Viewing page 62 of 193

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

OAL:R

3 East 51st Street
New York, New York
July 31st, 1939

Dear Mr. Séligmann:

GEORGES HAARDT -- Mr. Chrysler being out of town for a few weeks, I have called for the two Renoirs.

I am happy to report to you that Mr. Haardt made a small sale, as per enclosed copies of Credit Notes. The check of $662.50 has been deposited with J. P. Morgan & Co. As per our contract with Mr. Haardt, he reimbursed us the sum of $50. (10% of the Gross Profit) towards reduction of his personal note. This object is owned by the "Ancienne Société" jointly with Bacre, No. 12818; Cost Price Ffrs. 44.000, Inventory Price Ffrs. 1.000. Since this table cover was sold at a loss, based on the Cost Price, will you please let me know how to establish the decompte for Paris?

JOHN M. SCHIFF -- Enclosed please find copy of his letter of July 27th and our answer thereto of July 31st in reference to the return transit of his painting by Memling lent to the exhibition at Bruges, which you will find self-explanatory. I have arranged with Knoedler to hold the painting in their gallery until the beginning of September at which time they will deliver it to us.

August 1st, 1939

RENOIR -- I was very much surprised to get a request for a few days extension from Mr. Newhouse as only last week when I sent him the catalogues he had asked for, I made it agin specifically understood that we either had to be in receipt of a check by July 31st, or have the Renoir back in our premises. In conformity with your cable, I now have given him four more days, that is up to August 4th, at which time this matter will have to be settled definitely one way or the other.

WORLD'S FAIR -- This is rather a strange thing. Upon receipt of your authorization to insure the pictures ourselves and renounce all recourse against the World's Fair, as they originally insisted upon, they told me today that this was no longer necessary. In other words, they are keeping these paintings insured on their own policy. From what I believe, they never wanted us to cover the pictures ourselves, but they simply wanted to raise some extra cash, and seeing that they didn't get the idea across, they abandoned it. At all events, I am holding an insurance certificate issued by the underwriters for this exhibition covering the Mantegna for $150,000 and the Vermeyen for $20,000.

MRS. CHARLES H. RUSSELL, Jr. from whom we have the Modigliani, "Portrait of a Woman" on consignment wrote to us on July 28th from Pebble Beach, California to send Mr. Walter C. Arensberg a photograph with description of this picture and to quote him a price of $4,500. She asked either Mr. Levy or Mr. de Hauke to take care of this matter. I replied that our galleries, unfortunately, were closed for the whole month of August and that both Mr. Levy and Mr. de Hauke were away from the United States, but that I would call this

t.s.v.p.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 15:49:35 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-10 11:02:34