OLD MASTER BOUGHT FOR £25.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17781, 26 February 1926, Page 6

OLD MASTER BOUGHT FOR £25.

ROMANTIC PURCHASE REVEALED IN BIG INSURANCE CLAIM. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.-—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 26. 9.40 a.m.) LONDON. February 25. The romance of a painting purchased for £25 from a London dealer under the belief it was a copy of a Raphael, but which subsequently turned out to be a genuine old Master, valued at £20,000, was related by Lady Rober Thomas in a claim against one of Lloyds Underwriters for the payment of an insurance polic}’- on the picture, which was destroyed by fire at the Thomas home in Anglesey. Sir Rober Thomas gave evidence that he valued the picture greatly, because of its romantic purchasing. He told the dealer to renovate it, and the dealer later communicated with him, offering to give him £SOO to release him from his bargain. Sir Rober Thomas subsequently compensated the dealer to the extent of £IOO. He regarded the picture as the most valuable of his possession. When he was absent, the picture was always removed to a roorr where there was some one constantly in attendance. The defence maintained that the picture destroyed was not the one insured, and further, that when the insurance was effected it was not revealed that Sir Rober Thomas, had bought the copy of the Raphael for £25. It was also maintained that the picture w'as merely a reproduction. The hearing was adjourned.