Viewing page 9 of 19

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

December 4th., 1947

Dear Audrey:

This is strictly, if I may call it so, a business letter, hence it is typewritten, and I hope you will not mind.

Since your visit, I have given further thought to your problem, and fear you were rather disappointed with the little help I gave you.

It is the ungrateful duty of friendship to be sincere and frank even though, and I do hope it was not the case, it may not always be as encouraging or pleasant as one could be towards strangers for whom one feels no moral responsibility.

What I want to convey is the following. As you gathered, I would recommend an auction in New York as probably the most satisfactory way of disposing of the collection.

However, and this is particularly what I want to emphasize, the time has to be carefully chosen, and I am under the impression that the present one is not very propitious for such an undertaking, irrespective of what other people may say. Should I be right in my contention, I would consider it advisable to delay such an auction until conditions have improved.

Now, I have just received the catalogue of an auction of modern paintings, which is to take place in New York on the 10th. and 11th. of December. It contains paintings of all type, and though there is nothing in it of sensational merit, it is of sufficiently diversified a nature to give an idea of the present trend. Why don't you come down and watch it, in order to build up your own opinion.

With kindest thoughts to you, your husband, and to Margaret and Duncan,

Most sincerely yours,
(Germain Seligmann)

Mrs. P.F. Osler
1321 Sherbrooke St. W.
Montreal,
Canada