Sold – Albert Einstein’s Poem and Signed Photograph

When Albert Einstein came to the United States on December 11, 1930, he was accompanied by noted author, Hendrik Willem Van Loon. Einstein himself was already quite a celebrity, and his coming received media attention. CBS arranged to have him speak a few words even before he got off the ship. In his broadcast, Einstein was introduced by Van Loon, who had earlier encouraged Einstein by saying his English was adequate for the broadcast. The New York Times, which covered the event extensively, reported that the Einsteins told Van Loon on the voyage that the Professor was not so good at household mathematics and that Mrs. Einstein handled the checkbook. In the December 27 issue, James Thurber’s column in The New Yorker noted that, at a party shortly after disembarking, Einstein mentioned writing a poem for Van Loon. He presented this poem to Van Loan in the form of an inscription on a signed photograph.   

This is that very signed photograph, which is a documented memento of Einstein’s first moments in America in 1930. The image is about the size of an oversized bookmark and shows Einstein holding his violin. The presentation is 9.5 by 6 inches, matted in the original frame, with a note from Van?Loon on the back. It is inscribed by Einstein on the mount:   

"Perfect in English is Herr Loon, Bravely helped me to the microphone.   

With friendliest greetings, A. Einstein 1930. "