Rare author’s presentation offprint of “The Formal Basis of the General Theory of Relativity” annotated by Albert Einstein

188. Albert Einstein Hand-Annotated Presentation Offprint of “The Formal Basis of the General Theory of Relativity”. Author’s presentation offprint of “Die formale Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie [The Formal Basis of the General Theory of Relativity]” from Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, XLI, 19 November 1914. Berlin: Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1914. Gr.-8vo. S. 1030-85. Bound in the original printed wrappers, 7 x 10, inscribed in Einstein’s hand, “Mit aller Hochachtung [With all respect],” over the imprinted text, “Überreicht vom Verfasser [Submitted by the Author].” On page 1069, Einstein adds a lengthy formula in his hand, and on page 1072 he writes: “Hier ist benutzt, dass auch das System K 2 dem invarianten [oder: unvariiertem] Felde angepasst ist [Here it is used that the system K 2 is also adapted to the invariant [or: unvarying] field].”. In fine condition, with a light central vertical fold, and soiling and handling wear to the covers. Accompanied by a letter of authentication from Viennese Antiquarian Book Dealer Ingo Nebehay, 1982. Starting Bid $10000

191. Stephen Hawking TLS on Black-Body Radiation and Geodesic Incompleteness. TLS signed “Stephen,” one page, 8 x 10, University of Cambridge letterhead, November 21, 1967. Letter to physicist Charles W. Misner, a professor at the University of Maryland, with reference to an improved version of a paper that Hawking co-authored with George Ellis (‘The Cosmic Black-Body Radiation and the Existence of Singularities in Our Universe,’ The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 152, April 1968). In part: “I enclose an improved version of the paper of Ellis and myself. The calculations of the convergence condition have been redrawn. I very much enjoyed the visit to Maryland where I had a number of ideas about Misner incompleteness. I intend to write a paper about them when I get time. I heard Stan Deer outline his proof that mass is positive definite. He claims that a function whose only critical value is zero and which has a local minimum there is necessarily positive elsewhere. It seems to me that there are counter examples to this in finite dimensions—not to speak of the infinite dimensions case.” In fine condition, with a faint paperclip impression to the top edge.

Stephen Hawking first met the American physicist Charles

W. Misner during the latter’s 1966-67 visit to Cambridge at the invitation of Hawking’s postgraduate supervisor Dennis Sciama; the two became close, and Hawking visited Misner at his own institution, the University of Maryland, at the end of 1967. Hawking’s work on singularity theorems, which he first published in his 1965 doctoral thesis, overlapped with the research Misner was undertaking on geodesic incompleteness, a notion at the centre of the concepts Hawking was developing with Roger Penrose (the ‘Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems’). Here, Hawking seemingly refers to a proof that another of their colleagues in the field, Stanley Deser, would publish the following year in the Physical Review Letters, in a paper entitled ‘Positive-Definiteness of Gravitational Field Energy.’

Diagnosed with early-onset motor neurone disease in 1963, Hawking’s physical capabilities deteriorated over time—his shaky hand evinced in this signature of just four years later— making authentic autographs exceedingly scarce. Confined to a wheelchair by the end of the 1970s, he opted to sign with just a thumbprint later in life. A marvelous letter by the celebrated theoretical physicist, rife with scientific content.

Starting Bid $5000

190. Alexander Fleming Typed Letter Signed on Inoculation. Scottish bacteriologist (1881-1955) who shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his role in the discovery and isolation of penicillin. TLS, one page, 8 x 10, Wright-Fleming Institute of Microbiology letterhead, May 20, 1949. Letter to Wallace W. McEwen of the Science Department of the Nottingham and District Technical College. In part: “I have much pleasure in sending you the Foreword to your book ‘Bacteriological Technique’...The first galley which you sent is somehow mislaid. I should have sent the whole thing back a fortnight ago, but I have spent the last fortnight looking for it without any success. I have no doubt you will be able to get a copy but it means you will have to correct it all over again. I sincerely regret this carelessness on my part. One small matter, inoculation is spelt with only one ‘n.’” In fine condition, with toning from prior display. Accompanied by a typed copy of the foreword, a letter written to Fleming from the Science Department, and some related correspondence. Starting Bid $200

193.

Scarce circa early 1990s NeXT Computer, Inc. business card of Steve Jobs, 3.5 x 2, listing him as “Steve Jobs, Chairman and CEO.” The offwhite card boasts NeXT’s iconic logo designed by Paul Rand, and gives the address of the company’s headquarters as “900 Chesapeake Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063.” The reverse is imprinted in Japanese with the same information. In very fine condition.

Having been ousted from Apple in the fall of 1985, Jobs founded the innovative NeXT project, a computer and software company aimed at the markets of business and higher education. The first NeXT Computer was introduced in 1988 with great fanfare thanks to Jobs’s marketing strategy. At NeXT, Jobs helped to develop a pioneering ‘fingerless’ automated manufacturing line right in Silicon Valley. He believed that keeping the design, development, and manufacturing in close proximity—all in a single plant, rather than outsourced overseas—would help NeXT out-innovate its competitors by allowing continuous improvement of their products.

The 900 Chesapeake Drive represents NeXT Computer’s second official address, having moved there in 1989. The expensive office space featured an open floor plan with a ‘floating’ wood-and-steel staircase designed by famous architect I. M. Pei, and luxurious amenities such as $5,000 chairs, $10,000 sofas, and Ansel Adams prints on the walls. Starting Bid $200