The historic letter, written by theoretical physicist Albert Einstein—who developed the general theory of relativity regarding space and time and is known for his contributions to quantum mechanics—warning US President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Second World War about Nazi nuclear efforts, will be offered for sale at Christie's auction house with an estimated value of 4 million dollars.
CO-AUTHORED WITH LEO SZILARD
The letter, which is planned to be put up for sale in September, is recorded as one of two letters written by the world's most famous physicist, Einstein, together with his fellow scientist Leo Szilard in a cottage on the north shore of Long Island, New York.
The letter, which contains warnings that the German government was actively supporting nuclear research and could build "extremely powerful bombs" of the type used by the US at the end of the Second World War, is housed at the Roosevelt Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York.
PAUL ALLEN IS SELLING
The signed and slightly shorter second version of the letter is being sold by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
Allen purchased the letter in 2002 from publisher and third-party presidential candidate Malcolm Forbes for 2.1 million dollars.
The Wall Street Journal noted that this was the first 20th-century historical document to exceed 1 million dollars.
News Source: 12punto
