Albert Einstein’s Violin Sells for $516,500 at Bonhams New York
A violin crafted for and belonging to Albert Einstein sold for $516,500 at Bonhams New York's Extraordinary Books and Manuscripts auction. The instrument, made by Oscar Steger in February 1933 and inscribed for Einstein, exceeded its low estimate by five times following a bidding battle and was acquired by an anonymous telephone bidder. Einstein later gave the violin to Lawrence Hibbs, son of a Princeton University handyman, and it remained in the family until the sale.
The Signal
The result signals robust collector demand for objects with direct ties to major scientific figures and documented provenance. The fivefold premium over estimate underscores how personal inscriptions and historical context can drive prices for cultural artifacts beyond standard estimates. For buyers and institutions, the outcome illustrates the premium placed on items linking science, music and 20th-century history at auction.
- People: Albert Einstein, Oscar Steger, Lawrence Hibbs
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: New York
- Prices: $516,500
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