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Rediscovered Albert Einstein letters sell for more than £7,000 at auction Rediscovered Albert Einstein letters sell for more than £7,000 at auction
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Four previously undiscovered letters written by Albert Einstein have sold at auction for more than £7,000.Four previously undiscovered letters written by Albert Einstein have sold at auction for more than £7,000.
The Nobel prize-winner wrote the letters to the socialist philosopher Corliss Lamont, who was accused by Senator Joseph McCarthy of being "un-American" for his suggestions that the US should maintain a relationship with the Soviet Union. The Nobel prizewinner wrote the letters to the socialist philosopher Corliss Lamont, who was accused by the senator Joseph McCarthy of being "un-American" for his suggestions that the US should maintain a relationship with the Soviet Union.
Lamont, who was chairman of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, was cited for contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions at McCarthy's subcommittee in September 1953. Lamont, who was chairman of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, was cited for contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions at McCarthy's sub-committee in September 1953.
The four previously undiscovered letters, which were found in a yard sale, sold for a total of £7,688.70, including buyer's premium, said the Guernsey-based PFC Auctions. They had been expected to fetch £3,200. The four previously undiscovered letters, which were found in a yard sale, were sold to three separate bidders for a total of £7,688.70, including buyer's premium, said the Guernsey-based PFC Auctions. They had been expected to fetch £3,200.
In the first of the letters, dated 2 January 1954, the scientist told Lamont he had "rendered the country an important service".In the first of the letters, dated 2 January 1954, the scientist told Lamont he had "rendered the country an important service".
Einstein, who had settled in the US in the 1930s, said: "There is one point in your statement which I regretted. Einstein, who had settled in the US in the 1930s, said: "There is one point in your statement which I regretted. It is your declaration that you have never been a member of the Communist party. For party membership is a thing about which no citizen has any obligation to give an accounting for."
"It is your declaration that you have never been a member of the Communist party. For party membership is a thing about which no citizen has any obligation to give an accounting for."
The typed letter, on embossed headed paper from 112 Mercer Street, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, is signed "A Einstein" in black ink.The typed letter, on embossed headed paper from 112 Mercer Street, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, is signed "A Einstein" in black ink.
In a reply on 25 January, Lamont said he was preparing a pamphlet entitled Challenge to McCarthy, and asked to include a letter from Einstein to the high school teacher William Frauenglass, who was under investigation by the Senate internal security sub-committee.In a reply on 25 January, Lamont said he was preparing a pamphlet entitled Challenge to McCarthy, and asked to include a letter from Einstein to the high school teacher William Frauenglass, who was under investigation by the Senate internal security sub-committee.
On 26 January 1954, Einstein sent a copy of the letter, which had appeared in the New York Times in June 1953, in which he told Frauenglass: "Every intellectual who is called before one of the committees ought to refuse to testify, he must be prepared for jail and economic ruin, in short, for the sacrifice of his personal welfare in the interest of the cultural welfare of this country."On 26 January 1954, Einstein sent a copy of the letter, which had appeared in the New York Times in June 1953, in which he told Frauenglass: "Every intellectual who is called before one of the committees ought to refuse to testify, he must be prepared for jail and economic ruin, in short, for the sacrifice of his personal welfare in the interest of the cultural welfare of this country."
In his letter to Lamont, Einstein lamented that "a somewhat mutilated version" of the letter had appeared in the New York Times.In his letter to Lamont, Einstein lamented that "a somewhat mutilated version" of the letter had appeared in the New York Times.
Lamont later sent him his pamphlet and on 23 February Einstein told him: "I shall be glad to see you at my house to talk things over."Lamont later sent him his pamphlet and on 23 February Einstein told him: "I shall be glad to see you at my house to talk things over."
In a fourth letter to Lamont, dated 16 October 1954, the physicist thanked him for a donation of money for "such an important cause".In a fourth letter to Lamont, dated 16 October 1954, the physicist thanked him for a donation of money for "such an important cause".
He said: "In my opinion such an undertaking should be the rallying point for all those who are willing to protect the civil rights – as far as this is still possible under the prevailing circumstances – against infringement and assault by the authorities.He said: "In my opinion such an undertaking should be the rallying point for all those who are willing to protect the civil rights – as far as this is still possible under the prevailing circumstances – against infringement and assault by the authorities.
"This can be successful only if a number of known and respected citizens are willing to participate actively and to assume common responsibility for the use of the funds."This can be successful only if a number of known and respected citizens are willing to participate actively and to assume common responsibility for the use of the funds.
"There should not be one man's rule. Only in this way can such an enterprise have a salutary political effect.""There should not be one man's rule. Only in this way can such an enterprise have a salutary political effect."
The letters were sold to three separate bidders, a PFC Auctions spokesman said – one to a buyer in the United States, two to a UK buyer, and one to a bidder from Guernsey. One of the letters was sold to a buyer in the United States, two to a UK buyer, and one to a bidder from Guernsey, a PFC Auctions spokesman said.