Relativity: the Special and the General Theory

EINSTEIN, Albert (1879–1955). Relativity: The Special and the General Theory . Translated by Robert W. Lawson. London: Methuen & Co., 1920. First English edition in original dust-jacket. First published in German in 1916, this is the first edition in English of Einstein’s own explanation to the general reader of his two monumental contributions to science: special relativity and general relativity. Einstein writes in his preface, duplicated on the dust-jacket present here: “The author has spared himself no pains in his endeavour to present the main ideas in the simplest and most intelligible form.” Einstein adds an appendix to the English edition following the solar eclipse of 29 May 1919, addressing the results of the famous Eddison experiment which tested Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The results and confirmation of Einstein’s predictions gained widespread media coverage and boosted Einstein’s international reputation beyond the scientific community. Octavo. Half-title, frontispiece portrait (few small spots on title-page, separation between quires). Publisher’s red cloth, lettering on upper cover and spine (hinges split, endpapers toned); with publisher’s orange dust-jacket (outside toned, worn at extremities with small tears and creases, backstrip head and tail torn).

Estimate:$6,000

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