New Acquisitions Spring 2022 – 20 – Bauman Rare Books Presentation Copy Of Einstein’s Special And General Relativity, Inscribed And Signed In German By Albert Einstein 22. EINSTEIN, Albert. Relativity. The Special and General Theory. New York, 1931. Octavo, original gilt-stamped navy cloth. $35,000. Later printing, presentation copy, of Einstein’s own explanation of his special and general relativity theories, inscribed: “Frau(?) Herrn. J.M. Frankel, Albert Einstein, 1933.” Einstein’s theories are the most important discoveries of 20th-century physics. “The theory’s impact upon 20th-century science and thought can hardly be overstated” (Norman, 252). “Fromthegeneral theoryof relativity issuesall of 20thcentury cosmology” (Simmons, The Scientific 100). In this “Popular Exposition,” Einstein endeavors to present “in the simplest and most intelligible form,” the revolutionary ideas he revealed to the scientific community in his famous Annalen der Physik articles of 1905 and 1916. Originally published in Germany in 1917, under the title Über die spezielle und die allgemeine Relativitätstheorie, Gemeinverständlich, the first edition in English was published in London in 1920. The first American edition was published in 1920 by Henry Holt; this is a later printing of that edition. Laid-in flyer from a tribute dinner to Einstein, held by The American Friends of the Hebrew University at the Hotel Commodore in New York on March 15, 1933. The verso features a five-stanza poem, “To Albert Einstein (on His Fifty-Fourth Birthday),” by Louis Untermeyer. Laid-in newspaper clipping about the scattering of Einstein’s ashes. Front free endpaper excised, front inner paper hinge split but holding, mild offsetting to first two leaves and slightest toning to interior, minor soiling mainly to rear board, spine label mostly perished, a bit of rubbing and mild toning to spine. An extremely good presentation copy, most rare inscribed.
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