Einstein manuscript auctioned for record € 11.6 million – Franceinfo

A record sum. A manuscript by the famous physicist Albert Einstein, in which he prepared his theory of general relativity, was auctioned for 11.6 million euros, Tuesday, November 23, in Paris. The 54-page document written by the scientist’s hand was estimated at between 2 and 3 million euros. It was written in 1913 and 1914, in Zurich (Switzerland), by the German-born physicist and his collaborator and confidant, Michele Besso.

“Einstein’s scientific autograph documents from this period, and more generally from before 1919, are extremely rare”, underlined Christie’s before the sale, at which the auction for the house Aguttes took place. These started at 1.5 million and flew in a few minutes, ending with a battle between two buyers over the phone in increments of 200,000 euros. A hundred curious and collectors were present in the room to attend these auctions.