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COPIE

The Wallace Collection
Manchester Square
London, W.1.

29th November 1953

Dear Mr. Seligman,

It is some time since I heard from you and I hope you are well.

As you know, I have been collecting material for some time for an article in The Burlington Magazine  on the Hartford-Wallace collection of tapestries. You have been more than kind in helping me over this and other matters, and I have been waiting to see if any further information should come to light as to the present whereabouts of some of the pieces which Lord Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace are known to have possessed. I am now very anxious to get my article written, and in view of your important rediscovery of the rue Lafitte inventory, I am wondering whether this throws any fresh light on the subsequent history and/or present location of any of the tapestries.

I am venturing to send you first, a list of all tapestries which I have been able to identify, and secondly, a transpription of those entries in the catalogue of the Musee Retrospectif exhibition held in Paris in 1865, referring to Lord Hertford's loans of tapestry, this being the first indication that he possessed any.

With regard to the first list, I am particularly anxious to trace the eight Don Quichotte panels, and also the four Flemish-Gothic tapestries. I have written to your brother in Paris about the two Beauvais armorial pieces, one of which I believe he showed me in 1949, and you yourself told me in your letter of 31st May that you might be able to trace the Repas further.

In any case, I would be very grateful for any further information you can give me, and, as you see, I have made some brief notes in the list which I am sending you, which may help you to trace individual pieces.

Hoping very much to hear from you soon, and with kindest regards,

Yours sincerely

....... Cecil