EINSTEIN, Albert. "Die Grundlagen der Allgemeinen Relativitatstheorie," Sonderdruck aus den Annalen Der Physik, 1916, series IV, volume 49, 1916. First edition, first issue of the monograph issue, of Einstein's "Grundlagen...", the "greatly expanded and detailed memoir...which, so to speak, became the Authorized Version" of the general theory of relativity--(Complete DSB online) Original wrappers. 9"x6", 64pp. Condition: the wrappers have little chips out here and there (see photos) along the cover edges. There are also three small chips along the paper spine, two being about a half-inch and the third (at bottom) being ¾". Owner's name appears at top right title page, dated 1921. Overall, a solid copy. VG. Weil 80a, PMM 408, Grolier/Horblit 26c, Boni 78.1, Schilpp-Schields 86. $3750
The printer's imprint identifying this as the first issue reads "Druck von Metzger & Wittig in Leipzig" on the verso of the title page; it also has the other first issue point, "Metzger & Wittig, Leipzig" printed on the rear cover. (The 2nd issue is mostly identical except that it has "Omnitypie-Ges." imprinted on verso of title and was actually printed in 1919 even though the title page and cover dates the puiblication as 1916.) It is noted that the monograph issue is not an offprint from the Annalen--it is the first separate edition of this paper, Einstein’s general theory of relativity. It also contains additional material not in the offprint from the Annalen—namely a table of contents ("Inhalt", pp 3-5) as well as an introduction ("Einleitung" pp 5-6).
What can I say about this paper that hasn't been said thousands of times before? I can go on and on about it, repeating everything, but the reader already knows all of it. But one does need to say/quote something, one or two things, at least, and so I will simply say that this work is one of the greatest feats of scientific thinking for a period of several hundred years. "The theory of relativity has transformed astrophysics, and indeed the whole scientific outlook," which is a basic and core statement made about this work, this one being found its description in PMM 408. Perhaps a more richly textured statement on this Einstein was made on the front page of the 7 November 1919 issue of the London Times reporting the announcement at the joint meeting of the Royal Society and Royal Astronomical Society of 6 November of the 29 May eclipse expedition of Eddington/Dyson/Davidson eclipse/bent light experiment that verified general relativity, the headline loudly declaring : "Revolution in Science. New Theory of the Universe. Newtonian Ideas Overthrown," which I think was very bubbly and excitable for the Brits, given all of it...
