Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 86

The Manuscripts, Collectibles & Space Auction

The William K. Steiner Collection - Scientists & Engineers

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 491		de Forest, Lee (1873-1961) American inventor who called himself the "Father of Radio"; he invented the audion, a vacuum tube device that could take a weak electrical signal and amplify it into a larger one. He had over 180 patents to his credit. Rare autograph letter signed, 1 page, on American Television Laboratory Ltd. letterhead, Hollywood, California, Nov. 14, 1934. Holograph correction to street address. To Theodore Vandervelden, "I am returning the cartoon of myself [not present], with an inscription, and signature. Your idea is a fine one, I think. But where did you get the picture from which you drew the 'cartoon'? I am rather happy to think that it does not resemble me in the slightest degree! Very Cordially. Lee de Forest." Estimated Value $300 - 400. R.M. Smythe, June 6, 1996, lot 348. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $180
Lot 492		Einstein, Albert and Edward Teller (1879-1955) German-born physicist who enunciated the theory of relativity; 1921 Nobel prize winner. Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein") on letterhead of The Institute For Advanced Study / School of Mathematics / Princeton, New Jersey, one page, 6½ x 5½ in., November 25, 1941. To Mr. Cyril Clemens, Intern. Mark Twain Soc'y, Webster Grives, Missouri: "I have no objections to the publishing of the little quatrain in your magazine." Einstein was in the United States when Hitler came to power in Germany in January 1933. Einstein never went back to Germany. He accepted a position at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, with which he remained associated until his death. He became an American citizen in 1940. Together with Edward Teller (1908-1994) Theoretical physicist, called the "father of the hydrogen bomb." Photograph inscribed and signed,"To Bill Wood, best wishes Edward Teller," 1 x 8 1/2 in., no place, no date. A waist-up portrait. Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,188
Lot 493		Einstein, Albert and Elsa. Photograph signed by Albert Einstein and dated "1932" and by his wife Elsa, 8 x 10 in. Einstein is shown shaking the hand of one of two unidentified children who are playing in the snow. Both Albert and Elsa signed at the lower edge, and there are skips in the black ink. Elsa (1876-1936) was Einstein's second wife, as well as his first cousin. Two small tape remnants on verso and a line from "Aunt Georgia" presenting the photo to her "dear little friend." Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $4,560
Lot 494		Freud, Sigmund (1856-1939) Founder of psychoanalysis. Autograph letter signed ("Grandpa"), on "Prof. Dr. Freud" letterhead, 1 page, in German, 9 1/8 x 5¾ in., London, Aug. 3, 1938. Two months after leaving Vienna to escape the Nazis and arriving in London, Freud writes to his grandson, Stephen Gabriel: "Dear Gab, I knew and we knew that last Sunday was your birthday, but somehow the hot weather paralyzed our good intentions to send you a telegram. In any event I would have written to you, because it would have been too costly to inquire by telegram what you wanted for your birthday. So I am herewith catching up on the latter, and since I am saving so much money by mailing this, I need not economize for your present. With all best wishes, Grandpa." Accompanied by the original holograph envelope with his grandson's name, G. St. Freud in the return address. Also with an English translation and a magazine photo of Freud with Gabriel in 1922. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $7,188
Lot 495		Mayo, William J. and Charles H. William (1861-1939) and Charles (1865-1939) Mayo were surgeons who were among the founders of the famous Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit medical practice and medical research group based in Rochester, Minnesota. A handsome photograph inscribed and signed ("C.H. Mayo") and ("W.J. Mayo") and inscribed in Charles' hand, "Greetings to Miss Rosemary McCann, R.N.," 11¾ x 13¾ in. (each image is 7 5/8 x 5½ in.). One small crease in upper left corner, else fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $300
Lot 496		Pavlov, Ivan (1839-1946) Russian physiologist known primarly for his work in classical conditioning. His most famous experiment involved ringing a bell each time before he gave a dog food. The dog would begin to salivate to salivate in response to the bell. Pavlov called the bell a conditioned stimulus because of its association with food. He won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1904. Photograph signed ("Ivan Pavlov"), 9¼ x 7 in., no place, no date. Pavlov signed at lower right. Bachrach, the photographer, signed at lower right. A wonderful, waist-up portrait. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. Christie's, New York, Dec. 9, 1998. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $6,300
Lot 497		Schweitzer, Albert (1875-1965) Theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary in Africa, born in Alsace-Lorraine. He is best remembered for founding and sustaining the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, now in Gabon. He was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Photograph inscribed and signed "Au Colonel Robert F. Carter avec mes bonnes penseés [To Col. Robert F. Carter with my good thoughts] Albert Schweitzer / Lambaréné 24 mai 1957," 4¼ x 5¾ in. A pensive photo of Dr. Schweitzer staring out over the Ogooué River. In the upper right margin, he identifies when and where the photo was taken: "Sur l'escalier du débarcadère de l'hôpital [On the steps of the hospital jetty] (1944)." Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $480
Lot 498		Sikorsky, Igor I (1889-1972) Russian American aviation pioneer in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Typed letter signed ("I. I. Sikorsky"), 2 pages, 10¼ x 7¼ in., on Igor I. Sikorsky / Bridgeport, Conn. stationery, Bridgeport, Conn., May 29, 1944. To George Grebenstchikoff (Russian writer and professor of Russian literature who immigrated to the U.S. in 1925). Replying to a letter from his Russian friend, Sikorsky voices his opinions and discusses the past and present Russian political situation, the German occupation and the present war: "…Your letter touched upon a number of deep and important questions. You are right that in the terrible modern events or, as I would put it, in the unprecedently powerful onslaught of evil upon mankind, it is difficult to recognize the truth and it is impossible to remain impartial…our duty…in particular, before the unfortunate oppressed and silenced Russian people, is to try to discover the truth…Kravtchenko, I believe that he is not a traitor but a rebel. Lenin was a traitor…the Soviet Government represents the Russian people no more than the Nazi Government represents the people of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Belgium…which are now occupied, ruled and silenced by the Nazis…the destiny of the Russian people is supremely tragic…occupation and enslavement by Germany would be a major disaster…" Pages stapled together top left margin. Horizontal folds. With a second typed letter signed, 1 page, 11 x 8½ in., on Sikorsky Aircract letterhead, Bridgeport Conn, January 6, 1953. To Dr. George Grebenstchikoff. Sikorsky writes of the success of his helicopters during the Korean War and the current U.S. political involvement worldwide "…The election of Eisenhower and of a Republican administration was a source of great comfort…a great deal of harm that was inflicted by our previous administration is beyond repair by human means…our new president will need all the good will of men…in order to direct the affairs of our country…to some extent, of mankind on this planet along a peaceful road…. that peace would not be purchased by the enforced surrender of the Chinese prisoners back to the communist government…would undoubtedly increase the fighting spirit of the Red armies…increase their boldness and that of the communist government and thus, also, the chances of a general war…" Light age toning. Horizontal folds. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $400