Four Letters from ANDREW WYETH (American, 1917-2009) to Alice Moore

Friday, September 17, 1937; mailed Saturday, September 18, 1937
My Dearest Alice:
The rest of the family left last Tuesday so I am now very much alone. I have been thinking a great deal about you and realizing more and more what a splendid girl you are and what little hope I have of ever becoming your husband although I know we belong together, Alice, I know it as well as my right hand and by God, I'm going to do something about it. What I want to know from you is do you love me or is it hopeless? Please tell me the truth. I wish I could make you out. [Illegible sentence, crossed out] One minute you are very warm to me and the next, oh hell I give up - excuse me.
Well I heard form N.Y. today and Mr. Macbeth is planning to give me my show the middle of October which is really a very good time. That means I have to leave here before I expected to though which I am sorry about and I think its worth it, don't you? Also I have been asked to have a one man show in Utica New York at the Williams Proctor Institute, which isn't so bad either.
We have been having some foggy weather here for the past week so I have been working in the studio most of the time and have enjoyed it very much. It's really very cozy with the fire going. I think I have some good pictures started too.
I hope you are well and that you haven't forgotten about me.
I love you I love you I adore and want you but what's the use.
Andy


Saturday, October 2, 1937; mailed Saturday, October 2, 1937
Dearest Darling -
Please, please forgive me for not writing since I have been working so hard that I forgot all about time but not about you I never can you are on my mind day and night and how often I have wished you could be here with me. I always thought that I would never need anyone as I need you . Alice, I want you to be near me always. I need you more than you need me I know although as time goes by I think you will change - I hope so anyway.
Well, I have been working in Egg Tempera for the last two weeks and by God I like it I have done several landscapes and am now working on a portrait of a fellow who to me expresses Maine of today. Mr. Sidney Chase the artist who lives in Martinsville can't seem to understand why I should want to paint the worst drunk in Martinsville, but as I told him, I am not interested in painting the picturesque Maine of yesterday but want to paint it as it is today and to me this fellow is typical of Maine of today. I really think I am getting a good one. The name of the fellow is Charles Ervine, ask Jim Balano about him.
Thursday I went to the Union Fair and had a swell time, went up with several fellows from the port. Mr. Ervine went also and passed out. I will tell about it when I see you.
I want to get this in the mail so I had better stop by saying that I love you so much that it worries me.
Andy

[Accompanied by a black and white page of an exhibition catalouge depicting "Charles Ervine" by Andrew Wyeth]

Thursday, October 14, 1937
My Dearest Alice,
Just received word from Macbeth Gallery that my show opens October 19th, so I am planning to arrive in Poughkeepsie Friday night. Hoping that you will be there -
Much love,
Andy
P.S. Could you let Bill Balano know.


October, 1937, a Monday after the Macbeth show; mailed Tuesday, October 26, 1937.
My Dearest Alice,
Just a note to let you know that I am planning to call you from New York City Wednesday night about supper time.
My show has gone well. I have sold everything and most of the reviews have been good.
You have been on my mind night and day and how I do miss you. I had really a swell time with you in Poughkeepsie and I want to thank you my sweet I love I love you and I love you and by God just watch me.
Excuse the terrible writing and also the shortness of this. I love you.
Andy

Conditions of Sale

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY AS YOU WILL BE BOUND BY THEM IF YOU BID AT AUCTION. The auction catalogue, if any, and the terms hereinafter set forth, as amended by any posted notices or oral announcements during the sale, is Grogan & Company's (herein referred to as "we", "us", or "our") and the Consignor's entire agreement with the purchaser relative to the property listed in our catalogue or otherwise offered for sale.

1. All property is sold "AS IS" and neither we nor the Consignor make any guarantees, warranties or representations, expressed or implied, with respect to the property, merchantability, or correctness of the catalogue or other description of the authenticity of authorship, physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, provenance, exhibitions, literature or historical relevance of the property or otherwise. No statement anywhere, whether oral or written, shall be deemed such a guarantee, warranty or representation. Prospective bidders should inspect the property before bidding to determine its condition, size and whether or not it has been repaired or restored. We and the Consignor make no representation or warranty as to whether the purchaser acquires any copyrights, including but not limited to any reproduction rights, in the property. However, if within 14 days of the sale of any lot, the purchaser gives notice in writing to us that the lot is counterfeit and within 10 days after such notice, the purchaser returns the lot to us in the same condition as when sold, and demonstrates to our satisfaction that the lot is a counterfeit, we will refund the purchase price.

2. A buyer's premium will be added to the successful purchase price and is payable by the purchaser as part of the total purchase price. The buyer's premium is 27% of the successful bid price.

3. We reserve the right to withdraw any property before the sale.

4. We reserve the right to reject any bid. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer will be the purchaser. In the event of the dispute between bidders, or in the event of doubt on our part as to the validity of any bid, the auctioneer will have the final discretion either to determine the successful bidder or to reoffer and resell the article in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, our sale record in conclusive. Although in our discretion we will execute order bids or accept telephone bids as a convenience to clients who are not present at auctions, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions in connection therewith.

5. If the auctioneer decides that any bid is below the value of the article offered, he may reject the same and withdraw the article from sale, and if, having acknowledged an opening bid, he decides that any advance thereafter is insufficient; he may reject the advance and may thereafter withdraw the property.

6. On the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer, (subject to fulfillment by such bidder of all of the conditions set forth herein), and such bidder thereupon assumes full risk and responsibility therefore.

7. Acceptable forms of payment include: Cash, checks or wire transfer. For checks over $3,000, property will not be released until the check clears, prior credit has been established, us a bank letter has been received prior to the sale guaranteeing said personal check. All property must be paid for and removed from our premises by the purchaser at his or her expense not later than 5 business days following its sale. If not so paid for and removed, we may send the purchased property to a public warehouse for the account of, and at the risk and expense of the purchaser. At our option, payment will not be deemed to have been made in full until we have collected funds represented by checks, or, in case of bank or cashier's checks, we have confirmed authenticity.

8. If any applicable conditions herein are not complied with the purchaser, in addition to other remedies available to us and the consignor by law, including without limitation the right to hold the purchaser liable for the total purchase price, we at our option may either (a) cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages all payments made by the purchaser or (b) resell the property at public auction without reserve, and the purchaser will be liable for any deficiency, as well as costs, including handling charges, the expense of both sales, our commission on both sales at our regular rates, all other charges due hereunder and incidental damages.

9. Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay the Massachusetts sales tax or any applicable compensating use tax of another state on the total purchase price. The rate of sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25%. Exemption numbers from other states are not accepted in Massachusetts. For those eligible, a Massachusetts exemption number may be applied for prior to the auction by contacting the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

10. There Conditions of Sale as well as the purchaser's and our respective rights and obligation hereunder shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By bidding at an auction whether present in person or by agent, order bid, telephone or other means, the purchaser shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the state courts, and the federal courts sitting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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12. In no event will our liability to a purchaser exceed the purchase price actually paid.

13. No invalidity or partial invalidity or unenforceability of any provision provided herein shall effect or impair the validity of enforceability of any other provision hereof.

14. BIDDING AT AN AUCTION WHETHER PRESENT OR IN PERSON OR BY AGENT, ORDER, BID TELEPHONE OR OTHER MEANS, CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS.

Payment Terms

Acceptable forms of payment include check, bank check or money order, cash or wire transfer. If you pay by check, property will not be released until the funds have cleared unless credit has been previously established with us or if a bank letter has been received prior to the sale guaranteeing said personal check.

All property must be paid for and removed from our premises by the purchaser at his or her expense not later than 5 business days following its sale. If not so paid for and removed, we may send the purchased property to a public warehouse for the account of, and at the risk and expense of the purchaser.

Shipping Information

A list of recommended shippers can be found on our website. Please contact the shipper directly to get quotes and to make arrangements for them to pick up your items at our gallery. The shipper should contact us to make an appointment to pick up the items and purchasers should also call the gallery to authorize release of the items to the shipper.

Buyer's Premium

Please note that a buyer's premium of 27% will be added to the hammer price as part of the total purchase price.

Taxes on your purchase

Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay the Massachusetts sales tax or any applicable compensating use tax of another state on the total purchase price. The rate of sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25%. Exemption numbers from other states are not accepted in Massachusetts. For those eligible, a Massachusetts exemption number may be applied for prior to the auction by contacting the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Condition Satement

All property is sold "AS IS" and neither we nor the Consignor make any guarantees, warranties or representations, expressed or implied, with respect to the property, merchantability, or correctness of the catalogue or other description of the authenticity of authorship, physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, provenance, exhibitions, literature or historical relevance of the property or otherwise. No statement anywhere, whether oral or written, shall be deemed such a guarantee, warranty or representation. Prospective bidders should inspect the property before bidding to determine its condition, size and whether or not it has been repaired or restored. We and the Consignor make no representation or warranty as to whether the purchaser acquires any copyrights, including but not limited to any reproduction rights, in the property. However, if within 14 days of the sale of any lot, the purchaser gives notice in writing to us that the lot is counterfeit and within 10 days after such notice, the purchaser returns the lot to us in the same condition as when sold, and demonstrates to our satisfaction that the lot is a counterfeit, we will refund the purchase price.