Recommended by Albert Einstein

From Einstein to Knudsen

In the autumn of 1916, Albert Einstein (1878-1955) was in the process of putting the final touches to his outstanding work on the theory of general relativity, for which he would go down as one of the most important scientists in history. But Einstein had many irons in the fire. The letter, which is now up for auction, was written in late October 1916, just before the release of his groundbreaking work. It is addressed to the influential Danish professor of physics at the University of Copenhagen, Martin Knudsen (1871-1949), and refers to the Finnish physicist Gunnar Nordström (1881-1923). According to Einstein himself and the prominent physicists Ehrenfest and Lorentz in the Netherlands, the young Finn was a more than suitable candidate for a teaching position at the University of Helsinki, based on his work on the theory of gravitation. Nordström worked in the same field as Einstein, and later came to be known as Finland’s Einstein. In 1918, he was appointed professor at the Helsinki University of Technology.

Botanical masterpiece at auction

The book auction also features a wonderful set of the magnificent work “Flora Danica” – one the world’s greatest botanical atlases and a true product of the Danish Enlightenment.

By means of pictures of the native flora of the whole of Denmark and Norway, “Flora Danica” was intended to spread knowledge about the wild plants of the plant kingdom. The work was started by the doctor and professor of botany Georg Christian Oeder (1728-1791) and was supposed to have been completed in just over 20 years. Things did not quite go to plan, however. It would be another 123 years before the last of the 3,240 copper engraved plates was finished.

Goya and bullfighting

Another famous book containing a series of prints – but of a different genre entirely – is the dramatic bullfighting series “La Tauromaquia” (Bullfighting) from 1905 by the Spanish artist Francisco de Goya (1746-1828), which was published posthumously. In 40 illustrations, Goya, the wild court painter to the Spanish crown, reveals his complex and ambivalent relationship to the controversial national sport of Spain.

Preview and auction

The preview of the book auction takes place at our premises at Baltikavej 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø from 10 am–5 pm on Monday 25 November to 10 am–5 pm on Tuesday 26 November. The hammers fall online at bruun-rasmussen.dk from 6 pm on Tuesday 26 November.

View the book auction lots