December 1st,
1926.

Dear Sully:

Do you remember that when I ran into you last autumn
you promised to let me have twenty-five dollars towards the ex-
penses for bringing over the paintings connected with the big
International Exhibition of Modern Art, which are now assembled
at the Brooklyn Museum and that you said that any time I needed
it I could write and ask you for it. Well, the time has come.

I wonder if you have been over to see them, for I think
their vitality is quite remarkable. And just think we had seven
thousand people there last Sunday.

It is going to be a little difficult for me to collect
my funds from all my members this year, as a general confusion
exists that because the Exhibition is being held at the Brooklyn
Museum the Museum paid all the expenses. This, of course, is not
true. What the Museum did, was to generously invite us. They did
over the entire rooms for us and wherever they could help in fram-
ing, cleaning etc., but except for a small amount which met the
clerical end of my work, for a few months only, they were in no
position to help otherwise. I imagine that you know the details
of dealing with the Brooklyn Museum or any other museum, but I
thought I would just mention it to you, so that if you had a few
more pennies to spare, you would increase the twenty-five.

Thanking you very much for this cooperation, which I
cannot tell you how deeply I appreciate, for all beginnings are
rather hard, believe me, with warm and cordial greetings,

Faithfully yours,

Mr. Cornelius J. Sullivan,
54 Wall Street,
New York City.

December 3rd,
1926.

My dear Sully:

How kind you were to be so prompt! I do feel
that it means more at certain times to have half than
double later and that is the position in which I find
myself. It was ever so kind to add the bit of "chicken
feed" to your twenty-five dollars.

The interest seems to be growing and one of our
next activities is to have the Civitas Club, one of the
oldest women's clubs of Brooklyn, hold its meeting at
the Museum to have this art and point of view explained.

Have you been at the Brummer Gallery and seen the
beautiful Brancusi's? Be sure not to miss it, for they
are really marvelous and beautifully displayed.

Again thanking you most warmly and looking forward
with much pleasure to seeing you shortly, believe me, with
kind greetings,

Faithfully yours,

After December 19th, 50 Central Park West.

December 17th, 1928.

Cornelius J. Sullivan Esq.
54 Wall Street
New York, N. Y.

Dear Sulley:

I have given consideration to your
proposition of buying my Van Gogh and
if you would like to have it for
twenty thousand dollars cash I shall
be glad to sell it to you.

You know, of course, that one of the
group of three at Knoedler's exhibition
sold for forty and though this is a
small canvas it has always been classed
as one of his best.

It will be a great pleasure to know that
you and Mary will have it, especially
as it means that I can occasionally come
to look at it.

When I bought it in 1912 at the big Cologne
exhibition it was the most important one
that was then on the market and no Van Gogh
had brought the price which this one then
brought regardless of size.

It has meant a great deal to me but I know
that Van Gogh himself would rather have me
have the money to use for my work than to
continue having the pleasure of owning one
of his canvasses.

Let me know definitely whether you want it
and with all best wishes, believe me

Faithfully yours,

P.S. Remember that Thursday I move to 50 Central Park West and all of Wednesday I shall be there attending to the moving of furniture. However, if Wednesday evening you want to call for it I shall be very glad to have you do so or I can send it over later to where you want it. My telephone at 66 Central Park West is Trafalgar 6870.

50
XXX

January 1, 1929.

Dear Sulley:

Please forgive me for only acknowledging
now the deposit of $5,000. on my Van Gogh
which is to be yours by the middle of this
month.

But the moving and trying to get off some
of my Christmas presents, if only to my
close friends and immediate family, caused
havoc with my desk and so I was very grate-
ful that you had the check sent immediately
to the bank for deposit for it would not
have been safe under these conditions with me.

Now that I am quite reconciled in having let
my Van Gogh go I want to tell you once more
how happy I am that you and Mary have it, and
also how much I appreciate that the opportunity
came to me in the way it did so that I am
able to start the New Year with a little leeway,
not only in helping others, but in paying some
of my back debts which the big exhibition
incurred.

When I turn over the picture I shall be very
glad to send you an attested statement telling
you the history of the picture, where I bought
it and how long it had been with me, and the
date that I had the canvas rebacked, so that you
will have the complete record. I can also give
you the original bill from where I bought it if
you desire it, and I think for your records it
may be well for you to have it, especially as they
are beginning to put fake Van Gogh's on the market.

I had the picture insured for full value and have
kept the insurance policy. The insurance runs
only until the 20th of January. By then I felt
sure you would have it and would want to include
it in your general insurance.

With all best wishes for a most happy and successful
year, believe me,

Faithfully yours,

January 16th, 1929.

I, Katherine S. Dreier, do hereby make an affidavit that the painting entitled "Adolescence" known in the German Exhibition of the Sonder Bund, International Exhibition, Cologne, 1912, as "Mädchen-Brustbild in Blau", and marked in the catalogue as #65, was purchased by me in Cologne on September 8th, 1912, and is the identical picture which has recently been sold to Cornelius S. Sullivan of 54 Wall Street.

This painting was also included in the International Exhibition of Modern Art, New York, 1913, though not listed in the edition of the catalogue before me.

It toured the country with a selected group from this Internation Exhibition.

It was also exhibited in the opening exhibition of the Société Anonyme, April 1920, and is reproduced in the first report of the Société Anonyme, 1920-21.

It is also reproduced in "Western Art and the New Era".
Because of Van Gogh's poverty the quality of the canvas
was such that with time it began to tear because of the
heavy paint he had applied. Therefore in the winter of
1928, January or February, it was rebacked with a new can-
vas by George Of Inc., 126 West 57th Street.

Attached to this are -

1. The original bill of the Sonder Bund,

2. Catalogue of the Sonder Bund, Cologne 1912,

3. The report of the Société Anonyme, 1920-21.

PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY: ORIGINAL MATERIAL RESTRICTED

January 22, 1929.

Cornelius Sullivan Esq.
64 Wall Street
New York, N.Y.

Dear Sully:

At last I am sending you as promised
the various papers and catalogues
in connection with the sale of the
Van Gogh picture.

Have I told you that I am sailing for
Spain on February 16th?

Again let me tell you how glad I am
that you have got the picture and
I would certainly call your possess-
ions a collection because of the
quality that you have. After all
it is not quantity but quality that
counts.

Give my love to Mary.

Most cordially yours,