Description:

Albert Einstein
various, February 1927 - June 1930
Albert Einstein ALS On Theory of "Relativity" With His Orig. Wheel Sketch On Thermodynamic Energy! Archive, 1927-1930, 5 Pcs, 100+ Words
ALS with original drawing included within archive

A compelling archive with outstanding scientific content! Comprised of German-language correspondence exchanged between Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein (1879-1955), then in Berlin, Germany, and an unidentified physics enthusiast from Lindenthal, Cologne, Germany. Ca. February 1927 - June 1930. Various places. The group consists of an autograph letter signed by Einstein, complete with a hand-drawn sketch of a rotating wheel; and four documents from Einstein's correspondent: two retained autograph letter drafts, a typescript, and a hand-drawn sketch of a similar wheel. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition. Individual condition issues will be mentioned below, but is overall very good. The average size of the papers is 8.5" x 11."

This archive reveals that Einstein's correspondent wrote to the world-famous physicist several times over the course of several years, proposing a thought experiment: how would a wheel exposed to different temperatures and magnetic forces react? Would this experiment demonstrate evidence of Einstein's groundbreaking theory of relativity (here described as "relativity of energy" ["Relativität der Energie"])? Einstein decides no.

Einstein gently but irrevocably refutes his correspondent's claims to relativity, instead asserting that they relate to thermodynamics. He softens his message through humor by including "an amusing analogy" of a tire being heated on one side, and cooled on the other. Einstein did not begrudge a response to his correspondent. Rather, he treated him as an equal whose ideas were deserving of scientific analysis. It is unclear if Einstein's correspondent was a fellow academic or just an amateur physicist.

What is clear is that the correspondent's wheel thought experiment explores such important scientific laws and principles as: thermodynamics (the study of work, heat, and energy); the conservation of energy; the impossibility of perpetual motion; the influence of magnets on heated metal (thermal gradient-induced torque); and Einstein's theory of relativity.

The archive includes:

ALBERT EINSTEIN

1. A 1p autograph letter in German signed by Einstein as "A. Einstein" at center right. March 6, 1927. N.p. but [Berlin, Germany.] Inscribed overall on watermarked paper. Einstein's letter features 114 words total (87 in the body of the letter, 25 in the postscript, and 2 as the captions accompanying the drawing.) The letter contains a handful of contemporaneous overwrites or minor typographical edits. Einstein's hand-drawn sketch shows a rotating tire, with its right side heated and its left side cooled. The drawing measures approximately 3" x 1.125" alone (including the captions.) Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and extra wrinkles, and scattered chipped and discolored edges. Several partially rusted paper clip impressions can be found in the upper left corner. File holes have been skillfully mended. Else near fine, with none of the condition issues notably affecting the text or drawing. 8.625" x 11."

Einstein's March 6, 1927 letter is included in Princeton University's digitized multivolume series, The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Volume 15: "The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, June 1925- May 1927," as Letter 495 E, p. 777-778. (Print-outs are provided for reference.)

Full transcript:

"Sehr geehrter Herr!

Ihr Beispiel ist recht amüsant und macht Ihnen alle Ehre. Es handelt sich aber nicht um eine 'Relativität der Energie', sondern um eine thermodynamische Maschine, welche Wärme in Arbeit verwandelt. Im Wesentlichen hängt es damit zusammen, dass die spezifische Wärme einer magnetisierbaren Substanz vom Magnet-Felde abhängt, in dem sie sich befindet. Es ist dies eine thermodynamisches Analogon dazu, dass die spezifische Wärme (Wärmekapazität) eines Gases von dem auf ihm lastenden Druck abhängt. Das Gasvolumen ist der Magnetisierung thermodynamisch analog.

Mit vorzuglicher Hochachtung

A. Einstein.

P.S. Ein amüsantes Analogon ist folgendes

Abkühlung [EINSTEIN'S DRAWING] Erwärmung

Rad mit thermisch ausdehnbarem Reifen und starren Speichen: Rechts erwarmt links abgekuhlt. Wird durch die Schwere in Drehung erhalten."

Full translation:

"Dear Sir,

Your example is quite amusing and does you credit. However, it's not a case of 'relativity of energy,' but rather a thermodynamic machine that converts heat into work. Essentially, it's related to the fact that the specific heat of a magnetizable substance depends on the magnetic field in which it is located. This is a thermodynamic analogue to the fact that the specific heat (heat capacity) of a gas depends on the pressure exerted on it. Gas volume is thermodynamically analogous to magnetization.

Yours sincerely

A. Einstein.

P.S. An amusing analogy is the following

Cooling [EINSTEIN'S DRAWING] Heating

Wheel with a thermally expandable tire and rigid spokes: Right side heated, left side cooled. Maintained rotating by gravity."

UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENT

2. A 1p retained autograph letter in German from Einstein's correspondent, being a draft with strike-throughs on lines 6-10, dated March 3, 1927. N.p. Expected wear including transmittal folds and wrinkles, with several rusted paper clip impressions at upper left and lower left, else very good. 8.5" x 11."

In this letter addressed to "Professor Dr. A. Einstein," the correspondent asked Einstein to evaluate a thought experiment; Einstein's March 6, 1927 was a direct reply.

3. A 1p retained autograph letter in German from Einstein's correspondent, being a draft with numerous edits including additions, strike-throughs, and rearrangement, dated June 29, 1930. Negligible wear includes flattened wrinkles and slightly chipped edges, with a stain at upper left. 8.625" x 11.125."

The same correspondent begged Einstein's indulgence three years later in evaluating the same subject.

4. A 2pp retained carbon typescript in German entitled "Relativität der Energie" written by Einstein's correspondent. February 12, 1927. Lindenthal, Cologne, Germany. Flattened folds, isolated stains and rusted paper clip impressions, else near fine. 8.5" x 11."

Transcribed in part, followed by an English translation:

"… Eine Erklärung des beschrieben experimentes kann sich aber nur daraus ergeben, dass man animmt, dass die verwandlung von energie in warme abhangig ist von dem bewegungszustamde des bezugskorpers. Wir mussen also sagen dass eine relativitat der energie vorhanden ist. Wenn diese hypothese standhalten soll, muss in zukunft auch eine mathematische erfassung derselben moglich sein; auf welch weise dies geschehen kann, ist noch nicht anzugeben. Vielleicht lasst sich auch eine ausdehnung des begriffs der relativitat der energie herbeifuhren…"

"… However, an explanation of the described experiment can only be achieved by assuming that the conversion of energy into heat depends on the state of motion of the reference body. We must therefore say that a relativity of energy exists. If this hypothesis is to hold up, a mathematical representation of it must be possible in the future; how this can be achieved has not yet been determined. Perhaps an extension of the concept of the relativity of energy can also be achieved…"

5. A 1p hand-drawn sketch of an iron ring ["Eisenring"] upon which a heating source ["Wärmequelle"] and horse shoe magnet ["Hufeisenmagnet"] are deployed. The drawing with its three manuscript inscriptions measures approximately 5.25" x 5.75." Flattened folds, isolated stains and non-rusted paper clip impressions, else near fine. 8.5" x 11."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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    Dimensions:
  • average size: 8.5" x 11"
  • Artist Name:
  • Albert Einstein
  • Medium:
  • ALS with original drawing included within archive<br />

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