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Albert Einstein Signed Photograph

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
Albert Einstein Signed Photograph

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Auction Date:2021 Oct 13 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Rare vintage matte-finish 5.75 x 10 photo of Einstein taken in Havana, Cuba, in December 1930, signed in the upper border in fountain pen, "Albert Einstein, Pasadena, 1931." Marked "El Encanto" in the lower border, the name of the department store where the portrait was captured. In fine condition, with trimmed edges, and light silvering to the perimeter of the image.

In late 1930, Einstein visited Cuba for a day-and-a-half—a jaunt made while en route to San Diego aboard the Belgenland, which stopped in Havana before passing through the Panama Canal. There he received a hero's welcome from the leaders of the Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Havana, the Geographical Society of Cuba, and the local Jewish community. Before attending any of these festivities, however, he mentioned that he wanted to buy a hat, since it was going to be a hot, sunny day. His Cuban hosts whisked him away to El Encanto, Havana's most fashionable outlet, where the owners presented their illustrious visitor with their best and most expensive Panama hat as a gift. When Einstein insisted on paying, they offered a trade instead—the hat for a souvenir photograph from El Encanto, taken by one of Cuba's best portraitists, Gonzalo Lobo. Einstein agreed, and the photographer placed him against a stark black background, highlighting his messy hair and perceptive gaze. In addition to presenting Einstein with prints, Lobo made a huge enlargement to display in El Encanto's shop window. The next day, Einstein continued his journey to California, where he would take his place as a visiting professor at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the present owner, in full: "My father was employed at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), Princeton NJ as a caretaker of real estate properties owned by IAS from 1969 to 1995. Some of these properties were located on Mercer Street, Battle Road, Olden Lane, Maxwell Lane and others when these houses became vacant he would have to clean and prepare them for the next professor to move in. It was in the mid 1980's when he came home with the signed photo of Albert Einstein dated 1931. My father had built a shelf in our living room to display this photo. After both my parents had passed on, I had to clean out their home and I kept the signed photo of Albert Einstein."

Albert Einstein lived at 112 Mercer Street in Princeton from 1935 until his death in 1955, while employed by Princeton University's Institute for Advanced Study. His stepdaughter, the sculptor Margot Einstein, remained in the house until her death in 1986; it was presumably at this time that the house was cleaned out.