1906 George A. Hearn Signed Letter Met Museum Benefactor NYC Art Collector For Sale

Offered here is an original May 1, 1906 typed letter signed by George A. Hearn (1835–1913), the prominent New York merchant, art collector, philanthropist, and major benefactor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The letter is typed on attractive James A. Hearn & Son business letterhead, listing the firm’s West 14th Street and West 13th Street addresses in New York City. It is addressed to Frederick S. Wait, 10 Wall Street, New York, and is signed in ink at the bottom by George A. Hearn.

The letter reads:

May 1st, 1906

Mr. Frederick S. Wait,
#10 Wall St., City.

Dear Sir:—

Many thanks for your kind letter. It is always a satisfaction
to know that I have been the means of happiness to others.

Yours truly,
George A. Hearn

The letter is mounted on a period scrapbook page beside a portrait of Hearn. A handwritten collector’s notation below identifies him as:

“Benefactor Met. Museum N.Y. / Founder of Hearn Gallery.”

The date of this letter is especially appealing because 1906 was a major year in Hearn’s relationship with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That year, Hearn made an important gift of paintings to the museum, helping strengthen the Met’s developing collection of American art.

His statement in this letter — “It is always a satisfaction to know that I have been the means of happiness to others” — is particularly fitting given his extensive philanthropy and patronage of the arts.

Hearn became one of the significant early supporters of American painting at the Metropolitan Museum and used both direct gifts and financial support to encourage the acquisition of works by American artists.

George Arnold Hearn (1835–1913) was a New York merchant, collector, philanthropist, and patron of American art.

He was associated with the prominent dry-goods concern James A. Hearn & Son, one of the better-known retail firms operating around New York’s West 14th Street commercial district during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Hearn developed an important private art collection and became closely involved with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a trustee during the early 20th century.

His collection and gifts reflected a particular interest in American painting, at a time when major American museums were still expanding their institutional commitment to American artists.

Works associated with Hearn’s collecting and philanthropy included paintings by leading American and European artists such as:

• Winslow Homer

• George Inness

• John Singer Sargent

• James McNeill Whistler

• Childe Hassam

• Thomas Gainsborough

• John Constable

Hearn also established financial support for the acquisition of works by living American artists, helping the Metropolitan Museum build its American painting collection beyond the individual works he personally donated.

Among the best-known paintings associated with Hearn is Winslow Homer’s “Northeaster,” which passed through Hearn’s collection before entering the Metropolitan Museum.

By the time of his death in 1913, Hearn had established himself as one of the important private patrons behind the Met’s growth in the field of American art.

The letterhead itself adds another layer of New York commercial history.

James A. Hearn & Son was a prominent New York dry-goods and department-store concern operating in the West 14th Street retail district. The printed heading on this letter lists multiple addresses at:

20, 22, 24, 26 & 30 West Fourteenth Street
and
19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27 & 29 West Thirteenth Street

The expansive address listing illustrates the size of the firm’s Manhattan operation during this period.

The recipient is identified as Frederick S. Wait, with an address of 10 Wall Street, New York City. The brief nature of the letter does not explain the exact circumstances of his earlier correspondence with Hearn, but Hearn’s response clearly indicates that Wait had written to thank or compliment him for some beneficial act.

The wording suggests a personal acknowledgment rather than routine commercial correspondence.

This listing includes the complete scrapbook presentation shown in the photographs:

• Original May 1, 1906 typed letter

• Hand-signed George A. Hearn autograph

• Original James A. Hearn & Son letterhead

• Period portrait of George A. Hearn

• Period scrapbook mounting

• Handwritten identification relating Hearn to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Antique condition with expected age-related wear.

The letter shows visible toning, fold lines, wrinkles/creasing, and age discoloration. It has been mounted to the scrapbook page. The portrait is also mounted. The scrapbook page and lower backing sheet show staining, edge wear, mounting residue, and other signs of age and previous collection use.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

An attractive original autograph piece connecting New York retail history, Wall Street, American art collecting, and the early development of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A particularly desirable item for collectors of Metropolitan Museum memorabilia, American art history, New York City history, department-store history, philanthropy, and early 20th-century autographs.