Vintage matte-finish 7 x 9.75 full-length photo of Einstein on the deck of the steamship Westernland in 1933 on his voyage to immigrate to the United States, signed in fountain pen, “Albert Einstein,” adding the date under his signature, and signed again along the top border. Stamped by Eastman Kodak in the lower border, this is, to our knowledge, an unpublished photo. Photo was originally framed and is accompanied by the original backing, which has several notes of provenance regarding the photo, with most of the notations partially faded as well. Notations state, “Albert Einstein, emmigrate [sic] to the U. S. 1933, photograph taken on ship by Charles Alfred Higgins, Jr., of Washington D. C. Autographed by Albert Einstein at Princeton, New Jersey. He settled in Princeton, N. J.” In very good condition, with only faint traces of both signatures visible due to ink fading and a thin mounting remnant along reverse top edge. As conditions in Germany deteriorated in 1933, Einstein decided to leave Europe once and for all, departing from Southhampton on October 7 with his wife Elsa, his secretary, and his assistant Dr. Walther Mayer. After arriving in New York, he eventually settled in Princeton, taking a position at the Institute for Advanced Study. RR Auction COA.
