Scribbled Albert Einstein note on theory of happiness sells for over £1m

A note written on a Tokyo hotel official paper in 1922 by Albert Einstein is seen before being sold at an auction in Jerusalem
REUTERS
Chris Baynes25 October 2017

A scribbled note describing Albert Einstein's theory of happiness has sold for £1.18m at auction.

The scientist wrote the note for a courier in Tokyo in 1922, shortly after learning he won the Nobel Prize in physics.

"A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness," it reads.

Einstein is said to have had no cash to tip the courier so wrote note and told him it would grow to be valuable.

While the message may not be as significant as Einstein's groundbreaking theory of relativity, it sheds light on one of the great modern minds and sparked a frantic 25-minute bidding war at Winner's Auctions and Exhibitions in Jerusalem.

Gal Wiener, chief executive of the auction house, said Einstein told the courier that his his fame meant the handwritten note "will probably be worth more than a regular tip".

Bidding began at $2,000 (£1,520) and quickly escalated to $1.56m (£.1.18), with two final buyers duelling by phone.

Applause reportedly broke out in the room when the sale was announced.

A second note Einstein gave the courier, reading "Where there's a will there's a way," sold for over $200,000 (£150,900), Mr Wiener said.

Albert Einstein wrote the note shortly after being awarded the Nobel prize for physics
AP

He would not identify the buyer or seller of either note, which were written on the headed paper of the hotel where Einstein was staying.

Einstein was a founder of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and left the institution his literary estate and personal papers.

In 1952 the German-born physicist declined an invitation to serve as Israel's first president.

He died in 1955.

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