A rare autographed manuscript by renowned physicist Albert Einstein explaining the development of his famous contributions to science — theories of special relativity (1905) and general relativity (1915) — fetched? 10.7 crore at the recently held Christies ’20th/21st Century Art Evening Sale’. Einstein’s scientific working papers are scarce, and this manuscript offers a unique insight into the evolution of the theory of gravity, explains the auction house.
The manuscript consists of handwritten calculations on yellowing foolscap and squared paper with 26 pages written in Einstein’s writing, 25 in the hands of a collaborator, Max Besso, and three with entries from both scientists. It was composed in June 1913 while Einstein was living in Zurich. It showcased a crucial stage of his research into the relationship between gravitation and the curvature of spacetime that underlies the orbit of Mercury, according to Christie.
While the precise scientific connection of many of the calculations still needs to be clarified, they are part of the scientist’s efforts to formulate a Unified Field Theory that would link all forces in nature, including electromagnetism and gravity. Einstein’s attempts at a unified theory continued throughout his life, but he never reached a satisfactory conclusion.
The ‘Einstein-Besso manuscript’ is the most valuable document penned by the great scientist to ever come to auction. Einstein was famous for destroying his working papers once they had appeared in book or manuscript form, so it is a near-miracle that this one survived. The human touches of the manuscript, from the rough scrubbed-out mistakes to the right-leaning writing, offer an exciting glimpse into the man behind the theory.
Unlike the two record-breakers, this manuscript is a scientific working paper and, therefore, extremely rare. It also offers a unique insight into the evolution of Einstein’s theories of gravity, which revolutionized our understanding of the universe. It was published in November 1915 and became the cornerstone of modern physics, along with his theory of E=mc2.
Einstein died in 1955 at 76 and has long been the icon of scientific genius and an international symbol of good humor, sincerity, kindness, and pacifism. This latest milestone underscores how deeply his legacy has touched the world a century after his death.
This item has been pre-certified by a reputable third-party authentication service and is guaranteed genuine. A full certificate can be obtained upon request.
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This sale is a part of the auction event of the same name, scheduled for October 13-14 at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai. For more information about the event, visit our auction page.
This is a non-transferable, non-refundable deposit. The purchase price balance is due within seven days of the close of the auction.
The winning bidder will be responsible for paying a 20% buyer’s premium in addition to the hammer price.
