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COPY OF LETTER SENT TO LONDON Geo.S.#5 5 East 57th Street New York 22, N.Y. May 23, 1949 Dear Germain: I just had lunch with Gimpel, if I am not mistaken, the younger of the two brothers. Their big Degas painting is still in New York, stored some place where I could not go and see it. It had been offered to the National Gallery in Washington upon Walker's demand. Walker had not been able to gather the L 12,000.- that the Gimpel boys want for the painting. I do not have the feeling that they would give it on consignment, as I said "I always wanted to negotiated that painting for you, the answer I got was "I am always ready to listen to an offer". Plimpton showed it in an exhibition. It is possible that in the coming days he is going to ring me up to show me this painting. They seem to have a few paintings here, not too interesting: A big COROT of the Ville d'Avray period which was an ornament in Corot's parents' Kiosque. NICOLAS FOUSSIN GASPAR FOUSSIN GIACOBELLO DELLE FIORE PRIMITIVE OF NICE etc. From what I understand, all of these paintings, but the Degas, were blocked for years, and have just been unblocked; for that reason are unknown in New York. Germain Seligman Claridges London, England AIR MAIL