291 Fifth Ave., New York,

June 30, 1913.

Dr. Peter Jessen, Direktor,
Der Bibliothek Des K. Kunstgewerbe,
Berlin, Germany.

My dear Dr. Jessen:

I have finally been able to get together a set of Camera Work which you requested me to send as soon as I was able to do so. Enclosed you will find bill for same as per price agreed upon. I am holding the set for your directions. I do this to avoid all misunderstanding. The regular subscription of Camera Work which you ordered for the Museum I have addressed to the Library itself.

I hope that you have had a pleasant trip. I do hope that your enthusiasm for what you saw at "291" has not been discounted by the wonders you must have seen in the Orient. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Meyer told me that they met you at Freer's in Detroit, and told me how much your visits at "291" had impressed you. Of course this is very encouraging to me, for there are very few people in this country who really have any conception of the work that has been done in the name of "291", "Camera Work", etc. etc.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

June 30, 1913.

Bibliothek des K. Kunstgewerbe Museums,
Prinz-Albempfstrasse 7a, Berlin, Germany

To Alfred Stieglitz,

291 Fifth Avenue, New York, U.S.A.

As per order Dr. Jessen, 1 Set of "Camera Work" Numbers 1-40

2 Special Nos. $500.00

" " " " Subscription to "Camera Work" Nos. 41-42-43-44 8.50

1 Special No. 1913 2.00
$510.50

291 Fifth Ave., New York,

October 6, 1913.

My dear Dr. Jessen;

Your very kind letter which you wrote me from Pekin I received a couple
of days ago, while up in the country. Naturally the contents of your letter
made me feel very happy. Not on account of the money involved as you undoubtedly realize, but that you still feel in spite of the wonderful things you have
seen since you left New York, that "Camera Work" and "291" are living things
in your mind.

The set of "Camera Work" I am going over very carefully and within a
few days it shall be expressed as per your directions. I hope it will arrive
in Berlin in the best of order and I hope that it will give you, and those who
look at it a great deal of pleasure. I am terribly busy at the little place;
it seems to be again the real storm center of intellectual freedom in New York.

With kindest regards from all of us,

Cordially,

291 Fifth Ave., New York.

November 3, 1913.

My dear Dr. Jessen:

Day before yesterday the case containing the set of "Camera Work" was shipped to your museum. It is a complete set through Number 40. Each Number is bound in board and every year is in a Special box. This is the way the publication is best taken care of and best to refer to. I have gone through every Number myself and everything is complete.

The enclosed bill is for the $500.00 which is the price agreed upon for the set, and added to this in the additional expense of boxing, express charges and insurance. Furthermore I enclose a statement for this bill together with the subscription price for this year's "Camera Work", Number 41 of which, together with the Special Number, you have already received. The other Numbers will be sent as soon as published.

I hope that you have gotten back to Berlin in good shape, and full of enthusiasm. With kindest regards and best wishes, as ever,

Yours cordially,

Herrn Direktor Dr. Jessen,
Berlin, Germany.

["BIBLIOTHEK DES KÖNIGLICHEN KUNSTGEWERBE-MUSEUMS", "Zum Schreiben vom 3.11.", "BERLIN SW 11, PRINZ-ALBRECHT-STRASZE 7a,", "den 29. November 1913", "Lieber Herr Stieglitz,", "Ich bin vor kurzem von meiner großen Reise zurückgekehrt und habe jetzt mit Vergnügen das herrliche Camera Work empfangen. Ich danke Ihnen namens unserer Bibliothek bestens für Ihre freundliche Demühung und habe den Betrag von . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

291 Fifth Ave., New York.

February 3, 1914.

My dear Dr. Jessen:

I wonder if I ever thanked you for your kind lines which I received last
December. I have a suspicion that it was my intention to write and that in the
rush of matters I did not do so. I hope that you spent very pleasant holidays
and that the New Year has much pleasure in store for you.

"291" is very interesting at present. I am enclosing a copy of the
leaflet which accompanies the Exhibition. Hartley is a young American, who,
although at present here, resides in Berlin. He is affiliated with the Blaue
Reiter Groupe. He might be said to be one of the offspring of "291".

With kindest regards,

Zum Schreiben vom -

den 26. Februar 1914

Lieber Herr Stieglitz,

Ich habe den Betrag für das Camera Work, Jahrgang 1914, mit $ 8,50 anweisen lassen. Ich nehme an, daß die Nummer 44, die uns bisher noch nicht zugegangen ist, nächstens kommen wird.

Seit ich Ihnen den Eingang des Exemplars Camera Work bestätigte, habe ich durch Sonderausstellungen und Vorträge meine Erfahrungen in Amerika unsern Besuchern und Hörern bekanntgemacht und dabei auch Ihrer Arbeit verschiedentlich gedacht. Gleichzeitig haben wir von anderer Seite her jetzt endlich eine kleine Grundlage für die Sammlung künstlerischer Photographie gewonnen, die ich seit langer Zeit in unseren graphischen Sammlungen zu bilden anstrebe. Wie Sie aus dem beiliegenden Merkblatt sehen, hat Herr Matthies-Masuren -großenteils aus seinen eigenen Beständen- uns einen solchen Grundstock zusammengestellt, den wir nun erweitern werden. Sie sehen, daß auch Ihr Name darin ist; es sind allerdings nur zwei kleinerere Blätter aus der frühen Zeit: Venedig (Gummi) und "Die Jungfrau" (Platinkopie). Ich muß daran denken, wie ich es einrichten kann, auch einige Ihrer anderen Blätter, und zwar gerade solche, die Sie mir damals zeigten und selber für Ihre gelungensten Schöpfungen halten, für unsere Sammlung zu gewinnen. Es tut mir leid, daß ich Sie nicht einmal hier sehen und Ihnen zeigen kann, wie vielseitig wir mit Hülfe der Künstler unsere dekora-tiven graphischen Sammlungen schon haben ausgestalten können. Vielleicht können wir uns gelegentlich über die Frage, wenn leider noch nicht münd-

These eleven pictures have been the basis for most of the street work done in photography in this country and even in Europe. It has historical value outside of its art value. I feel that the series ought to be kept together. And yet I do not know whether you will be willing to spend the amount of money for such a series, the amount which I think reasonable. The price of individual prints is $100.00. If the Museum is willing to take the set of eleven I would make a special price of $550.00 for the series. Should you be satisfied with this proposition I feel that within four weeks after you have placed the order I would be able to ship the pictures. I have a set nearly ready, and instead of sending it to Paris, I would send it to you. Of course I would be more than delighted to be so thoroughly represented in Berlin Institution of the calibers of the Kunstgewerbe Museum, and of course I would be doubly glad as I began my photographic career in the Polytechnic in Berlin, in 1883 and started my photographic fight there in 1884.

The new Number of "Camera Work" will be out within the next two weeks. It will be the last of the 1913 series. It is dreadfully slow work getting things done as I want them done. Delays are aggravating, but I rather delay than sacrifice quality, or my ideals. With cordial greetings,

Yours

29theF10, 1914.

My dear Dr. Jessen:

I cannot tell you how much I appreciated your letter which I received yesterday. I can understand your position fully and I think I can feel with you. Of course I am only too delighted to hold my things for you until a time when you should find the proper opening. I am going to get them in perfect shape at once and pack them up and label them: To be held for order of Dr. Jessen. I shall do this so that in case anything happens to me the pictures will find their way to the Museum.

The season at "291" has been a very strenuous one and a very hard one. But it has been effective. And that after all gives me great satisfaction. Although my family is in the country I shall be in town daily excepting Saturdays and Sundays until the middle of August. I have a great deal of work on hand and during the summer, even though the little place under the roof is frightfully hot, I can get things actually done, which could not be done during the exciting winter times.

I wonder when I will get to Berlin. It is nearly twenty-five years since I have been there. As you know I look upon it as my second home. As a matter of fact I feel that my life was shaped there. It took me years to accustom myself to the idea not to live there permanently. I am anxious to see all the wonderful things that Berlin has done since I lived there. I know it would do wonderful things. And it is going to continue to do wonderful things. I wish that in New York a little more of the Berlin spirit could be instilled. That constructive spirit which is the foundation of the German Empire.

Hoping that the world is treating you to your satisfaction, I am as ever.

July 8, 1914.

My dear Dr. Jessen:

I am contemplating the issuing of a Special Number of "Camera Work". This Number is to be devoted solely to "291". "291", I believe, has meant something to thousands of people. Why it has meant something has never been recorded anywhere. "291" as it is now known exists for ten years. It has struck me as a good idea to invite about thirty people, (of the thousands who have frequented the place) to whom the little gallery seems to have meant something very much out of the ordinary, and to request them to put down their feelings in from fifty to one-thousand words. You gave me to understand that the little place would mean something to you. For that reason I would like you to be one of the thirty to put down something which will reflect your feelings about it. I am not looking for any personal adulation. Nor am I desirous of any theorizing. I am primarily after the recording of a few real heart-beats, if there be any heart beats for the little garret. If you would, in as few words as possible, put down on paper what "291" meant to you I would appreciate it immensely. When finished the series will give a composite reflection of the spirit of "291". This tangible form will go out into the world and perhaps fall on fertile soil. And in this way the book may do a great work. Of course all will depend upon how deep the feeling of those who write may be for the little place, or rather for the spirit reflected in the place.

(and) If you prefer to write in German, why German will be just as welcome as English. Should you be willing to write could you let me have what you write by September 20th, as the little book is to appear in the end of November.

Zum Schreiben vom

den 24. Juli 1914

Lieber Herr Stieglitz,

Mit großem Vergnügen werde ich Ihnen für Ihre
Nr. "291" einen kleinen Beitrag schicken. Sie kön-
nen bis spätestens 20.September darauf rechnen.
Es ist mir ein besonderes Vergnügen, unter Ihren
Freunden aufzutreten.

Mit freundlichem Gruß

Ihr ergebener