On November 25, 1913, the day after Vincenzo Peruggia wrote Alfredo Geri, an art dealer in Florence, offering the Mona Lisa for sale, he sent an almost identical letter to an art dealer in Rome named Corvisieri.
Signore Corvisieri
We have the honor of bringing to your attention some things that are happening in Paris and by means of correspondence a secret auction for the sale of DaVinci’s masterpiece La Gioconda.
We would be most grateful if this treasure of art could return to Italy and especially to its capital.
For this we implore you if your heart tells you to want to participate, by yourself or with some friend or colleague to find a way that Mona Lisa does not remain a wanderer in foreign lands but once and for all, returns to Italy. Adding that in order to facilitate this we would intend to benefit you by a discount of 25% (commission of 25%) and even more to foreign participants. If this is something you believe you would like to do, respond by post. Send your offer to
Monsieur Leonard V
Poste Restante
Bureau #5
Place de La Republique, Paris
I send you most elegant greetings awaiting your reply.
Corvisieri didn’t respond.
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