Beschreibung:

Einstein, Albert FINE AUTOGRAPH LETTER AND PHOTOGRAPH, BOTH SIGNED ("A. EINSTEIN" AND "ALBERT EINSTEIN"), AND INSCRIBED TO THE VIOLIN MAKER AND RESTORER OSWALD A. SCHILBACH, 22 JULY 1934 1) the letter about violins, describing his surprise as his friend Dr. Bucky brought him another violin, expressing his delight at its pure and strong tone, recounting what Bucky had told him, namely that he had acquired it from him for only 35 dollars, requesting that he inform him at once if he has been swindled, noting that he regards the instrument, which he loves very much and accepts joyfully, as a gift from him; in the second half of the letter Einstein relates the sorry fate of his former violin, which had been disastrously repaired by a 72-year-old refugee in Belgium, a former doctor and writer, noting that he had hoped to provide this man with some means for a modest existence, but observing that that hope was now at an end; to close, Einstein observes that he happily played on his old instrument, despite its somewhat weak tone, but that cut in two it didn't make a particularly elegant impression ("...Sogleich versuchte ich das Instrument und war entzückt über dessen edlen und kräftigen Ton..."), 1 page, 4to, framed and glazed, overall size c.38.5 x 31cm, horizontal and vertical folds, Watch Hill [Rhode Island], 22 July 1934, a few small stains, and some browning to edges 2) the photograph by Tycko of New York, printed in sepia, showing Einstein's head and shoulders, inscribed by Einstein on the mount ("Herrn Schilbach in Hochachtung zugeeignet Albert Einstein. 22. VII. 1934.") and signed by the photographer on the image and on the mount ("Tycko N.Y."), framed and glazed, overall size c.38.5 x 31cm, [Watch Hill, Rhode Island,] 22 July 1934, some spotting to image