The collection was purchased by a Manning editor at an antiquarian flea market
in the “Garage” on West 26th Street in Manhattan. The seller was an American
based in Ankara, Turkey, and the transaction took place just as he was packing up
his stand for the day. The Manning editor did not have on his person the substantial
amount of cash that was required for the purchase, and a credit card and check
were both politely turned down. With the seller flying back to Ankara that evening
the situation was getting hopeless. What was the solution? It turned out to be
nothing more than an old-fashioned verbal agreement sealed with a handshake.
The seller simply proposed that the money be transferred to him by wire and the
editor walked out with the bank information on a piece of paper and the portfolio
of images under his arm. Needless to say, we transferred the funds the next day,
and we remain grateful and impressed by this unknown person’s trust in one of us.
It recalls something that might have happened a long time ago.