Correspondence from Marguerite McBey to James McBey

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Correspondence from Marguerite McBey to James McBey

SenderSent by James McBey (Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)

AssociatedAssociated with Marguerite McBey (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 1905 - 1999)

Date1948

Object NameLetter

Mediumpaper

ClassificationsMcBey

Dimensions28 x 21.6cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1988 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG008318.29

Keywords

Letter

About MeCorrespondence from Marguerite McBey to James McBey, dated 7 October 1948. Three sheets. Marguerite writes that she has been delayed in writing to James because she has been trying to move into 11 Macdougal Alley, New York. She says that she received his letters. Regarding the portrait, Marguerite writes that James would have to, if James wanted a particular traffic department to handle it, send it via American Overseas Airlines, get a U.S. Consular invoice and sellers' invoice, certificate on U.S. Consular Form 253 made out by himself, get an airline shipping receipt, and insure it in London.

Marguerite believes that there are quite a few loose ends, especially regarding income tax.

She thinks that furniture is quite expensive in New York.

Attached to the letter is a piece of paper detailing the contents of James McBey's safe deposit box:

"Passport
Havana baggage declaration
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Title of Station Wagon
Mann Ballatyne insurance on house, expires March 1944
List of lenses in our possession"

On the third sheet, Marguerite writes that she does not know what to say to McBey's question regarding a free studio, given anxieties about their relationship and the possibility of them working so close together.

This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this letter.