Erwin Panofsky (1892-1968) was one of the most important art historians and cultural scientists of the 20th Century. Already amongst his contemporaries he was looked upon as Einstein of Art History. Until 1933 he taught as the first full professor of his subject at the University of Hamburg and stood in close contact to the Kulturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek Warburg for which he acted as a representative during a visit in New York in 1931. After his forced emigration he was appointed in 1935 as a permanent member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where he lived and worked up to his death. In long years of work the editor Prof. em. Dr. Dieter Wuttke found 24000 of probably 27000 letters of and to Panofsky in archives all over the world and selected more than 3000 for this edition. The selection that is going to be published in five volumes is text critical prepared, annotated and easily accessible through indices. The first volume covers the period from his university studies, his time as a Professor in Hamburg, his expulsion by the Nazi-Regime to his settling down in Princeton. The work sees itself as a contribution to the under-standing of the history of the life and influence of Erwin Panofsky, who did not leave an autobiography. By his letters Panofsky's personality gains outlines and vividness. They offer views of the eventful history of the 20th Century from the perspective of an exceptional personality, whereby the history of science, social studies, persons and institutions have special emphasis. Apart from few exceptions the correspondence of Panofsky is the unknown part of his lifework and will be a starting point for future research work.