First separate printing of Einstein’s obituary for Karl Schwarzschild, a pioneer in astrophysics, 1916

Albert EINSTEIN: GEDÄCHTNISREDE AUF KARL SCHWARZSCHILD. [Memorial Lecture on Karl Schwarzschild.] Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, XXXIV (1916). Öffentliche Sitzung am 29. Juni, p. 768-769. Berlin: Verlag der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften (in commission at Georg Reimer [Reichsdruckerei]), 6th July 1916.

Imperial 8vo (26,5:19 cm). 2 pages, numbered 768-769. Letterpress on machine paper, in original publisher’s brochure on orange-coloured stock with black title printing.

First separate printing in the original wrappers, of Einstein's obituary for German astronomer and physicist Karl Schwarzschild, a pioneer in astrophysics.

Edition: Schwarzschild had provided the first exact solution to the Einstein field equations of general relativity, for the limited case of a single spherical non-rotating mass, which he had accomplished in 1915, the same year that Einstein first introduced his »Theory of General Relativity«.

Condition: Wrappers minimally torn at margins, otherwise very well preserved copy indeed, uncut thus obviously not opened at all.

Rarity: ABPC (1973ff.) and APO (1988ff.) record only 1 copy of this edition at auction (2014).

Reference: Schilpp-Shields 100; Weil 87.