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RW:P 

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January 9th, 1931

Dear Mr. Séligman,

In the enclosure I am sending you today an exact copy of the list of items which Mrs. Bayer had purchased from our firm, and which list I sent her upon her request.  She not only wanted to have the prices,  but she wanted to have the exact amount paid for the different items figured in dollars, at the time of purchase, as she told me the 70,000 francs, for instance, which she paid for the  Robbia  "Madonna and Child " at the time of purchase,  at the exchange was over $4,000.00 instead of $2800.00 at the present exchange.  I, therefore,  am sending you an exact  copy for your information, as I am under the impression that Mrs. Bayer will communicate with you or somebody in Paris when she gets there.  She is sailing next Tuesday and has asked me to come and see her on Monday.

I also am reporting to you that last night I went to Mrs. Graham Fair Vanderbilt, who gave a large party.  This is the same lady who has purchased the large piece of property on 93rd Street,  next to the Irving Berlin's and the Goadby-Loew's.  In fact, Mrs. George Draper is giving a small dinner for Mrs Vanderbilt next Wednesday, to which she has also asked me,  which will give me an opportunity of getting  better acquainted with her than at a large ball.

Nevertheless, the party was extremely interesting as I had supper with Mrs. George F. Baker, Jr.  and the George  Widener's:  in fact , I spent most of the evening with them.  I was quite alarmed by the comment by somebody at the party regarding  Mrs. Marion Daugherty,  the same lady who is or was a great friend of Capt. Jack Rumbolt, both being in the interior decorating business.   Mrs Dougherty is living at the house of Mrs. Marshall Field and through her influence Mrs. Field purchased,a little while ago,  the Raeburn portrait of Miss Cochran, which Knoedler almost sold last winter to the late Gifford Cochran.  She now has had sent up to the Marshall Field house the Battoni portrait from Agnews; you perhaps recall the picture - the portrait of a very distinguished man with fine, long hands, in a bright red fur edged coat.  The price asked for the picture is $35,000.00, contrary to the price asked in London of 4,000L last summer.  It appears that Mrs Dougherty is making about 15% on this picture.  However, if she can put the business with the Fields over, it is most interesting to know and I have been frantically busy all morning to somehow find a way to communicate with Mrs. Dougherty, which easily can be done vie the Hohenloe's, but would be impossible in this case, as it would mean still another commission.  However, I will see how I can get on to her.

I am going to see the McCormack's this afternoon.  They have just arrived from Europe and I hear that John is looking for primitive paintings for his new house in California.  This might also be a prospect.

I had a long talk with George Widener about art, and he told me point blank - probably in self-defence - that at the present time he is not interested in buying