TLS in German, signed “A. Einstein,” one page, 8.5 x 11, blind stamped personal letterhead, December 27, 1946. Letter to Alice K. Orlan in Santa Monica, California. In full (translated): “My sincerest thanks for your note and my best wishes for the New Year, which I hope, will give you the opportunity to work again and give you satisfaction with your work. Please convey my greetings to Bert Brecht, whose art I sincerely admire the most of the people I know who write in German today.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds (one through a single letter of the signature), a bit of scattered light creasing and toning, and Liquid Paper touch-ups to scattered spotting, including one around a word of text, affecting appearance.
As the Nazi Party gained strength in Germany in 1933, several intellectuals, including Bertolt Brecht and Einstein, fled the country in protest. Their later criticism of the Nazi Party led Hitler to accuse them of treason and deem them a threat to the Third Reich. With a shared heritage and both absent from their countries, Einstein seemingly found a kindred soul in Brecht. If nothing else, he enjoyed the fact that he created his works in German, including his most famous work, The Threepenny Opera. In 1947, Brecht was caught up in another political frenzy, this time via the anti-Communism mentality that existed in the United States. Brecht was ultimately blacklisted by film studio executives. Testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee in October 1947, he left the United States for Europe the next day. Two years later, he entertained the notion of applying for Austrian citizenship as the husband of an Austrian citizen, expressing a “longing” for Austria. One of the references he offered in his request was none other than his fellow emigrate, Einstein. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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