Einstein's 1894 violin goes up for auction, here's the expected price

A violin that once belonged to one of the world's most famous scientists is expected to sell for up to £300,000 at an auction in Gloucestershire, England, next month.

The 1894 musical instrument is one of several items that once belonged to Albert Einstein and will go up for auction at Dominic Winter's auction house in South Cherney on October 8.

Also for sale is a bicycle saddle and a philosophy book that Einstein gave to a friend in 1932.

Historic objects expert Chris Albury told the BBC he was excited about the sale of "extremely historic items." The life-size Zunterer violin is believed to be the first one Einstein himself bought.

All items presented at the auction were given to his good friend and fellow physicist Max von Laue at the end of 1932.

Shortly thereafter, Einstein fled to America to escape the rise of anti-Semitism and Nazism in Germany. Twenty years later, Max von Laue gave them to an acquaintance and admirer of Einstein, Margarete Homrich, and now her great-granddaughter is offering them for sale.

Another violin that once belonged to Einstein, which was given to him as a gift when he arrived in the US in 1933, was sold at auction for $516,500 (£370,000) in New York in 2018. /tch