Lot 408

Einstein: “My life is a simple thing that would interest no one…” Einstein Signed Article, His 1st U.S. Interview, With Important Mathematical Philosophy Content!

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Einstein: “My life is a simple thing that would interest no one…” Einstein Signed Article, His 1st U.S. Interview, With Important Mathematical Philosophy Content!

Estimate: $10,000 - $12,000

Current Bid: $3,000

(1 Bid)

January 29, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Albert Einstein
[Princeton, NJ], ca. March 26-27-April 13, 1935
Einstein: "My life is a simple thing that would interest no one…" Einstein Signed Article, His 1st U.S. Interview, With Important Mathematical Philosophy Content!
DS
A printed newspaper article, almost certainly a printer's proof with authorial revisions, of a young student's exclusive interview with Albert Einstein – the first U.S. interview Einstein granted after his 1933 emigration to America. Signed by Albert Einstein (1879-1955) as "A. Einstein" along the lower margin. Ca. March 26-27-April 13, 1935. [Princeton, New Jersey.] The two-column article eventually published in the Princeton High School's newspaper "The Tower" on April 13, 1935 featured an exclusive interview with Princeton's most acclaimed resident, Albert Einstein, obtained by high school senior and journalism student Henry "Hank" A. Rosso. The article employed a revised working headline as: "Nature Is In Principle a Simple Structure It Is My Creed, Declares Einstein." Pen-inscribed "Interview with Dr. Einstein / March 26 and 27, 1935" verso at top. Rosso has made several typographical corrections to the article, mainly affecting the headline (he crosses through "If" and "a Mathematical Fact" and adds an "e" at the end of "Structure" and a "n" at the end of "Einstein.") Expected wear including minor to moderate toning. Isolated discolored spots located near the edges and minor ink bleed-through. Isolated minor chipped edges, and old tape traces at the edges. Else very good. 5.75" x 6.875." Provenance: Henry A. Rosso, by descent.

The background story of Rosso's quest to land Einstein's interview is exceptionally entertaining, and will be elaborated below. In brief, the 17-year-old high school reporter was able to obtain what no adult reporters had previously succeeded in doing: Einstein's first interview conducted stateside since his emigration in 1933.

Rosso's article reads in part:

"'Even nature is simple if we happen to look at it in the appropriate manner', stated Dr. Einstein to a TOWER reporter who, after numerous vain attempts at attaining an audience with the professor, was finally admitted to his presence.

At first Dr. Einstein was rather hesitant in granting an interview but after a pleasant conversation he talked freely of his profession. The preliminary conversation revealed a great deal of his character; he is not austere and cold to strangers but pleasing and friendly and has a wonderful sense of humor. When asked about his life he laughed in a jovial manner and said: 'My life is a simple thing that would interest no one'.

About the question of birth: 'It is a known fact that I was born and that is all that is necessary'. Again he laughed heartily.

Dr. Einstein's interest, as it is known, is founded in the field of Mathematics. He began an interesting discourse about his experience with the subject. 'In my first acquaintance with Mathematics I had the experience to find out by reason the meaning of relation. It was for me wholly different from any other thing in life. It seemed to me a revelation of the highest author and I will never forget it. Later on I discovered that nature was constructed in a wonderful way and our task is to find out the mathematical structure of nature itself. Even nature is simple if we happen to look at it in the appropriate manner. Then if nature is really in principle a simple structure, it is a mathematical fact.

This I have discovered and it is my own belief; but it is not the belief of other investigators. It is a kind of faith that helped me through my whole life not to become hopeless in the great difficulties of investigation.'"

Princeton native Henry "Hank" A. Rosso (1917-1999) was able to get the scoop with a little determination and ingenuity. Walter Isaacson, in his wonderful biography "Einstein: His Life and Universe" (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007), describes the lengths to which Rosso went to get the interview. (Contrary to newspaper reports, Rosso was 17 at the time, not 15.)

"He also helped a 15-year-old boy at Princeton High School, Henry Rosso, who was doing poorly in a journalism course. His teacher had offered an A to anyone who scored an interview with Einstein, so Rosso showed up at Mercer Street but was rebuffed at the door. As he was slinking away, the milkman gave him a tip: Einstein could be found walking a certain route every morning at 9:30. So Rosso snuck out of school one day, positioned himself accordingly, and was able to accost Einstein as he wandered by. [Einstein's home at 112 Mercer Street was 1.4 miles away from Princeton High School, whose campus after 1929 was located at 151 Moore Street in Princeton, New Jersey. Einstein took daily walks to Princeton University campus, located about the same distance away to the east.]

Rosso was so flummoxed that he did not know what to ask, which may have been why he was doing poorly in the course. Einstein took pity on him and suggested questions. No personal topics, he insisted. Ask about math instead. Rosso was smart enough to follow his advice. 'I discovered that nature was constructed in a wonderful way, and our task is to find out the mathematical structure of nature itself,' Einstein explained of his own education at age 15. 'It is a kind of faith that helped me through my whole life.'

The interview earned Rosso an A. But it also caused him a bit of dismay. He had promised Einstein that it would only be used in the school paper, but without his permission it got picked up by the Trenton newspaper and then others around the world, which provided yet another lesson in journalism…" (Isaacson, "Einstein", pp 440-441).

Indeed, despite the copyright disclaimer prominently located at the top of Rosso's article, the scarce and valuable Einstein interview was almost immediately hijacked by national newspapers, like the "Sunday Times-Democrat" published in Okmulgee, Oklahoma (April 14, 1935, "Simple As That! Lad, 15, Explains Einstein's Theory"); and "The Tennessean" published in Nashville, Tennessee (April 14, 1935, "Einstein Clarifies Relativity Theory; Princeton High School Boy Successfully Interviews Scientist.") Within three months, "The Daily Advertiser" of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia had even picked up the story (July 4, 1935, "Einstein Explains: Reason the Road to Relation.")

Abraham Flexner, director of the Institute for Advanced Study where Einstein served as the head of the Mathematics Department, had sought to shield Einstein from publicity and thought that Einstein's speaking on the persecution of the Jewish population in Germany would cause friction in the academic world and lead to antisemitic feelings in America. But as Rosso's interview showed, Einstein eschewed personal or political content in favor of expounding on his mathematical philosophy.

Henry A. Rosso proved to be a remarkably resourceful journalist-in-training. Not only did he obtain the Einstein interview in 1935, but he also witnessed the Hindenburg disaster two years later, in 1937. After his World War II military service in the U.S. Army, Rosso obtained his college degree from Syracuse University in 1949. He later became one of the founders of the field of professional fundraising and philanthropy, publishing several books, and serving as the longtime director of the Fundraising School in San Rafael, California and Indianapolis, Indiana.

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:
  • 5.75" x 6.875"
  • Artist Name:
  • Albert Einstein
  • Medium:
  • DS

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