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Show 2Z\ /o/ $ | January 7, I960 Howard C. Rice, Jr., Chief Department of Rare Books & Special Collections Princeton University Library Princeton, New Jersey Dear Mr. Rices • • For your detailed letter of December 22, 1959, I wish to offer you my rather belated but nevertheless warm appreciation. It is always a pleasure to hear from old neighbours at Princeton for which we guard many very happy souvenirs. Our interest in your area has not been frittering away with our departure from the east. On the contrary we are always happy to collaborate with Princeton irrespective of distances. You will be glad to know that when I showed your letter to my wife, she asked me to convey to you her best person ©! admiration of the way you had always conducted your exhibitions at the Firestone Library. In doing so, let me add another voice of praise. This, added to our profound interest in the Mt. Sinai Expedition as well as the Monastery itself, and our high regard to the personnel of the Expedition-- for whom we are willing to do anything- all these and other circumstances compel us to part with our beloved St. Catherine's icon for a term of a couple of months or thereabouts with pleasure though not without reluctance. We are sure that our treasure will be in good hands and that ie* will come back to us in as good form as when it has gone for another visit to Princeton. On the practical problems of shipment by railway express, declaration of nominal value ($500.00) for railway purposes, insurance policy ($5000.00) etc., I agree to all the details outlined by you. I shall arrange for the shipment at this end myself about mid-January and you can therefore calculate the insurance from that date until the date at which you think it will have returned home to us. The crate will be addressed in your name at the Library and I shall appreciate an immediate notice of safe arrival. I am including herewith a transcription of the Greek inscription of dedication to me. Our mutual friend, Professor Weitzmann can make an English rendering of it for you. All I would like you to do for me would be a clear indication as to how this came to my possession. I@u might be interested to know that only two icons went out of Sinai - the one presented to Lord Kitchener before the First World War and the other to me after the Second World War. I am certain that you will find in Professor Weitzmann a very fine mentor. He is not only the greatest scholar living in the field of his specialization, but also a perfect gentleman in the fullest sense of the term and a true friend. |
