A letter written by Albert Einstein, in which he shares his thoughts on God with an author, is to be auctioned on eBay.
As of October 8, bidders will have a chance to purchase the extraordinary letter, which offers a unique insight into the physicist's personal views on religion. It will be sold with a starting bid of $3m, with the auction closing on October 18.
 "...nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses" |
The letter was handwritten on Princeton University headed paper in 1954, as a response to Eric B Gutkind's book "Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt", in which he calls for a humanism based on Biblical teachings.
Einstein wrote: "...The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change this."
The consignor of the letter wishes to remain anonymous, but it is known that he bought the item in 2008 for $404,000. Should it sell, the letter will see a $642.5% increase in value - a return rate of 65% pa.
A piece of paper in which Einstein and his friend Michele Besso attempt a calculation that would prove pivotal in the General Theory of Relativity sold for $398,500 in 1996. The same auction saw a collection of 53 love letters between Einstein and his wife Mileva Maric sell for $442,500.
Paul Fraser Collectibles is currently offering two fantastic items from another of the 20th century's greatest minds - Thomas Edison.
