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Auction: 23025 - Historical Documents, Postal History & Autographs
Lot: 325

(x) United States of America
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
1954 Typed letter addressed to Dr Albert Einstein at Princeton University, written by a Canadian student in Montreal, asking about Einstein's "failure in your first attempt to enter the Polytechnic Institute in Switzerland" and enquiring as to the reasons why. A pencil notation at the foot of the letter initialled "E." in Einstein's handwriting provides the answer "I was trying this entrance examination without any preparation in the special fields required." With the original mailing envelope from Princeton to the writer, with a typed address.

Michael Gnarowski (1934-2023), who sent this letter to Einstein, was a leading educator, publisher and scholar, whose life's work made a lasting contribution to the promotion and preservation of Canada's literary heritage. At the date of writing he was a student at McGill University in Montreal. After a particularly challenging exam, over a drink at the local pub, Gnarowski reminded his fellow students that even the greatest of scientists had suffered setbacks, noting that Albert Einstein himself had failed an exam. This was met with great scepticism from Gnarowski's friends. To prove point he said he would write to Einstein, who replied, vindicating Gnarowski with his added autograph notation confirming the anecdote.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£1200