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January 6th, 1940.

Dear Walter:

Following your visit the other day, I came away with mingled and confused feelings, for I felt that you sincerely wanted to buy the Van Gogh painting of the "Irises" and yet something stood in the way of your favorable decision.

If you will bear with me through these lines, I would like to enlarge a little bit more fully on our conversation the other day and also explain to you another proposition I have in mind and which I think should prove tempting to you.

Let us start at the beginning.  The price of the Van Gogh, as you know, is $70,000 and, as I told you, I would be willing to quote you $60,000 net, representing the absolutely final price beyond which there could be no reduction; for I felt that on both occasions you were sufficiently interested in acquiring this magnificent painting for me to tempt you with this special price.  I think we are agreed that this is truly a magnificent Van Gogh which can be numbered amongst the ten or twelve greatest pictures that he ever painted.  Assuming this for our premise, I do not feel that the special price I have given you is at all unreasonable, particularly (and I mentioned this the other day) when one compares it to current art prices and to what has been sold in recent times, both at auction and on the market.  Incidentally, I feel that were this picture to go on the auction block either here or abroad (barring war time, of course), the competition to buy it would be so great that it would fetch a price far in excess of what we ask for it.

As to its being completely representative of Van Gogh, I think you will further agree that it is painted with all the brilliance and tortuous brush strokes for which he is so famous, and is truly indicative of the artist at his best.  We have pretty well gone over the above ground already, although it remains none the less true and sincere.

I should now like to tell you what I have to offer in the way of an added inducement towards the purchase of this picture.  Grouped herewith is a list of pictures which you have seen here and in which you have evidenced certain interest from time to time; on some of them you have made offers.  I propose that if you buy the Van Gogh for $60,000, you be given

t.s.v.p. 

^[[GS]]