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November 17th, 1956

Dear Mr. Baderou:

I am writing you today in connection with the LOUIS MANTE auction, so that my letter will reach you in ample time.  It will also allow us to cable in the meantime if neccesary.

Of the GUSTAVE MOREAU, please buy:

No. 6 "L'Hydre de Lerne" - up to 5 Hundred Thousand Francs.

No.8 "Dame à la Licorne" - up to Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Francs.

No. 12 - Aquarelle - "Roger Delivrant Angelique" - up to One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Francs.-

Now as regards the DELACROIX, No. 26: "Olinde et Sophronie" - up to Eight Million Francs -

These figures are the bidding figures - in other words "les frais"- are not included and are en-sus.  Also, they are not limited to the penny - in other words, should you have the feeling that a few thousand Francs more may buy the MOREAU, do so, and particularly should you not obtain No. 6 - you could increase No. 8 and No. 12 -
Now, as
Now, as regards the DELACROIX, I am under the impression - as I wrote to you - that the figure of 12 Million that both experts indicated is a "reserve".

I am afraid that a few months ago, before Madame Mante died, some dealer realizing that he could not buy the painting has "cloué" it by saying that it was worth at least as much.

Should this be the case, and should noone bid beyond the figure of 12 Million, it will be brought it - racheter -

My price of 8 Million to which as I wrote above about the MOREAU you could add an extra bid of a hundred or a hundred and fifty thousand Francs, is based on the fact that the famous painting of the NATCHEZ at the Bessoneaux auction two years ago, did not bring quite 4 Million, and everybody thought at that time that it was already a very high price - so that in more than doubling that amount, my bid seems to me to be a very reasonable one.

I wrote to you a few days ago, asking you to inquire whether the figure of 12 Million  was not a "reserve".  It is difficult of course to ascertain this, but Jacques Dubourg, may be willing to tell you

T. S. V. P.

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