Viewing page 8 of 95

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Madame André Bonger-Baronne van der Borch van Verwolde;

"Groot Have", [[underlined]] ALMEN [[/underlined]] (near [[underlined]] Zutphen [[/underlined]]), Gelderland, HOLLAND.

ALMEN, October 2nd. 1949.

Germain Seligman Esq.,
c/o Jacques Seligmann & Co., Inc.,
5 East 57 th street,
[[underlined]] NEW YORK [[/underlined]] (22)

Dear Sir,

Yesterday I received your letter from Sept. 28th. 

The Redon collection of Mr. André Bonger - my late husband - is indeed now mine, and open to the public every Tuesday from 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. For this reason beside others I generally do not lend any pictures for exhibitions.

Still I would be willing to make an exception this time but only on the following conditions : 

I should bring over the pictures myself accompanied by my secretary-chauffeur in our car, provided our passage etc. would be paid for.

To cover our expenses for hotel, meals, etc. in New York I could give lectures on Odilon Redon and on subjects concerning the French literature, e.g. on Baudelaire; on the Temptation of St. Anthoine by Flaubert, both interesting in connection with the lithographs by Redon on the same subjects. (I am M.A. in French literature and studied in Amsterdam and in Paris). I could give the lectures in English or in French. Would it eventually be possible for you to organise this for me?

You know that we get very little money for a voyage abroad and that in order to travel it is necessary to make some arrangement. I made great sacrifices to keep my husband's collection almost complete. At the time of his death (1936) I could have made a capital if I had sold it. Now, that life over here has become so very difficult, I feel authorized to use my pictures as a means to keep in touch with intellectual and artistic centres in Holland and abroad. As I have never visited the United States of America this would be an unique occasion for me to see your magnificent galleries and maybe private collections. Moreover my knowledge of French literature can be useful too.

I hope you will excuse me to put things quite openly before you. Hoping we may come to an understanding,

Yours truly,
[[signature]] FWM Bonger vdBorch v Verwolde [[signature]]
(F.W.M. Bonger-
van der Borch v.Verwolde)