Rare Autograph Auction Featuring Edison's Patent
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/14/2020
Typed Letter Signed ("A. Einstein"), in German, 1 p, 4to, Princeton, February 5, 1939, to Dr. Isidore Held, on blindstamped letterhead, wrinkled, tiny tears at bottom edges, old folding creases, staple holes at top edge.
Einstein writes to his friend Dr. Isidore Held (1876-1947) to arrange an upcoming meeting in the city and to discuss the situation of the German physician Rudolf Ehrmann, at one time Einstein's personal physician. Einstein encloses a letter from Ehrmann (not present) which he characterizes as "short and imprecise," and complains that one cannot see "whether friendly efforts have been unsuccessful, and if so, why the consul saw fit to refuse granting a non-quota visa." He goes on to mention confusion over why, "in his letter to Dr. Libman, he wrote that he received a permit for one years' residence in England. But he mentioned nothing of this in his letter to me." Einstein and Held were ultimately successful in helping Ehrmann and his family obtain visas, and they arrived in the United States later that same year.
An Austrian by birth and a physician at Beth Israel Hospital in New York, Held (1876-1947) became friends with Einstein through their efforts to help doctors and other members of the scientific community to emigrate from Nazi Germany and occupied territories.
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