🔗 Share this article Albert Einstein's Violin Achieves Nearly £1 Million at Bidding Event The total price will surpass £1m after charges are applied A violin previously belonging to the famous scientist has gone for £860,000 at auction. That Zunterer violin from 1894 is thought as being his earliest instrument while being originally estimated to fetch about £300,000 as it went up for auction in South Cerney, Gloucestershire. An additional book on philosophy that the physicist gifted to an acquaintance also sold at a price of two thousand two hundred pounds. The prices will be subject to an extra commission of 26.4% added to them, which means the final price for Einstein's violin will rise above one million pounds. Auctioneers believe that after the commission are added, this auction could be the top price for an instrument not previously owned by a performing artist or made by Stradivarius – while the prior highest sale achieved by an instrument that was perhaps used during the Titanic voyage. The renowned physicist was a passionate violinist who began playing at age six and continued throughout his life. Another bike saddle also owned by the scientist remained unsold in the bidding and could be re-listed. The items offered for sale were passed to his close friend and scientist von Laue in late 1932. Soon after, he departed to the United States to flee the increase of antisemitism and National Socialism in Germany. Von Laue gifted them to a friend and Einstein fan, Hommrich two decades later, and it was her descendant that has decided to sell them. A second violin formerly possessed by Einstein, that was presented to him as he came in the United States in the year 1933, went for at auction for $516,500 (£370k) in NYC back in 2018.