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Peter G. Powers, Esquire

Page 4

purchased for "Hillwood" before 1968. It was bought in December, 1966.

The memorandum of January 5, 1975 from Mr. Ross to Mr. Anderson states:

"the Order of the Golden Fleece with diamonds now temporarily in the Numismatic Section at the Smithsonian probably should be exhibited in a secure place such as with Mrs. Post's jewelry. It used to be exhibited in the Drawing Room"

Attached are memoranda describing this article and a photograph.

[[underlined]] Jade Vase and Other Articles [[/underlined]]

In the opinion of the officers of the Foundation, some articles do not fit into the Hillwood collections and, therefore, should not be claimed for Hillwood Museum.

For example, in November, 1968, Mrs. Post gave $80,000 in stock to the Smithsonian Institution to purchase a jade vase, located in Mexico by Dr. Switzer, the Head of the Minerology department, in the possession of two Chinese. See Handelman letter and Ross memorandum of November 15, 1968.

Other examples of articles which should remain at the Smithsonian Institution are the "historical jewels."

[[underlined]] A Special Case: The Catherine II Russian Chalice [[/underlined]]

The Russian Gold Chalice is a special situation. Many friends contributed funds for an 80th birthday gift to Mrs. Post in 1967. It is described as "a pair of candelabra in Lapis Lazuli and Ormolo. St. Petersburg, early 19th century."

After Mrs. Post's death in 1973, the pair of candelabra were returned to Hillwood by the Smithsonian Institution.

These were excess funds from the birthday gift. They were used - together with a gift of stock by Mr. Post - to purchase a gold chalice. On July 31, 1967, Mrs. Post sent a photograph and note as follows:

"The last half of the money you dear generous friends sent in for my birthday has now been used toward the purchase of this lovely addition to the HILLWOOD COLLECTION. x x"