A Quarter Million Made And Lost

From a fine estate many years ago, I bought a painting quite superb;
I was going to make a fortune, till a “so-called expert” kicked it to the curb!
Below I will relate to you, how my dreams were duly dashed;
By a “pseudo-intellectual”, their ego unabashed!
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The oil was signed William Glackens, an American artist very well known;
It was an early work, a park scene, I called my client on the phone!
He was very eager to see it, I drove all night to get it there;
I was sure to make a fortune, on this painting very rare!
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The moment that he saw it, his eyes began to gleam;
My heart was really racing, I had finally found my dream!
For Art Dealers call it a major score, when one finds a lost masterpiece;
A once in a lifetime discovery, its repercussions never cease!
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We agreed upon the purchase price, a quarter million bucks;
With just one stipulation, which was impossible to duck!
The person who wrote the catalog raisonne, on Glackens, would need it see;
And verify it was done by him, with a Certificate of Authenticity!
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We thought it would be no problem, having seen many of his works before;
But after close inspection, they said “I just cannot be sure”!
So they would not sign the proper document, my client backed out the deal;
I lost a quarter million, because of an egotistical schlemiel!
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A quarter million
Slipped right out of my hands
Thanks to an Art snob
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P.S.  I ended up realizing almost ten thousand dollars for the painting, from a collector who also thought that the expert had made a mistake.