Lot 140
Getty, J. Paul (1892-1976) American industrialist and the founder of Getty Oil Company; he was the richest man in the world when he died, owning a controlling interest in over 200 companies. Extremely rare Autograph Letter Signed, "Paul" 3pp., 10½"x7¼" (Tulsa, Oklahoma), 1947 (misdated 1945), Apr. 17. Very fine. To his fifth wife Teddy, first proclaiming his love and then admonishing her for spending too much money. In part: "Darling, Thanks for your sweet letters and excellent advertising suggestions. You are dear and sweet and I love you madly. But…I get tired of just being a paymaster. I'm tired of a mountain of bills every month…And my bank account needs a slower tempo. Before we were married I spent half the year very quietly and inexpensively, and gave my bank account time to recuperate. Now it's being hit and hit hard every day….If we can't get on a sensible basis I'll close the ranch, sell the beach house and emigrate with you to Mexico where living costs suit my pocket book better…." He refuses her request for a swimming pool "with the beach 2 minutes away" and rejects the idea of a new garage for the beach house. Most of the three pages are full of complaints about money, but he adds one question about his son Timmy, who was born June 15, 1945: "How much does Timmy weight?" He closes with "Love, love, Paul." The envelope is addressed by Getty to "Mrs. J. Paul Getty, 270 Ocean Front, Santa Monica, Calif." and postmarked Apr. 18, 1947 from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Getty was devoting his attention to developing peacetime products for the Spartan Aircraft Company. In 1957 Fortune declared J. Paul Getty the richest man in America. Extremely rare. No letter to any of Getty's five wives is listed as selling over the past 30 years in ABPC.
Getty married New York socialite Louise "Teddy" Lynch in Rome on November 17, 1939. On their wedding day, Teddy announced that she was staying in Rome to take singing lessons; they did not see each other again until she returned 2½ years later. Their bizarre marriage, during which they saw each other very little, ended in 1958.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500.
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| Realized $690 |
