47. Einstein, Albert. Autograph letter signed (“Papa”), 1.5 pages (8.5 x 11 in.; 216 x 279 mm.), front and back, written to his son Hans Albert, [postmarked Saranac Lake, New York, 2 September 1945]. Einstein’s younger sister, Maria (Maja) Winteler-Einstein, has written a note on the remaining half-page concerning her upcoming travel plans. With original transmittal envelope. Usual folds with minor soiling.

Less than a month following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Einstein discusses the connection between his Special Relativity Theory and the Atomic Bomb, advises his son on patent law regarding a machine Hans Albert has developed and mentions progress on his “holy grail” Unified Field Theory, stating he is “probably too old to develop it into tangible results.”

Einstein writes in part:
Dear Albert, My scientific work is only very indirectly connected to the atomic bomb. I already showed 39 years ago that pursuant to the special relativity theory, there is an equivalence between the mass and energy of a system or that both are only different manifestations of the same thing. I also noted that the energies released in radioactive decay are big enough to express themselves in an inaccuracy of the mass balance of radioactive reactions. That’s all.

Einstein goes on to advise his son regarding a machine Albert has invented, in part:…I showed your model to Mr. Bucky when he was visiting recently. He liked it very much. He expressed concern that there might be patent issues…If you send me the documents I will get in touch with the [patent] attorney [in New York] and cover the cost…

Commenting on Albert’s intention of becoming involved with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, Einstein writes, in part: …What I’ve heard is that the status of this organization is precarious and that people are talking about corruption...One day the cover of this whole racket will be blown like so many other things, by a stroke of a feather of one of the brainless people in power who are controlling this best of all worlds. Just be patient and deal with your current miseries…at some point you will be in a more independent position in soil conservation, the significance of which can only grow in the future…

In closing, Einstein references his continuing work on a Unified Field Theory – his quest for a way to combine gravity and electromagnetism into a single, elegant theory: I have made again great progress and I’m convinced that I latched onto to the right puzzle piece for future developments, but I am probably too old to develop it into tangible results. But that changes nothing in my satisfaction.
Best wishes to all of you. Yours, Papa.
$30,000 - $50,000

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