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May 19th 1899
Dear Sir
I beg to acknowledge your letter and to say that I was doubtful about the shark’s tooth weapon. (I had one similar which I got from Chegwin). The binding of teeth is of thin whale bone, which I have not seen before. With regard to Benin specimens they are going quickly. Yesterday Dresden wired for the two Execution blocks but they were both sold. Up to the present I have sold £3071, and have away on approval £926, and at Bicester I have £900 worth, and I think if I send a selection on approval instead of photos for the Committee to see, it would be best. Kindly let me know – you may have the shark’s tooth knife for 25/- as per your letter. When does your subscription to Catalogue expire? With kind regards
I remain
Yours faithfully
W.D. Webster
List of Benin Specimens sold and others on approval
Purchaser Bought Approval
Gen Pitt Rivers 1382.19.6
Vienna Museum 605.12.6 223.10.0
Berlin Museum 439.19.0 36.0.0
Dresden Museum 80.0.0
Munich Museum 160.0.0
Dublin Museum 72.5.0
Edinburgh Museum 131.10.0 92.5.0
Christchurch N.Z. 37.9.6 30.0.0
Adelaide Museum 50.0.0
Liverpool Museum 30.0.0
S. Kensington Museum 7.0.0
Private Collectors 74.10.6 106.13.0
Copenhagen Museum 241.5.0
Stockholm Museum 132.0.0
Basil Museum 65.0.6
£3071.0.16 £926.13.6
P.S. I enclose a letter Berlin just come asking for about another £150 worth of Benin specimens. Kindly return letter, the list and photos mentioned in letter, I will forward you. Kindly return the letter.