Viewing page 3 of 79

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

RUDOLF J. ERNST                         
ANLAGEBERATUNG UND
VERWALTUNGEN
_____

TELEPHON 24 97 77
TELEGRAMM: ERNSTANLAGEN BASEL

BASEL, March 17, 1970
DUFOURSTRASSE 5 (BURGHOF)

Mr. Germain Seligman,
5, East 57th Street
New York 22, N.Y.

My dear Germain,

It is a very long time since I last wrote you extensively and many things have happened in the meantime.

Last summer, after my summer-holiday in Zermatt, I left for Sicily and Italy, where I spent a very interesting period, visiting Greek and Norman monuments, which still remain in excellent conditions.

Unfortunately, I discovered afterwards the ordinary troubles of elder men and had to submit myself to an operation in October, from which I have recovered and feel again in good condition. This was the reason why my correspondence and acknowledgement of Christmas cards failed completely this year.

At the present time, a good friend of mine, Mr. Georges Schmid of Zurich, approached me for advice regarding the sale of two important old paintings, namely a Titian and a Ghirlandaio, which latter seems to be one of the last available works of this excellent Italian painter.

Mr. Schmid would appreciate very much to be advised of how to proceed in New York for such a sale.

Not knowing whether your firm would be interested to buy or to take it in consignment for sale, or to advise another specialized firm to acquire these pieces of art, I would be greatly obliged to you, if you would tell me how Mr. Schmid could attain his aim.

The Titian, about which I give you hereby some indications, was formerly part of the collection of a Count Marcel von Nemes, Budapest, whereas the Ghilandaio comes from the collection of Baron Lazzaroni, Paris (details on separate joined sheet).

With regard to the price, I consider it practical that, the party, eventually interested in this deal, would indicate at the given moment the figure and the proceedings customary in the art market in New York for such a transaction. There are all sorts of views to be considered, namely: value, taxes, real property value, market conditions etc. 

Of course the paintings would have to be examined at the given moment, if possible in Zurich, by a person or representative or the firm, which eventually would be interested in negociations.

./.

Transcription Notes:
.[[underlined]] removed per Smithsonian hyphenated words connected per Smithsonian