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

December 22, 1948

Dear Germain:

JUAN GRIS PAINTING - Mrs. Testut revived the varnish, tested it in some places; the varnish is not yellow. So she finally did not remove the varnish otherwise, and the painting is back more agreeable with more transparent varnish and better colors than before it left.

KNOEDLERS - Took the Mary Cassatt over and send it back unsold.

MR. EDWIN J. WEISS of Buffalo came in with wife and child; were interested in the Limoges Triptych but not enough to make up their minds. I had the feeling that the item was too much money for them, but nevertheless, I am proud to announce to you that I sold them one of the ceramics by Celeste for $6.00 and 12 cents tax.

[[left margin]] See earlier correspondence [[/left margin]]

KIRKLAND of the Art Museum of Colorado came in to borrow some paintings by DUCHAMPS for an exhibition at the Denver Museum taking place in March. He sent the photograph of the small Delaunay to his chief and I suppose that they are going to want to borrow that painting. I am going to see him again to speak about serious business with him.

MR. GABRIEL ZENDEL a French painter, friend of Huisman will come in on January 6th to show you some of his drawings and some of his paintings. Huisman writes "he does not think of making an exhibition in your gallery but would be thankful for any advice." I understand that he would be happy to make an exhibition in your gallery and also for advice. He is a very nice man, has 40 canvases still in the Customs and will want us to see them. From the photographs they looked quite interesting. 

The firm continues to be upside down: I have a bill to send out. I have no secretary to whom to dictate it; [[strikethrough]] but [[/strikethrough]] Miss Cohen has to write to you.* Don't you think that that is putting the cart before the horse? Miss Bazner is overworked with things you gave her before leaving and she says she will not be through before you will be back: She cant  write a bill: she is deep in the work on writing names on cards !!!!!!! that is more important. 

[[left margin]] this comes first [[/left margin]]

After a wild fight through the intermediary of Miss Fried, I managed to sell "Cards and Dice" for $1,600.- (One thousand six hundred dollars) less her commission, but I can't send the bill! I could not wait to get your opinion on the matter, which I regret, having heard that telegrams would take days to be delivered to you. I was pressed and had to give an answer.

Je suis navré d'avoir à te transmettre des stupidités de ce genre. Peut-être pourrais tu donner l'ordre à Mlle Bazner [[strikethrough]] qu' elle peut [[/strikethrough]] de sans s'abîmer les doigts, prendre une lettre de moi si je la juge urgente [[strikethrough]] et que Cohen est occupée à autre chose: ce matin [[strikethrough elle [[/strikethrough]] Cohen tapait pour Pothès. [[/strikethrough]]

Tâches de te reposer pendant que je me fais de la bile dans ce désordre

[[top margin]] et ce manque de bon sens.

Bons souvenirs à Ethlyn Bons bains

(Liechti les à envoyé c/o Miss Cohen).

Le personnel vient de consentir à taper la facture
[[/top margin]]

G —

Mr. Germain Seligman
Caneel Bay Plantation
% Virgin Islands Tours
St. John
Virgin Islands, U.S.A.


AIR MAIL 3P

Transcription Notes:
Please don't close until read by French speaker. ---- Per instructions, the letter is transcribed in the order it would be read regardless of where the text is located (hence, the location descriptors if out of order) -e.g., the upside down handwritten note at the top is actually a continuation of the note started at the bottom & is thus, transcribed at the end. French transcription needs a lot of work! ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-21 08:12:32 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-24 12:30:55 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-24 13:04:00