One of the most consequential scientific books of the twentieth century, signed and inscribed by its author: Albert Einstein’s Über die spezielle und die allgemeine Relativitätstheorie (Gemeinverständlich) the tenth expanded German edition (Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig, 1920), in original printed wrappers. The flyleaf bears Einstein’s ink inscription: “Relativitätstheorie. / A. Einstein.” — naming his own theory above his signature — one of the most distinctive forms of Einstein presentation copy known to collectors.
Written in ink on the front flyleaf, the inscription reads “Relativitätstheorie.” above the signature “A. Einstein.” By writing the name of his theory above his signature, he signed the book in the name of the idea itself. Facing the inscription is the celebrated frontispiece portrait drawn from life by Hermann Struck (1876–1944), dated 1920 — one of the most famous likenesses of Einstein, with Struck’s printed signature within the plate and a printed facsimile “A. Einstein” below as issued in all copies of this edition.
Ink inscription: “Relativitätstheorie. / A. d. Einstein.” on front flyleaf · Frontispiece: Struck portrait, 1920, with printed facsimile signature (standard to edition) · Previous owner’s inscription on title page: “[J.] Sollmann / 27.9.1921”
First published in 1917 as a popular account of the Special and General Theories for the educated non-specialist, Einstein’s Relativitätstheorie went through edition after edition as worldwide demand surged following Eddington’s 1919 confirmation of General Relativity. The tenth edition (36,000–45,000th copy), published 1920 as Sammlung Vieweg, Heft 38, is the first to include the Struck portrait frontispiece — noted on the title page as “Mit dem Bildnis des Verfassers nach Herm. Struck.” Complete in original grey printed wrappers, red and black lettering intact, with 4 figures. Pages clean with light age toning; wrappers lightly worn. Good to Very Good.
1920 was among the most consequential years of Einstein’s life: celebrated worldwide since Eddington’s proof, he would receive the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. Signed and inscribed copies of this popular relativity book from 1920–1922 — the peak of his initial worldwide celebrity are among the most prized Einstein signed books on the market.
With PSA LOA and One Of A Kind Collectibles LOA.