Correspondence between Kyriaco Stylianou, Schaeffer, Megaw and Lapierre on Stylianou's gift of bronze objects found at Enkomi before the excavationsClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer and J Lapierre

Printed: French Republic

CONSULAR AGENCY OF FRANCE AT LARNACA (ISLAND OF CYPRUS)

No. 468

LARNACA 14 November 1949

Sir Claude Schaeffer Director of the French Archaeological Mission Nicosia

Sir,

By letter of the 9th inst. you were good enough to remind me of your request concerning the collection of antiquities of Mr Kyriakos Stylianou of Larnaca.

In reply I have the honour to inform you that I did not fail to see Mr Stylianou. This merchant assured me, and I believe him sincere, that he bought his collection for £ 35. Pointing out to Mr Stylianou that collections of ancient objects could not be valued like ordinary articles, I asked him whether he would not be disposed to offer his collection to the Louvre Museum. Mr Stylianou did not appear surprised at my proposal. He assured me that he would very willingly offer it if he had the assurance that his name would appear, as donor, alongside the victim or these objects would be exhibited.

I do not know what you would think of my suggestion. Knowing Mr Stylianou well, I think it better to ask him this sacrifice than to offer him a sum far too small for his purchase price.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my very high consideration.

[handwritten: Handwritten annotation, faint and partly illegible, upside down: "Mr Megaw ... Lapierre ... [illegible] ... copie envoyée à ... [illegible]"]

Handwritten: signature