Transcription
3/10/08
A. Brizard Company
Arcata, California
Dear Sirs:
Answering yours of Feb. 28th will state I have made from you catalog the following selection: and would like to have them sent to me subject to my approval. If same does not interfere with what I already have, in baskets of that style, I will keep some, and return by express prepaid such as I do not want. The possibilities are I will keep most of these that are ordered. As soon as I know what the amount is I will send it to you from the Humboldt Bay Woolen Mills who owe me quite some money, or else send it from here whichever you most desire. I have made the following selection and if there is any inside price on these goods I would like to have the benefit of the same.
#6 one, pattern same as shown in catalog, as I have baskets with designs similar to those in the catalog such as #7, 8, and 9.
#10 size 9x10". The reason why I specify size is I prefer representative pieces rather than large pieces for which I have limited room. My idea is to get representative pieces to show the class of work and avoid size where ever possible.
#16: This I shall want carefully selected, so as to show the very best possible work of this kind.
#17: This is 7" would suit me best and I prefer the old to the new.
#18 A 12" basket is a good sized basket and would be plenty large enough.
#19 12 to 14" size would be plenty big
#20 Not to exceed 12". In every instance form 17 to 20 inclusive old, well executed designs are preferred.
#23 About a 12" basket of this would suit, merely as a specimen of this class of work.
#24 About 15 to 18", this being a placque.
#27and 28 I will leave these to your selection. What I want and what I prefer is choice well executed designs rather than size, and I shall have to leave these entirely to your judgment. I feel when I go into a tailor shop like consulting the man who runs and being guided by his judgment. This I mean to apply to apply [sic] to the liberty I shall give to selections such as you think best. The possibilities are if the designs are pleasing I shall keep all that I have ordered. As #17 and 18 are similar in appearance I shall want in this one instance one new one in the #17 and an old one in the 18. I want old style in both 19 and 20. If you feel that you do not thoroughly understand my instructions write me again before they are sent by express, as I am not in a hurry for what has been ordered.
I would like to know while I think of it what other tribes of Indians there are in your part of the country and how they are to be reached. A great many of my collection has been bought at various points west of the Missouri River, as I have had the pleasure of many trips to the far west, but I do not always find what I would like among those who retail these goods and I would like to go to headquarters. My purpose is to get as complete a selection of Indian baskets of our country as possible, and confine the same to as few specimens as possible. I have two Hoopa squaw caps and of course want no more of them. I have one specimen of Klamath basket in the find cover top weave. It is hard to get information in regard to some of these baskets and for that reason I feel like dealing with people like your self, that is, those who know. If you can give me the names of the Indian tribes in California, Washington, and Oregon, and tell me how I can reach people like yourself, I will be under many obligations to you. I have bought baskets in every city west of the Missouri River and know and understand their stocks pretty well. I find in seeking for specimens that collections largely lean to baskets made near by, and for that reason specimens have to be picked up in different places. This is not only true of baskets, but is true of everything else in the curio character. Yours very truly,
