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October 6, 1950

Dear Mr. Carvale:

Ever so many thanks for your letter of October 3rd which however disappointed me much.

You will understand in what embarrassing situations this new increase in price of the RODIN bronze has put me, having of course told my colleague that from the original price of 450,000 francs it had been jacked up to 700,000 francs, that is $2,000 (two thousand dollars) and that now it is $3,000 (three thousand dollars).

He felt as I did, namely that $2,000 or the equivalent in francs at the rate of three hundred and fifty is high enough a price. I would be much obliged to you therefore if you could convince this lady to sell it on this basis of $2,000.

It is understood that you would receive the 10% commission on the purchase price and this paid in Paris, as per your request. I doubt very much that my colleague will be willing to pay more, particularly in view of the present psychological conditions in this country, as, between you and me, people here are very much perturbed with all the war rumors etc. It seems therefore hardly the time to increase prices and here again, between you and me, I think that the sooner this lady would make up her mind the better it will be, for were the general conditions of the art market not to improve within the next coming weeks my friend may purely and simply desist himself.

I am most anxious to hear by and by as to the party you will suggest to follow up the different matters we talked over.

Meanwhile, with personal regards,

Yours sincerely,

(Germain Seligman)

Monsieur Carvale

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