Letter by Homer Britzman to James B. Rankin; states that he has just acquired two Russell oils dated 1890: one of two cowboys chasing a wolf and the other of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco. Typed.

October 18,1938. Mr. James B. Rankin 423 West 118th St. New York, N.Y. Dear Sir: It has been some time since the date of our last correspondence. In the meantime I have acquired two very fine Russell oils – both dated 1890. Some time last summer Con Price, an old friend of Russell’s who lives in Gilroy, California, received a letter from a lady in New York. She had these two oils and in this way I obtained the information that resulted in my acquiring them. They are as follows: No. 1 - 36” long by 20” wide – canvas size. No title Subject: two cowboys chasing coyote or wolf with ropes (this is a similar subject to another earlier Russell about which I wrote you). No. 2 – 24” long by 14” wide- canvas size. No title. Subject: cowboy riding bucking bronco – at round up camp. Chuck-wagon, cook and cowboys in back- ground watching action. This picture is dis- tinquished by the fact that the two s’s in the signature are reversed thus: An interesting thing about these two pictures is that the cowboy riding the bronco is also in the larger picture. Both pictures were very dirty and poorly framed. On the reverse side of both the name of the dealer that sold the canvas shows as: Glover & Finkenaur (Artists Materials) 302 & 304 North 10th, St. Louis, MO. Both pictures were framed by: B.E. Thonssen & Co. (Fine Art Gallery), 515 Locust St., St. Louis, Mo. I am having these pictures cleaned, reframed and reconditioned and if you should want photographs I can arrange for them for you when this work is done. These pictures are supposed to have been in the possession of one family since 1890 – this evident from their condition. I have seen many Russell’s but these two are among the finest I have ever seen, in action, color, composition, etc. I doubt if their existence was known until they were shipped here recently. Please let me know how your work is progressing. Sincerely yours, H.E. Britzman 555 So. Flower St. Los Angeles, Calif.

[Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2011-10-24]

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