Arthur Dixon letters
Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/3/1/1
Page: 26 recto
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Description
Letter of Arthur Dixon to John Joseph Cotman, 10 September 1834
Dixon writes to JJC from his pharmacy in Exchange Street in central Norwich with good news of the first day of the sale of Cotman's property by the firm of Spelman [for details, see Cotmania, vol. V, fols 1r-11r]. However, he is concerned that a reserve bid for the copper plates of Cotman's etchings will incur a loss, and he suggests alternative strategies. [See Kitson, The Life of John Sell Cotman, p. 315.] Dixon is disappointed not to have been mentioned in JJC's recent letter to Geldart. Mrs Cotman is better. He urges JJC to write to him. He is not writing this letter at Miles Edmund Cotman's suggestion, but MEC does not object to his writing.
Date: 1834
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Transcription
[Note added in pencil by Kitson:
11
Sale at St. Martins at Palace
(Plates)
10 Sept. 1834]
]
Norwich Wednesday 4p.m.
[10 Sept 1834
The sale was on the 10, 11 & 12 of Sept - added in pencil by Kitson]
My dear John
I now come fr[om] St. Martins where I left Geldart, & Walter Mr Spelman & lots of people. I went down for the sake more particularly of ascertaining fr[om] Walter how the day has gone, for I found that Edmund would be engaged all day & that you would not hear (how things went) through him, & anticipating yours & your fathers anxiety I busy myself in giving you intelligence. It seems to me they are selling very well, & from Geldarts account to Edmund (they dined with me here in Exchange St.) he thought so too. When I asked Walter who sits there & marks a catalogue with the prices as they are sold he said "they are selling very well indeed". I said I'm now going to write to London what shall I say? – he said, "say so". – I am at least happy in being able to write a good rather than another account. But there is another thing
