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Mr. Germain Seligman - 2     July 30, 1947

NESI (continued) to which I received the following answer (July 28, 1947):

IMPOSSIBLE CLOSE DEAL AT 4800. ALL I GET IS 4000 IN FOUR WEEKS AND 500 IN NOVEMBER. PLEASE TRANSMIT THIS TO MISTER SELIGMAN REGARDS NESI

I confirm my cable to you of July 29:

NESI WIRES QUOTE IMPOSSIBLE CLOSE DEAL AT FORTYEIGHT HUNDRED ALL I GET IS FOURTHOUSAND FOUR WEEKS AND FIVEHUNDRED NOVEMBER UNQUOTE PLEASE WIRE STOP CUSTOMS RELEASED LARGE STATUES LIECHTI

and yours of July 30:

LOWEST FORTYTWO HUNDRED FOURTHOUSAND SEPTEMBER FIRST TWOHUNDRED NOVEMBER

which I transmitted to Mr. Nesi. So far I am without his answer.

TWO LARGE MARBLE STATUES (July 29, 1947)

As stated in the above cable, these items were finally released by the United States Customs. There is a bit of a story connected with this importation which I shall relate to you on your return. At all events, I have made arrangements with Mr. Stora to check upon the condition of these works of art tomorrow morning and if found in order shall remit to him the balance due of $3,200.-

(July 30, 1947) On examination by Mr. and Mrs. Stora accompanied by their son and myself, we found the statue of the knight in good condition as indicated by the photograph. However, to my distress, the head of the lady was cleanly broken off, approximately in the middle of the neck. By making comparisons with the photograph is can easily be ascertained that it is a recurrence of an old break, which fact is further substantiated by the iron rod reinforcing the original damage. In addition there were several pieces chipped off along the lines of the break. Fortunately all these chips were found. The hands in the attitude of prayer were found packed separately; Mr. Stora tells me that the statue was purchased in that condition as can be also ascertained by the photograph.

The packing job was altogether first-class, the statues contained in two cases each, as we had requested, properly braced and all the empty spaces filled tightly with excelsior. The cases themselves do not show any signs of having been jarred, making the cause for this mishap very conjectural. I am told that in packing such items the excelsior used is dampened in order to make it more pliable , which in turn permits it to be tamped down tightly. Mr. Stora advances the theory that the very wetness of the packing material caused the old cement to dissolve. On the other hand, it may just as well be that the excelsior on drying out caused an uneven pressure upon the head. At all events, I communicated immediately with out Lloyds agent in New York, Mr. Winiker of Mendes and Mount (formerly Duncan and Mount), who will examine the damage tomorrow morning (Thursday), at which time I will make a preliminary claim with Lloyds under our special policy which is to be followed by a formal claim on your return.in September. As you remember, I was supposed in principle to pay Stora the balance of $3,200.- upon release of the statues by the U.S. Customs and if the shipment was found to be in order upon our examination. I confirm my cable in this connection: (July 30, 1947) HEAD MARBLE STATUE LADY BROKEN OFF AT NECK STOP CLEARLY OLD BREAK STOP LLOYDS AGENTS EXAMINATION THURSDAY STOP SHALL I PAY BALANCE LIECHTI

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