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May 2, 1960

Dear Mr. Bier,

I duly received your cable in answer to mine as regards the Jongkind watercolors and the Boudin painting. This morning your letter came to hand and I thank you for your speedy co-operation. The following cable is being sent to you:

Thanks letter. Please bid for lots twenty-two and thirty, each pounds or guineas six hundred, but no more. Regards, Seligman.

which will probably surprise you in view of the evaluations you forwarded. However, do not forget that I must be in a position to resell these with a reasonable profit, and if I cannot obtain them at my price I shall have to forego the satisfaction of owning them.

I want to take advantage of these lines to let you know that according to my present plans, I shall land in Paris, Hotel Ritz, on May 14th, and that on Monday May 16th I intend to fly to London to look over the Desmoni collection at Sotheby's, returning to Paris the same afternoon. In view of this, I am wondering whether we could meet at Sotheby's at 12:30 so that we will be in a position to examine these jewels together, and leave some orders with you.

From a statement made here by somebody who seems well posted, high reserve prices will be put on these items, and so that we will know what decisions to reach I would be obliged to you were you able to obtain evaluations before we meet at 12:30 on Monday.

Offhand, and just judging from the reproductions, of course, the follwing attract me particularly:  #16 (not the Crucifixes nor the rings), but #41, #42, #45?, #46, #59, #70, #71, #77, and, of course, #125, which I remember well from the Walters collection.

^[[Bier]]