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

Monday, August 1, 1938; mailed Monday, August 1, 1938
My dearest,
How lonely I feel now that you are gone. I guess the thing for me to do is to work like hell and try to stop thinking about you being so far away. Knowing you, I know has brought maturity in to my work and I feel now that I am really on the way to do brig things in the field of art. You are a real inspiration to me Alice and someday I am going to make you proud of me. All I can say is give me a little time.
Was up at five o'clock this morning and over at Martinsville studying the effect I want to paint. This country is best in the early morning. Everything looks so clear, everything is so rich and damp and the little buildings stand out so bright. I can't write what I mean but I will paint it for you some time.
Johnny Roberts came down with his wife last night. He went with your sister Peggy a few ago didn't he? He seems to be nice but dull.
Don't bother to answer this note but I wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you. Will write a letter later.
I love you my sweet,
Andy


Sunday, August 7, 1938; mailed Monday, August 8, 1938
My Dearest:
Your note made me feel terrible, for two cents I would pack up and come down and see you but then I think of my future and what would happen to me if I don't make good and how you would hate me for that. And if I do make good I have a chance of having you with me for good, that is if you love me enough to do that. I do want you and God damn, if I am going to let you marry any one else. What a swell person you are to send me "Wuthering Heights," it's going to be a real treat to read it. I am going to start it tonight.
We have been getting some pretty warm days here lately, no sea breeze at all, so you see Poughkeepsie is not the only place that is getting heat.
Went out to little Caldwell's island yesterday with Walter. This is the first day I could work on it since we were over there with you. I thought of you the whole time I was there and wondered what you were doing at the same time. When you are away I think of so many things I would like to tell you but one thing sure is that I love you. I want you next to me - well, getting back to the island again and my picture of it, I worked for five hours there in the sun and I think I am building this damn painting in to something although there is a lot more to do on it yet.
Have just sent all of my water colors which I think are any good home to be matted so that Mr. Macbeth when he comes on the 18th of this month will see them looking their best.
Well my father arrived last week looking pretty tired out, in fact he arrived here with Bronchitis and is now in bed but today he is much better and I am sure he will be up and around in a few days. He sends you his best regards and is very sorry that he didn't see you this summer. Every one in the family certainly likes you Alice.
Received a long letter from Winsor & Newton who makes my water color paper and they are entirely at a loss to provide any explanation as to why their paper should turn yellow. They tell me that this is the first complaint of this kind they have ever received. Have you looked at the water color you have of mine to see if it has turned? I wish you would.
I certainly hope you can come up her over Labor Day, please try will you dear, as I am getting lonely and need you. But really I think you need me more. I hate to think of you way down there with no one to look after you. It makes me nervous as hell.
Please don't work too hard because you have much more important things to do in this world than what you are doing now. Remember that now and get plenty of sleep and think of me now and then will you.
I must say good bye now and get to work. I will meet you in my dreams.
Love, Andy
[in margin: I will write to you again in a couple of days.]

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.

11. We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of carriers or packers of purchased lots, whether or not recommended by us. Packing and handling of purchased lots by us is at the entire risk of the purchaser. In no event will we be liable for damage to glass or frames, regardless of the cause.

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.