EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics ...

EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. A.N.S., with his initials A.E., to the white border of the recto of a colour picture postcard depicting a lady standing in a full-length pose and wearing the traditional Pollera costume of Panama, n.p. (Panama), n.d. (23rd December 1930), to Moritz Katzenstein, in German. Einstein writes, in full, ´Lieber K. Diese Maid mit gutiger Bewilligung von Seiten Ihrer Frau. Herzliche Gruss Ihr´ (Translation: ´Dear K, This maid with the good permission of your wife. Best regards´). To the verso of the postcard appears an A.L.S., Elsa, by Elsa Einstein (1876-1936) the cousin and second wife of Albert Einstein, married from 1919-36, Panama, 23rd December (1930)m to Moritz Katzenstein and his wife, in German. Einstein writes, in full ´Panama war bis jetzt das starkste schonste Erlebnis auf dieser Reise. Nicht nur die Fahrt durch den Kanal nein die Stadt u. ihr zauberhafte Lage bleiben unvergesslich! Heute is Weihnacht, ich denk viel an zu Hause´ (Translation: ´Panama has been the most powerful experience of this journey so far. Not only the journey through the canal, but also the city and its enchanting location remain unforgettable! Today is Christmas, I think a lot about home´). Hand addressed by Elsa Einstein. A printed caption to the verso describes the Panamanian maid and her dress, which caught Albert Einstein´s eye, as such, ´The Panamanian Girls display their gala attire to best advantage on fiesta occasions. The Pollera costume is of simple material but gorgeous in decoration, scant in proportions at the shoulders but exceedingly full in the skirt. Bright coloured shoes, hat and wraps complete the outfit´. Some light age wear and a few small, minor corner creases, otherwise VG

Moritz Katzenstein (1872-1932) German surgeon, a professor at the University of Berlin from 1913 and a friend of Einstein.

Einstein and his wife visited Panama in December 1930 as the guest of the President, Florencio Harmodio Arosemena (1872-1945), who was a lifelong friend of the scientist, and with whom he had attended university in Germany. The trip to Panama was en route from Belgium, where the Einsteins departed on board the ocean liner Belgenland, to California where Einstein had accepted a two month research fellowship at the California Institute of Technology (the present letter bears a postmark from San Diego, California).