One-page autograph letter signed “W. T. Robey” on Robey’s printed stationery, dated “May 20, 1918”, with accompanying registered mail transmittal envelope with 3¢ and 10¢ stamps, purple “Washington (New York Ave. Sta.) D.C. Registered May 20, 1918” double-circle datestamps

Robey firmly informs Perry that his request for a right of first refusal was rejected and returns the one-dollar silver certificate Perry had sent to confirm the agreement (see lot 1535):

Dear Sir,

Upon my return home from New York this morning, I found your letter of the 16th inst enclosing a dollar. As I told you in New York I would not agree or accept anything of such a binding nature. I am herewith returning you the above mentioned dollar and wish to notify you that all negotiations for the sheet are at an end, as I have come to the final conclusion that the same is not for sale at any price.

Yours very truly

W. T. Robey

Perry wrote a note on back: “Deal closed Sunday May 19th in Phila. Percy Mann.”

Robey’s letter, dated May 20, states that he was no longer interested in selling the sheet “at any price.” This was disingenuous, because on his return from New York to Washington on Sunday, May 19, Robey met Percy Mann and Eugene Klein in Philadelphia and agreed to give them an option to buy the sheet for $15,000. Klein confirmed the purchase the next day, Monday, May 20, and Robey delivered the sheet to Klein in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 21.

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