About this Item
First edition, signed limited issue, number 555 of 760 copies signed and dated by Einstein. The book and slipcase are in fine condition, and they are housed in the elusive original cardboard packaging, which is numbered to match the limitation. This is the first copy that we have handled in its original packaging. Issued on his 70th birthday, this handsomely produced volume includes the first appearance in print of Einstein's autobiography, specially written for the book and itself an important scientific contribution. In addition to the autobiographical notes, in which Einstein famously describes the awakening of his scientific curiosity when shown a compass as a child, the book presents a series of essays on Einstein's work and achievements by 25 of his contemporaries, including Niels Bohr, Max Born, Kurt Gödel, and Wolfgang Pauli. Several of these have become seminal papers in their own right: "Bohr's account of his discussion with Einstein has been called 'one of the great masterpieces of modern scientific reporting'" (Jammer, p. 136) and Gödel's "appears to be the only published piece by [him] that deals with philosophical issues not directly concerned with mathematics" (Feferman, p. 199). A bibliography of Einstein's writings is also included. This copy is accompanied by correspondence between a former owner, George Pratt of Portland, Oregon, and the Open Court Publishing Company, who issued the Library of Living Philosophers series from 1959 onwards. Pratt's name is written in ink on the cardboard packaging. Primarily dated between 1974 and 1975, the typed letters (mostly supplied in photocopy) detail Pratt's successful verification of Einstein's signature. They include testimony from R. F. Gehner, a representative of the George Banta Publishing Company (printer of the series), in which Gehner recounts personally delivering 760 copies of Philosopher-Scientist to Einstein and observing him sign them. A portion of the original glassine jacket is also present in the envelope. Weil Appendix, p. 41. Solomon Feferman, introductory note to Gödel's Collected Works, vol. 2, 1990; Max Jammer, The Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, 1974. Octavo. Portrait frontispiece after Yousuf Karsh and plate (facsimile of Einstein's handwriting and portrait in his studio with the editor). Original brown morocco-grain cloth over bevelled boards, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, gilt facsimile of Einstein's signature to front board, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. With original brown card slipcase and the original cardboard packaging, the latter annotated "no. 555". Housed in a brown quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. All in fine condition.
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