Letter penned by Albert Einstein in 1953 auctioned for USD 53,503!

New Delhi: In 1953, renowned physicist Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Arthur Converse, a science teacher, in reply to a two-page questionnaire submitted by him.

Today, in 2017, the letter concerning electrostatic theory and special relativity has managed to fetch a whopping USD 53,503 at an auction.

With an opening price of USD 15,000, the letter was bought by an unidentified person.

The letter had been in the Converse family's possession for many years, said Sam Heller, a spokesman for the Nate D Sanders Auctions auctions that sold the letter.

The letter's envelope indicated it was sent from 'Room 115' of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, on September 7, 1953 and seems to answer questions about Einstein's theory of relativity and how to reconcile the theory with experiments, 'Live Science' reported.

Converse was a science teacher and had sent Einstein a questionnaire regarding experiments with electroscopes, which are charge-measuring instruments.

The famous physicist also wrote an opening page that says one should expect to measure a potential difference, a voltage, whose level depends on the distance from the Earth's surface.

Einstein wrote that the only assumption one needs to make is that there is some difference in the charge of the surface of the Earth and the upper atmosphere and that the electroscope, in this case, would behave as though it were inside a charged sphere.

One question bears a question mark and a bit of mathematical notation from the famous physicist, who appeared to think the query was poorly phrased and defined.

In response, Einstein said there is no problem with explaining an experimental result with "standard electrostatic theory."

"It is clear to the reader [that] Einstein was interested in Converse's questions and generous in his considerate response," said Nate Sanders, owner of Nate D Sanders Auctions.

"These documents provide a rare glimpse into Einstein's generous nature and willingness to help teachers better understand and communicate his theories," Nate said.

(With PTI inputs)