Einstein Manuscript, Space Stuff For Sale

Everything is relative - in auctions as well as physics.

A description of the theory of relativity - E=mc2, or energy equals mass times the speed of light squared - handwritten by Albert Einstein, brought $1.2 million the last time it was sold. It’s going on the auction block again and this time, nine years later, the mass of money it is expected to bring has grown to $6 million.

“Nine years, at least in this world, is an eternity,” said David Redden, a senior vice president of marketing at Sotheby’s.

The 72-page manuscript going up for bids March 16 is a lengthy review of what is now known as Einstein’s special theory of relativity. The famous equation changed physics by demonstrating that time was not absolute and that mass and energy were equivalent.

The Einstein auction will be preceded by a sale of memorabilia from the Russian space program, including a Vostok space capsule estimated at $800,000 to $1 million.

The sale of more than 400 space items is expected to raise at least $2 million.