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Hotel Ritz, Paris

June 26, 1954

Dear Porges: 

I have just had an opportunity to talk to Mr. Curt Valentin regarding the commission to be paid Mr. Alex Voemel for the paintings he purchased for us. Mr. Valentin suggests paying him 7% (seven percent) on the Braque and 5% (five percent) on the Monet.

Will you please make out a check at once to the order of Mr. Curt Valentin (not to the order of his firm) and mail it at once to Mr. Curt Valentin, Hotel du Pont Royal, 7 rue Montalembert, Paris.  I prefer to have this go through Mr. Valentin, as, afterall, I have had no direct dealings with Mr. Voemel.

The amount on which you have to figure out these two percentages is the "knocked down" price and not the price at which it figures in our books, as we added the 12% or 15% claimed by the auctioneer. In other words, if the price at which the painting was knocked down at auction - this is just an example, was $100.00, we actually paid the auctioneer $112.00 or $115.00 - I don't recall how much the German auctioneer charged. You have all the figures and also, I believe, enough money to make out this check. Were it    necessary, however, I remind you that you could ask Mr. Robbins to draw on the funds at his disposal.

This check is to be rushed, as Mr. Valentin will only reamin in Paris up to the end of next week. i.e. July 4th- Therefore put a special express stamp (Miss Bazner knows about these as we have used them before) to insure prompt mailing and distribution in Paris. In the letter to Mr. Valentin, of course, you will indicate that the check represents the commission for Mr. Alex Voemel, figured at, etc., etc.

Best greetings -

G.S.

[[bottom margin]] please send me copy of your letter to Mr. Curt Valentin - [[/bottom margin]]

AIR MAIL

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