A. Einstein TLS "(does) not have the time to handle the details" One Day After Warning FDR That The Nazis Might Be Developing Nuclear Weapons, Leading to Birth of Manhattan Project.

TLS, dated August 3, 1939, written in German by Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Albert Einstein (1879-1955). The letter, which was written just one day after Einstein sent the famous Einstein–Szilard letter to President Roosevelt warning that the Nazis might be developing nuclear weapons, is boldly signed by Einstein as "A. Einstein" on the bottom right corner. Expected folds from mailing, edge toning and foxing, else fine. 8.5" x 10.75".

The letter, translated into english:

Dear Mr. Grunberg,

I have received your letters, especially also the detailed one from July 24th. Plesch's statements and yours depart from each other, though not fundamentally. The principal point is Plesch's assertion that was supposedly necessary to delay settlement of accounts while his business with Germany was not concluded; you do not believe in this assertion but consider it a presence. I myself cannot properly understand it either, but cannot arrive at any definite judgement.

The main thing is that Mr. Plesch has in principle agreed to have the matter monitored by a third party. I should adhere to this demand. Through my intervention, a dear and old friend of mine shall be arriving in England in the near future for permanent residence there. He has my fullest confidence and will also have time on his hands to devote to this matter. He is prepared to do me any favour. I am certain that Mr. Plesch will likewise accept him. This gentleman can consult both of you regarding any point, in oral or in written form. 

When do you expect to be in Europe again? Once my friend has arrived in England and can be reached there, I shall make the arrangements for the business. I do not have the time to handle the details of this matter personally. Nor would there be any point in your visiting me again, since the other party would not be in a position to respond. 

With kind greetings, 

A. Einstein"

As war approached, Einstein, a lifelong pacifist, did something which was out of character, but urgently necessary. On Aug. 2, 1939, the day before this letter was written, Einstein signed a letter written by Hungarian émigré Leó Szilárd, that was addressed to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In the letter, Einstein and Szilárd warned that the Nazis could be developing nuclear weapons. Einstein urged the United States to stockpile uranium ore and begin work on its own atomic weapons, thus leading to the birth of the Manhattan Project. Six years later, on two fateful days in August 1945, the bombs known as Little Man and Fat Boy were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

While many collectors of science and technology flock to add an Einstein signature to their collection, this letter, in particular, crosses multiple markets and could also be of interest to an experienced WWII collector. 

Albert Einstein addressed this letter to Wsevolode Grünberg, the nephew of Einstein's dentist Josef Grünberg (1877-1932). Einstein was close friends with the Russian Jewish Josef Grünberg, whom he affectionately called "Bolschi" and to whom Einstein dedicated several comical poems. In addition to dentistry, the elder Grünberg was an art collector and amateur artist. He most likely introduced his nephew Wsevolode to Einstein in the late 1920s or early 1930s. Here, seven years after Josef Grünberg's death, Wsevolode Grünberg turned to Einstein for his help in untangling a complicated inheritance claim.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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