This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
^[[checkmark]] [[preprinted]] PLEASE REPLY TO S. C. KAINES SMITH, STARETON HOUSE, STARETON, NR. KENILWORTH THE COOK COLLECTION TELEPHONE: LEAMINGTON SPA 171 KEEPER: S. C. KAINES SMITH, M.B.E., M.A., F.S.A. STATION: LEAMINGTON SPA [[/preprinted]] November 28th, 1950 Dear Mr. Cunningham, I have put off replying to your letter of October 16th until I had had an opportunity of seeing the cup about which I wrote you and of getting a second opinion on it; for I am very far from being an accepted authority on renaissance silverwork. I have now seen the cup, and alas, though it is a very pretty thing, it is by no means a collector's piece, and is very far removed from any association with the great men of the Italian renaissance. I know as much myself, at a glance, but I recommended the owners to get the opinion of the Victoria and Albert Museum, which confirmed me up to the hilt - Austrian, mid-19th century (I had thought, French, but my date for it was the same - and the British Museum said, French, so I was not far out). So that is that! I have been looking out, among the collections that I have visited from time to time, for good French paintings that might be ready to slip their moorings from their present harbour, but so far I have seen nothing worthy of note. The Dulwich College pictures are certainly not for sale. I have not heard that Lord Derby is selling anything except a certain amount of land. But things turn up in a surprisingly unexpected way - like you, I am a confirmed optimist. How good of you to bear in mind the Missing Volume TWO! With kindest regards, ^[[Yours sincerely S.C. Kaines Smith]] [[underline]]P.S.OVER[[/underline]]