Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 45

Manuscript, Collectibles and Aerospace Auction

Scientists and Engineers

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 878		Bell, Alexander Graham (1847-1922) Scottish-born scientist and inventor, best known for inventing the telephone. TLS on personal letterhead, 1p, 10¾" x 8½", 1914 May 5. To D. G. Fairchild, accepting an invitation to meet Dr. and Mrs. Galloway at Fairchild's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. With an intaglio-gravure picture of Bell. Very good; light age toning and normal folds. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $930
Lot 879		De Forest, Lee (1873-1961) Scientist who invented the vacuum tube. TLS, 1p, 11" x 8½", Los Angeles, 1951 Jan. 22. To Floyd Bailey regarding de Forest's autobiography and New Year's wishes, and adding, "…I suppose during the next few years most furniture dealers will be busy building caskets to house the remains of heroes which Truman's policy will continue to send to their doom." Very good; toning and uneven upper and lower edges. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 880		Edison, Thomas A (1847-1931) Prolific inventor. Edison Botonic Research Corporation Check Signed ("Thos A Edison"), 3" x 8½", West Orange, N.J., 1927 Oct. 12. Drawn on Savings Investment & Trust Company of East Orange for $7.96 and paid to Royal Palm Nurseries. Fine. Estimated Value $700 - 900. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $528
Lot 881		Edison, Thomas Alva. Card Signed ("Thos A Edison"), 3" x 5", n.p., n.d. Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $504
Lot 882		Einstein, Albert (1879-1955) Theoretical physicist best known for enunciating the theory of relativity; 1921 Nobel prize winner for physics; considered the greatest physicist of all time. TLS ("A. Einstein"), 2pp, 11" x 8½", on letterhead embossed "A. Einstein, 112 Mercer Street, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.," 1946 Jun. 24. Addressed to Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, regarding a film which M-G-M intended to make on the history of the atomic bomb. Fine; a couple of file notes in red ink, staple marks and erased pencil notes at upper left. In full: "My dear Mr. Mayer: I am writing to you to express why I am hesitating to give my consent to being represented in the picture which you are making on the history of the atomic bomb. Although I am not much of a movie-goer, I do know from the tenor of earlier pictures that have come out of your studio that you will apreciate my point of view. Dr. Wigner showed me the script of the film and I talked about it also with others. I believe that no film on the atomic bomb can fail to exert a great influence on the thinking of our people and I consider it most important therefore that it should be truthful and should also at least touch upon the issues that we are facing. As to the truthfulness of the script which I have seen, I have very serious doubts. Certainly the scene in which I appear does not meet this requirement, since the people who approached me to contact the President were Szilard and Wigner. I am disturbed by a general tendency in the picture to minimize the role of those who throughout the history of the uranium project stood up for their convictions, and push into the foreground the role of those who had fewer controversies with the Army. Szilard and Urey are examples of those who incurred the disfavor of the Army. Another point which concerns me is perhaps even more serious. I find that the picture represents very clearly the point of view of the army and the administrative leaders of the uranium project but does not give a clear picture of the point of view of most of the scientists who played a decisive role in this development. The picture gives too much the impression that most of the initiative had come from above. This is particularly marked in the scenes dealing with the role of the British scientists. The truth was just the reverse of this. As you probably know, *very many scientists, if not the majority, were greatly concerned with the influence which the new weapon will have on our future. While I would not expect the film to carry any kind of message, it should not be too difficult to convey some of the thought and feelings which were displayed by the scientists engaged in this work. I realize that it is very expensive to re-do scenes which have already been filmed, yet I wonder whether it would be worth attempting to rewrite some of the dialogue and insert a few appropriate scenes in order to improve the quality of othe picture, even at some financial sacrifice. I should be very glad if you would find it possible to improve the picture. You will probably find that all scientists who study carefully the script, will find the same passages objectionable and will note the same conspicuous omissions. It is my hope that you will find it possible to remedy the situation in at least to such an extent as the fairly advanced stage of the picture may make possible. Very truly yours, A. Einstein." A carbon copy of Mayer's reply to Einstein, dated July 18, 1946, is included, in which Mayer states that he had turned Einstein's letter over to the executive who is "chief editor on the Atomic Bomb picture, and has been especially handling the script for this film" and that he was enclosing "McGuinness' report" [not included]. The film, titled "The Beginning or the End," starred Brian Donlevy, Agnes Moorehead, Robert Walker, and others. Also included here is a very interesting article by producer Sam Marx, published in the Beverly Hills Courier* on September 25, 1979, regarding his experiences dealing with the scientists from Oak Ridge, Los Alamos and Hanford Laboratory, how "they hated the Army for cooping them up for the duration of the war, forbidding them to speak of their work even to their families. And then, after the bomb was dropped, they were warned not to speak out or be charged with violating the Anti-Sedition Act." He also writes of the awe with which Einstein and Oppenheimer were regarded by the other scientists on the project. A letter written Dec. 3, 1984 by Marx thanks "Mel" for a copy of the Einstein letter and remarks that the corrections Einstein wanted to make were impossible. "…the scientists he mentions, Szilard, etc., not only okayed the scenes we impersonated them in but in some cases wrote them themselves. Only Lisa Meitner refused (after we had shot the scene) and we cut her out. Agnes Moorehead played the part." He concludes that "the film…had almost no impact on the public. So much for the importance of movie messages." Estimated Value $15,000 - 30,000. The consignor has owned this letter since 1972. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $21,000
Lot 883		Faraday, Michael (1791-1867) British physicist and chemist; one of most influential scientists in all of history. ALS twice, once "M Faraday" and after postscript "MF," 2¼ pp (recto/verso), 7¼" x 4½", Royal Institution, 1836 May 28. Fine; minor soiling. Regarding altering a paper "so as not to state that Davy did not first show me the report although that has been my strong impression…." More content. Faraday had been the assistant to English chemist and physicist Humphry Davy, who died in 1829. Written during the time Faraday was involved in a series of experiments which led to the discovery of electromagnetic induction. Accompanied by a steel engraving of Faraday. Estimated Value $600 - 800. Conway Barker, 1975. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $949
Lot 884		[Manhattan Project] Compton, Teller, and Groves. Three men closely associated with the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb: Arthur H. Compton TLS, 1p, 11" x 8½", Chicago, 1929 Oct. 1. to James Stokley, regarding a manuscript Compton was writing on "the physics of the past 50 years"; Edward Teller, photo of a painting by Dmitri Vail of Teller, signed in black marker (slight brushing of ink) in the lower border, 5" x 3½", n.p., n.d.; and Leslie R. Groves PS with rank ("Lieut Gen US Army") in the lower border, 4¾" x 6", n.p., n.d. Groves was the primary military leader in charge of the Manhattan Project; Compton and Teller were physicists actively involved in the project. All fine. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $207
Lot 885		Marconi, Guglielmo ((1874-1937) Italian physicist and inventor; father of the radio; 1909 Nobel Prize winner in physics. PS in the lower border and dated "1932," 11½" x 8¼". A seated, left-profile portrait, signed by the photographer at lower left edge. Minor silvering and one tiny white speck behind Marconi's head.; a few paper remnants at right edge of border and minor edge soiling, all of which can be matted out. A very distinguished photo. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $920
Lot 886		Millikan, Shockley, Urey, and Zqorykin. Robert Millikan (Nobel prize in physics). TLS ("R. Millikan") on "California Institute of Technology" letterhead, 1p, 8¾" x 6", 1939 Mar. 6, stating that only new contracts at the Institute had gone to local architects; with FDC. William Shockley (Nobel prize in physics). PS ("W=Shockley") with diagram of an equation, 7" x 5". Harold C. Urey (Nobel prize in chemistry) TLS on University of California, San Diego letterhead, 11' x 8½", 1970 Oct. 8, sending an autograph. V.K. Zworykin (inventor of the television). TLS, 10½" x 7¼", Princeton, N.J., 1976 Apr. 15, sending a copy of his biography (not present). Overall fine. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $265
Lot 887		Morse, Samuel F.B (1791-1872) American inventor, painter, and writer; best known for the telegraph system, and the Morse Code, which he co-invented with Alfred Vail. ALS ("Sam.F.B. Morse"), 1p, 9" x 7", Poughkeepsie (NY), 1860 Oct. 30. To Samuel Colgate, regarding Morse's resignation as titular head of the Morse Insurance Company. "…I found some suspicious doings on the part of some engaged in the project, and so determined at once to wash my hands of the whole affair…" Fine. With steel engraving of Morse. Estimated Value $700 - 900. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $978
Lot 888		Tesla, Nikola (1856-1943) Inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer, best known for his many contributions to the discipline of electricity and magnetism. Signature in black ink on 2" x 3¼" card, n.p, n.d. A couple of minor blemishes on card, else fine. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $660
Lot 889		Scientists, Inventors, Businessmen. Joseph Henry (1797-1878) ALS as first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, 1864 Feb. 19, to Senator S. Foot, regarding a donated Octopus specimen (a few fold repairs on verso); Sir John Wolfe Barry (1836-1918) 1807 ALS regretfully refusing a dinner invitation; Simon Lake (1866-1945) 1937 Check Signed as trustee of The Milford Trust Company; Chas. E. Duryea (1861-1938) Signature cut from a document; Henry Ford II (1917-1987) 1944 signature and date on an autograph card. Overall fine. (5 items). Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold