Handwritten pages from Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, his 1921 Nobel Prize, and other parts of the Albert Einstein Archives from Jerusalem are on display for the first time in Asia.

The 100-year-old collection, on loan from Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, centers around four areas of Einstein’s life: scientific accomplishments, private life, public image, and his ideas that have influenced modern life.

The exhibit, “Albert Einstein: Life in Four Dimensions,” is currently on its first stop at the National Chiang Kei-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, after which it will travel to China and Japan.

Einstein’s Nobel Prize from 1921 on display at the Asia exhibit. Photo courtesy of Ardon Bar Hama/Hebrew University

In addition to his famous scientific successes, more than 75 Einstein artifacts are on display, including personal letters exchanged with Sigmund Freud, family members and lovers, and the physicist’s own vinyl record collection.

“For years our academics have collaborated with their colleagues in the Far East. Now the people of Taiwan will get to experience one of our greatest minds up close,” said HU President Asher Cohen.

Transporting the historic pieces from HU’s archive in Israel was no easy feat. The journey involved an armored truck, police escort and dummy car to throw off potential thieves, and 40 of the more valuable items were hand carried by the Einstein Archives’ curator, Roni Grosz, and chief conservator Neil McManus.

Cap: “Albert Einstein: Life in Four Dimensions” opens in Taiwan. Photo courtesy of Hebrew University

Einstein was a member of HU’s first Board of Governors, along with fellow philosophers and scientists Sigmund Freud, Martin Buber and Chaim Weizmann.

After Einstein died in 1955, he left his documents to the Jerusalem institution, making it the most extensive Einstein collection in the world.