Letter from Charles Carstairs to [Henry Clay] Frick, 18 June 1906

Not ansd. File
NEW YORK,
355, FIFTH AVENUE.
PARIS,
2, RUE GLÜCK.
CABLE ADDRESSES
KNOEDLER, LONDON.
KNOEDLER, NEW YORK.
KNOEDLER, PARIS.
TELEPHONE 1373 GERRARD.
TELEPHONE 1292 MAYFAIR.
15, OLD BOND STREET,
LONDON, W.
18 June 1906.
Dear Mr. Frick,
Roland has sent me your cable & I have written N.Y. to send you a bill July 1st $65.000.- for Cappelle. We have a heavy payment of $45.000.- to make here on July 14, so if it would be agreeable to send us a check the 10th, it would be welcome, this is merely a suggestion and meantime plenty of money may come in, but some people are very slow. I have nothing to say except that I am glad the Cappelle is yours as you will probably never see so fine an example for sale again – We have heard from Russia this m'n'g [morning] & our final bid of £55.000.- has been refused & they stick at £80.000.- So we have practically given them up unless you would like to have them & give us 10% commission which must
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be divided among 3 – It is a fancy price but they are fancy pictures. Four of the 6 Hals I showed you photographs of, have been sold, the 2 finest to Morgan. We have had some fair pictures nothing remarkable. Business has been good but no one suggests paying before the end of the year. I am expecting to get in August 2 wonderful Moronis, the size of the one sold Widener and as fine as "The Tailor" in the National Gallery. They come from an old castle in Austria where they have been from the time they were painted. We have just purchased probably the finest collection of Whistler etchings ever formed, 250 in number, it seemed to me they would be splendid for your Prides Crossing house. You could frame about 150 of them & keep some 100 of the finest in portfolios. They are most artistic beautiful things and have become very rare. I know of no other collections in England but Sir John Day's, which is not so fine – It would cost you £12.000. there is no duty – Let me impress upon you that Whistler was the greatest etcher since the time of Rembrandt, who was the greatest of all time. You
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NEW YORK,
355, FIFTH AVENUE.
PARIS,
2, RUE GLÜCK.
CABLE ADDRESSES
KNOEDLER, LONDON.
KNOEDLER, NEW YORK.
KNOEDLER, PARIS.
TELEPHONE 1373 GERRARD.
TELEPHONE 1292 MAYFAIR.
15, OLD BOND STREET,
LONDON, W.
would never regret such a purchase, they would be a valuable heirloom for future generations of Fricks — Andy is here & is looking for a country place, his wife doesn't seem very well – I haven't shown him the Reynolds yet. I have hoped you would eventually send me word you wanted it and you ought to have it, it is superb and you would always love it. Don't harden your heart against the beautiful masterpieces we are fortunate enough to acquire & believe me we are entitled to the profit we have asked you, it is worth every penny of $150.000. for there have been no fine Reynolds in the market in 6 yrs, since Mr. Terrell bought his – You will forget the price as soon as paid, its glory and loveliness will be yours for ever – You have no conception how scarce and high pictures
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have become, it is only by being constantly on the alert that one finds anything. We have been in communication with Lord Lansdowne for about 6 weeks re his wonderful landscape "The Mill" by Rembrandt – We might possibly get it, but the price would no doubt be $300.000.– It is somewhat smaller than your large Cuyp – I think the Berlin Museum would buy it even at this price, but the question is before I speak to anyone do you want it? Should I ever get it, I will send you a cable immediately.
Hope you are enjoying your new home & having plenty of golf– I would like to take you on for a game some of these days —
With kindest regards
Your Sincerely
Charles Carstairs
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