November 15, 1927 Mrs. Charles M. Russell, c/o Grand Central Art Galleries, Grand Central Station, New York City. Dear Nancy: I am enclosing two checks Nos. 179 and 180 on the Lawyers Trust Company, 160 Broadway, New York City. The first check No. 179 for $14,000.00 payable to you covers, in full , the balance due you on my purchase of the unfinished painting by Charlie entitled “Father de Smet’s First Meeting With the Flat Head Indians”. The second check No. 180 for $10,000.00 payable to you covers, in full , the balance due you on my purchase of the painting by Charlie entitled “Bruin, Not Bunny Turned the Leaders". As we decided in our conversation of last Friday I am once again summarizing both of these deals with the thought that getting it down on paper as a re- cord for both us, it will avoid the possibility of any subsequent misunderstanding. Last Spring I purchased from you in California “Father de Smet's First Meeting With the Flat Head Indians" for $30,000. 00, it being understood and agreed that you were to accept in part payment the following pictures which I was to turn over to you. Oil painting – “The Travoy” . . . . . . . . $ 750.00 “ “ - “Tanning Hides” or “The >ROBE FLESher<”. . . 750.00 Water colors - “The Buffalo Herd” . . . . . 2000.00 “ “ - “Prairie Pirates” . . . . . . . 1500.00 “ “ - “Crow Indians in Winter” . . . 1500.00 Later , it was agreed between us and confirmed in our conversation of last Friday that you were also to accept three Water Colors entitled respectively, “A Piegan On a Pony’ “Red Cloud” and what I consider to be either [next] 2nd Mrs. Charles M. Russell, November 15, 1927 New York City. “ A Blood” or “ A. Seminole Indian”, all three for $1500.00. These eight picture entitle me to a total credit of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8000.00 On June 30, 1927 I gave you my check for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000.00 and on November 7, 1927 I gave you my check for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000.00 8000.00 Making a total credit for . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$16000.00 Thus the enclosed check for . . . . . 14000.00 completes the final payment on “Father de Smet’s First Meeting with the Flat Head Indians. You have sold me the painting entitled “Bruin Not Bunny Turned the Leaders” for . . . $12500.00 allowing a credit of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2200.00 on the following pictures: Water color – “Wet Horses”. . . $1200.00 “ “ - “Texas Trail Boss 1000.00 It was agreed that you would strike off the . . . 300.00 and accept as full payment for the balance due - $10000.00 Thus my check herewith for $10, 000.00covers, in full, the balance due you on this transaction. I am quite sure that this statement agrees with the understanding of both of us. I am glad to get both of these deals entirely cleared up and to know that I am no longer in our debt other than the debt of gratitude I feel I owe you. Will probably see you tomorrow over at the exhibition. With every good wish as always, [signed] Philip Encl. P S – Will you please send me a separate receipt for each picture and a story in connection with each one, if you can. Please jot it down in your note book now that I and very anxious to get one of the copies of Charlie’s book of Historic Sketches “Back Tracking on the Old Frontier”. I wonder if it would be possible for you to write out and have one sent to me as I am anxious to proceed with having special [next] 3rd Mrs. Charles M. Russell, November 15, 1927 New York City. P S – binding made to enclose this together with the rawhide Rawlins books very much like Mr. Sack Did. Please let me know about it the next time I see you at the exhibition. [signed] P.G.C.
[Transcribed by Melynda Seaton, 2011-10-21]