Albert and Eduard:: “I don't believe that the propeller should be more at a slant. If it does not have much effect it is, in my opinion, a problem with the engine. One cannot calculate something like that because during the start-up (rest versus air) the prevailing conditions are quite different from those in the course of flight.” He continues that he is "pleased that you are taking lessons from Amberg. He is a very sympathetic man... He was an assistant to Hurwitz when I was a fledgling student; at that time I was tested by him in the Repetitozimmer. He was then quite young. Seiler was also an assistant in the Physics building when I was a student. I liked him less.” 

REFERENCES

Diana Kormos Buchwald, Robert Schulmann, Jozsef Illy, Daniel J. Kennefick, & Tilman Sauer, Eds. The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein. Volume 9: The Berlin Years: Correspondence January 1919-April 1920, 190 & 191

PROVENANCE

RR Auction, 2017