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Einstein's Note On Happiness, Given To Bellboy In 1922, Fetches $1.6 Million (theguardian.com)
A note that Albert Einstein gave to a courier in Tokyo briefly describing his theory on happy living has sold at auction in Jerusalem for $1.56m, according to auctioneers. From a report: The winning bid for the note far exceeded the pre-auction estimate of between $5,000 and $8,000, according to Winner's auctions. "It was an all-time record for an auction of a document in Israel," said Winner's spokesman Meni Chadad, adding that the buyer was a European who wished to remain anonymous. The note, on Imperial Hotel Tokyo stationery, says in German that "a quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest." "I am really happy that there are people out there who are still interested in science and history and timeless deliveries in a world which is developing so fast," the seller said on condition of anonymity after the sale.
Trivia for architecture geeks and/or enthusiasts of Japanese history: the Imperial Hotel (torn down in '67) was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and was one of the only buildings to remain standing after the Great Kanto Earthquake devastated Tokyo. more here.