Einstein's Handwritten Manuscript on the Theory of Relativity Sold for 15.5 Billion Won

▲Albert Einstein's handwritten manuscript on the general theory of relativity, featured at Christie's auction in Paris, France [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A handwritten manuscript containing the general theory of relativity equations by 'genius physicist' Albert Einstein was sold for over 15 billion KRW.

According to AFP on the 23rd (local time), the manuscript was auctioned for 11.6 million euros (approximately 15.5 billion KRW) at a Christie's auction held in Paris, France.

This is about four times the pre-auction estimated price of 2 to 3 million euros (approximately 2.8 to 4.1 billion KRW), making it the highest-priced document left by Einstein.

The bidding started at 1.5 million euros (about 2 billion KRW), with two bidders raising their offers by 200,000 euros (about 270 million KRW) each in competition.

The identity of the final buyer was not disclosed.

The manuscript was co-written by Einstein and his close friend Michel Besso in Zurich, Switzerland, between 1913 and 1914. It consists of 52 pages and contains preliminary work for the announcement of the general theory of relativity in 1915.

Of these, 26 pages were written by Einstein, 25 pages by Besso, and the remaining 3 pages were jointly written.

At that time, Besso and Einstein were studying the phenomenon where Mercury's orbital precession deviated from a fixed orbit, a scientific challenge.

The manuscript, an early research document, also includes some errors that caused Einstein and Besso to temporarily halt their research.

In 1914, Besso moved to Italy and resumed the research alone but eventually gave up.

Einstein later resumed the work and based on this content, announced the general theory of relativity in November 1915.

Christie's, the auction house, explained that "if it were not for Besso, it is highly likely that Einstein would not have preserved this manuscript," calling the survival of the manuscript a "miraculous event."

Christie's evaluated, "Scientific manuscripts by Einstein from before 1919 are very rare," and "Since this is one of two manuscripts confirmed to describe the origin of the general theory of relativity, it is extraordinary evidence of Einstein's work."

Through the general theory of relativity, Einstein revealed that objects with mass curve spacetime based on the principle that acceleration and gravity have the same effect.

This led to a groundbreaking view at the time that the universe is not flat but curved in places due to gravity, and the theory became the foundation for the development of modern sciences such as astrophysics.

Einstein, who passed away in 1955 at the age of 76, was recognized for his contributions to physics after announcing the theory of relativity and received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for the photoelectric effect.

Recently, manuscripts left by Einstein have been sold at high prices.

In 2018, the so-called 'God Letter,' reflecting Einstein's thoughts on God and religion, was sold for 2.9 million dollars (about 3.4 billion KRW) at Christie's auction in New York, USA.

In 2017, a letter containing Einstein's advice on a happy life was sold for 1.56 million dollars (about 1.9 billion KRW) in Jerusalem.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.