Einstein's Historic Letter That Warned Of Nuclear Weapons Sells At Christie's Auction. Know The Price

The original letter, which reached the desk of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, ultimately contributed to the development of the world's first atomic bomb

A copy of a pivotal letter signed by Albert Einstein, which played a crucial role in the onset of the nuclear age, has been sold at a Christie's auction for $3.9 million (approximately Rs 32.7 crore). The original letter, which reached the desk of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, ultimately contributed to the development of the world's first atomic bomb. Einstein later referred to this as his "one great mistake."

The letter is part of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library's collection in New York. In it, Einstein warned Roosevelt of the possibility that Germany was working on nuclear weapons, stating that advancements in nuclear physics had made it likely that uranium could become "a new and important source of energy." He further cautioned that this energy could be weaponised to create "extremely powerful bombs." Einstein urged the US government to accelerate its own research in response to the potential threat.

Peter Klarnet, senior specialist for Americana, books, and manuscripts at Christie's, described the letter as "one of the most influential letters in history." Written in the summer of 1939, the letter's contents contributed to the establishment of the Manhattan Project, which ultimately led to the creation of atomic bombs.

According to Business Insider, the auctioned copy, signed by Einstein, was the only version still in private ownership. It had been part of the collection of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who purchased the letter in 2002 for $2.1 million. Before that, it was owned by publisher Malcolm Forbes, who acquired it from Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard's estate. Szilard, a fellow Jewish scientist who fled Europe alongside Einstein during Adolf Hitler's rise, wrote the letter that Einstein later signed.

While the letter sparked the development of atomic weapons, Einstein became increasingly troubled by their use, especially after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, killing approximately 200,000 people. "Woe is me," Einstein reportedly lamented upon learning of the devastation.