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les collections aristophil
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EINSTEIN ALBERT
(1879-1955).
L.A.S. « Dein Papa », 11 juillet 1948, à son fils aîné, Hans Albert
EINSTEIN ; 1 page et demie in-4 ; en allemand.
5 000 / 6 000 €
Sur la mort prochaine de sa première femme.
[Émigré aux États-Unis en 1938, Hans Albert Einstein était depuis
1947 membre de la faculté de l’Université de Californie à Berkeley.
La première femme d’Einstein Mileva Marić (1875-1948), la mère de ses
enfants, était sur le point de mourir ; elle décédera à Zürich le 4 août.]
Si Albert insiste pour aller à Zürich, Einstein paiera le voyage, comme
promis. Mais il n’aime pas cette idée, en dehors du fait que ses
ressources financières ont été atteintes par le taux de change et la
maladie coûteuse de sa sœur. Ce sera un choc pour la mère de revoir
son fils, dans son état actuel, et encore plus, de le voir repartir. Il y
a des hypothèques sur la maison, là-bas (environ 55 000 francs),
au nom d’Einstein, mais qui, moralement parlant, appartiennent à la
mère. Il est scandaleux qu’il ait été impossible d’obtenir un relevé des
intérêts : il est donc impossible de calculer et d’acquitter le prétendu
impôt sur les bénéfices. Il pense, d’après ce que lui a écrit le Dr Meili,
que les choses devraient s’améliorer, mais envisage les dispositions
à prendre en cas de décès… Quant à son voyage à Prague, c’est un
mensonge journalistique à tendance politique… Dans le post-scriptum,
il évoque son fils Eduard, schizophrène, interné dans un asile à Zürich,
et les fonds pour son entretien…
EINSTEIN ALBERT
(1879-1955).
Signed autograph letter, signed « Dein Papa », 11 July 1948,
to his eldest son Hans Albert EINSTEIN; 1 page and a half,
in-4 format; in German.
5 000 / 6 000 €
On the upcoming death of Einstein’s first wife Mileva Maric.
Letter to his eider son, Hans Albert, discouraging him from visiting his
mother on her deathbed. If Hans Albert insists on going to Zurich to see
his mother, who is mortally ill after a fall, Einstein will, as promised, fund
the trip, although, quite apart from the fact that his financial resources
have been hit by both the currency situation and his sister’s expensive
illness, he doesn’t like the idea. In part (translated): “If you absolutely
want to go to Zurich, I will make it possible for you, as I promised you.
I don’t like it though, apart from the fact, that my own financial situation
has...deteriorated as a result of the money devaluation and the expensive
illness of my sister...It will be a shock if your mother sees you again
in this condition—and more so your departure....There are mortgages
on the house there (about 55,000 francs), which are in my name, but
which morally speaking are your mother’s property...Scandalously, it
was impossible to obtain any statement of the proceeds, so that we
are not in the position here to calculate and settle the so-called ‘profit
tax.’...It is a journalistic sham with political tendencies.”
Einstein’s wife, Mileva Maric, was near death as Hans Albert expressed
his desire to see his mother one last time. The reluctant Einstein pledges
to finance the trip—but makes clear the financial hardship it would
place upon him. Though trying to soften the blow by imploring his
son to think of his mother and the effect it would have on her to be
seen in such a weakened state—and then to cope with his leaving her
side—Einstein quickly turns his message to finances, and his concern
over existing mortgages. In his post-scriptum, Einstein discusses
Eduard, diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the cost of his care.
Mileva Maric died on August 4, 1948. A death announcement published
in a Zurich newspaper was signed by her two grieving sons, Hans
Albert and Eduard—but not Albert Einstein.