Description:

J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER
(1904 - 1967) American physicist, director of the Manhattan project which developed the first atomic bomb, later served as director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton. A superb collection of seven letters and documents concerning the death of Albert Einstein and his 1954 election to the French Academy of Recorded Music consisting of correspondence between Oppenheimer in his capacity as Director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton University and ARTHUR HONEGGER (1892-1955), the French composer and member of "Les Six", composer of "Antigone" and Judith" and the President of L'Academie du Disque Francais. Apart from his pioneering work in theoretical physics, Einstein was also an avid amateur violinist. The collection includes an very fine content typed D.S. "A. Honneger" 1p. 4to., Paris, Apr. 19, 1955, the day after Einstein's death, in French mourning the loss of the great twentieth-century cosmologist and physicist on behalf of the Academy. Honneger remarks that Einstein was not only an important scientist but also a distinguished "amateur" violinist meriting him inclusion in the academy. The collection also includes Honnegar's draft of the aforementioned tribute, an A.D.S. 1p. 4to., Paris, Apr. 19 in French. Honneger had also likely telegrammed his condolence as Oppenheimer thanks Honneger the same day in an extremely fine content T.L.S. 1p. 8vo., Princeton, May 19, 1955: "On behalf of the Trustees and the Faculty of the Institute for Advanced Study, I wish to express to the members of the Academie du Disque Francais our appreciation of your word of condolence on the death of Einstein, and our gratitude". With original transmittal envelope. At some point over the summer, a request was made of Honneger to forward Einstein's diploma for the Academy. After some delays, Oppenheimer received it in November and thanked Honneger in a T.L.S. 1p. 8vo. on Institute for Advanced Study letterhead, Princeton, Nov. 16, 1955, in full: "At long last the certificate of Einstein's membership in the Academie du Disque Francais has reached us. We are most grateful for it, and have arranged to transmit it to the family of Professor... ". The collection also includes a draft typescript of Honnegar's Sept. 30, 1954 letter to Einstein informing him of his induction into the Academy (at the suggestion of Dr. Albert Schweitzer) as well as a contemporary typescript of Einstein's diploma, Paris Oct. 13, 1954. Overall condition very good to fine. Both of Oppenheimer's letters contain the original transmittal envelopes. A superb collection and magnificent association.

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June 3, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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