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CT-J 

April 11, 1925. 

^[[check mark]]

Secretary Mellon
White House
Washington, D.C. 

Dear Mr. Mellon:

I did not wish to trouble you the other day when you called in here with Mr. Messmore to see your portrait, but I was particularly anxious for you to see two very rare pieces which we have here. 

One is a very marvelous Venetian Bronze of the 16th century of St. John the Baptist by Jacopo Sansovino. This was formerly in the collection of the Emperor of Germany, and it is mentioned and reproduced in the Emperor's catalogue made by Dr. Bode, of which we have a photographic copy. It was recently sold by Princess Von Hessen, who considered it one of the finest works of art in their famous collection in the Castle of Friedrichshof. It is considered to be, by all the living experts, as one of the finest specimens of sculpture of the period, and it was made about 1550. The figure stands 20 1/2 " high. 

The other is an intensely rare marble statuette, curiously enough, also of St. John the Baptist. It is Italian work of the 15th century by Benedetto da Najano. This attribution is confirmed by M. da Nicole, the Curator of the Bargello Museum in Florence, where other sculptures of this artist are to be found. The height of this statue is 26". 

I would not have written you about these things, were I not sure that they were quite worth of your attention, but they are so exceptionally fine, that it occurred to me that you would probably like to see them. If you are at all interested, we would be delighted to send them out to you on approval, or upon hearing from you, we would give you any further particulars that you might like to have. 

Awaiting the favor of your reply, 

Believe us to be, 
Yours respectfully, 

JACQUES SELIGMANN & CO.INC. 

By: 

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