|
Correspondence from Robert Lund to Philip Kaplan
8503 Hartwell Street, Detroit 28, Michigan
July 26, 1959
Dear Phil:
I have decided to sell off all but a couple of the remaining Crowley items. I do so reluctantly, as I would like to keep them awhile for myself, but I have recently purchased a small conjuring collection, and I need the money.
I am offering the items to you and two others. One of the other parties is the University of Indiana. I do not even know that they will be interested in the material, inasmuch as they did not get the first lot. The book dealer here, Charles Boesen, who acted as their agent the first time, is away, so I am writing the University direct. I cannot disclose the name of the other party, but it is an individual, rather than an institution.
To be fair to everybody, and avoid pitting one against the other, as I unintentionally did the first time, the terms will be as follows: I will accept only one bid from each party. The bids must be made in writing. The material will then go to the highest bidder.
In the event your bid should tie with another, I will sell the material to you, as you were fair with me the first time. If the purchaser is dissatisfied for any reason after seeing the material, I will refund his money in full upon return of the books, but I will not make a partial refund for a partial return of the material.
The only other restriction I make—and this is directed at the University, because they wanted to pay for the material over a period of two years when I offered the first lot—is that payment must be made in full upon completion of the transaction. I will not accept payment in installments. If any of the three potential buyers offer payment in installments, I will automatically disregard the bid.
That is as fair an arrangement as I can think of and these terms will be explained to the other two parties. I am giving the other two a more detailed description of the items than I am sending you, as they have not seen the material and you have. The items are as follows:
John St. John, manuscript, three notebooks in Crowley's hand, boxed.
Lines to a Young Lady Violinist and Energized Enthusiasm, manuscript, a notebook in Crowley's hand, boxed.
Goetia, book, binding by Zaehnsdorf, silk endpapers, raised bands.
The Sword of Song, manuscript in Crowley's hand, binding by Zaehnsdorf, raised bands.
If the descriptions are not adequate, please let me know and I will send you the same descriptions I am sending the others.
While I am eager to conclude this as rapidly as possible, you need not hurry to send a bid, as I will not dispose of the material until I have heard from everyone concerned. I expect it will take the University at least a week, possibly longer, to submit a bid, assuming they are interested in the material.
Regards,
Robert Lund
|