Item #2112 Zuschriften an die Herausgeber: Prüfung der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie [Communication to the Editors: A Test of the General Theory of Relativity]. ALBERT EINSTEIN.
Zuschriften an die Herausgeber: Prüfung der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie [Communication to the Editors: A Test of the General Theory of Relativity]
Zuschriften an die Herausgeber: Prüfung der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie [Communication to the Editors: A Test of the General Theory of Relativity]
Zuschriften an die Herausgeber: Prüfung der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie [Communication to the Editors: A Test of the General Theory of Relativity]

Zuschriften an die Herausgeber: Prüfung der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie [Communication to the Editors: A Test of the General Theory of Relativity]

SCARCE FIRST PRINTING IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS OF EINSTEIN’S REPORT OF THE CONFIRMATION OF GENERAL RELATIVITY; PRECEDING THE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY AND ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

“In the early fall of 1919, when Pauline Einstein was in the sanatorium, she received a postcard from her son which began, ‘Dear Mother, joyous news today. H.A. Lorentz telegraphed that the English expeditions have actually demonstrated the deflection of light from the sun.’ The telegram that had announced the news to Einstein a few days earlier read, ‘Eddington found star displacement at the sun’s edge preliminary between nine-tenth second and double that. Many greetings. Lorentz.’ It was an informal communication. Nothing was definitive. Yet Einstein sent almost at once a very brief note to Naturwissenschaften [the paper offered here] for the sole purpose of reporting the telegram he had received. He was excited” (Pais, Subtle is the Lord, 303).

Word then began to travel fast. “On October 22, Carl Stumpf, a psychologist and fellow member of the Prussian Academy, wrote to Einstein, ‘I feel compelled to send you most cordial congratulations on the occasion of the grandiose new success of your gravitation theory. With all our hearts, we share the elation which must fill you and are proud of the fact that, after the military-political collapse, German science has been able to score such a victory...’ On November 3 Einstein replied ‘On my return from Holland I find your congratulations... I recently learned in Leiden that the confirmation found by Eddington is also a complete one quantitatively.’ A few days after the joint meeting [of the Royal Society and the Royal Astronomical Society] of November 6 [where the results were presented], Lorentz sent another telegram to Einstein, confirming the news. On November 7, 1919 [when the London Times reported the news], the Einstein legend began” (Pais, 306).

English translation of Einstein's printed "Communication":

"According to a telegram sent by Prof. Lorentz to the undersigned, the English expedition under Eddington, sent out to observe the solar eclipse on May 29th, observed the deflection of light at the edge of the solar disk required by the general theory of relativity. The provisional value determined so far is between 0.9 and 1.8 arc seconds. The theory calls for 1.7."

IN: Die Naturwissenschaften, Heft 42, 17 October 1919; p. 776. Berlin: Julius Springer, 1919. Quarto, original wrappers; custom box.

Condition: A REMARKABLY FINE COPY. Copies of Die Naturwissenschaften issues in original wrappers are notoriously prone to wear. This issue is extraordinary for being in such fine condition; a truly rare survival.

Price: $4,600 .

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