Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/9
Page: p. 30 recto
Description
Journal entry, and letter from Augustus Walker to Sydney Kitson.
Journal entry and letter detailing the circumstances surrounding Kitson's acquisition of a Cotman drawing titled "J. S. Cotman On the Wharf" and an exchange between Kitson and Augustus Walker.
Date: 1933-1934
Transcription
[journal entry]
Aug 3 1934
I went to London the day after the sale: saw Walker and Whitehead, who had not yet collected the drawing- lot 73 at Christie's the day before- "J. S. Cotman On the Wharf"- Walker said he wanted to strip it to see if there were any notes on the old mount. Whitehead said he wanted the drawing to [help] to sell the [illegible 1 word] at their next show. Walker appeared with the drawing at the 6.5 [illegible 1 word] and offered £10 to release it- I took the drawing. On Sunday [morning] Walker rang up to say Whitehead wanted the drawing back, and would I take £10 profit? I wrote to him- the reply is below.
[letter]
Walker's Gallerie's LTD.
118 New Bond Street
London, W.1
Mayfair 0722
8 August 34
Dear Mr Kitson,
In answer to your kind letter I would rather you had the Cotman than any other collector, it will be an enhancement to your collection and belong to an [enthusiastic] owner, I would not have parted with it to anyone else, without first [buying] it myself. You must out this down to my fine will toward you, and not to any ignorance of its qualities or cupidity.
Yours sincerely,
Augustus Walker.