Group of Love Letters to Flora Temple Lash, whom he married, with sketches and related ephemera

20 letters, 59 pages, several letters illustrated with sketches, letters dated 1922-1941, the bulk from 1923-1924, with 9 pencil and pen sketches, 17 printed and manuscript ephemeral items, including: exhibition lists, catalogs and price lists, Christmas cards designed and printed by the artist, the ephemera dates from 1912-1941, with nine snapshot photographs, plus accompanying negatives. Collection of love letters from Albert Sterner, an academically trained artist, painter, draughtsman and print-maker, who as an older married man, at the age of 60, seems to have fallen hard for the younger Flora Temple Lash. Sterner divorced his first wife and later married Flora. The letters discuss Sterner's artistic life and his relationship with Flora. [March 14, 1923] New York, to Flora Temple Lash, Philadelphia "Darling! If ever in my life I did what I longed not to do it was then when the door closed last night and I left you. I crossed the wet street and looked up at your windows but you were busy - undressing - going in your little bed where but a moment before you had lain beside me. It was heavenly sweet that quiet embrace - It was so close so dear so deep - The silences of it are still in my memory! I got a lower berth on the 1215 and went to bed and stayed there till 7 this morning I slept fitfully - had breakfast at the Pennsylvania Station and got here long before Norah arrived. I have been working on and off at the etching scraping out a large place - it is arduous the cutting of the copper - So I am not sending you a proof till the thing is corrected - and Jules just came with another photograph of your drawing - but it is worse than the other so tomorrow he will do it again. ." [October 1, 1923] New York, to Flora Temple Lash, Philadelphia "Dear Love! I have thought of you all through this day - Now it is night - and I long for you so I might kiss your dear eyes and just hear your lovely voice say "Albert" No one says it like you do, no one! Even over the phone when you are many miles away it bears me to your love - and I love it. I had dinner alone at the Arts Club, for the Players Kitchen is out of commission and we go next door and eat among the old ladies - they are all old ladies there men and women - This morning I printed a beautiful proof from my plate 'the mask' or 'Now Unmask' which title do you prefer. It is really a beautiful proof. I am more & more mad about etching and I find out more wonderful things about it every hour. It is much more precious than lithography and much more difficult and longer to make and so one loves it more. It is more uncertain too and has more mystery. I want you to see this proof, so if you don't come to New York at the end of the week I will bring it to show you and will try to print from your plate reading too. - A mad idea has been in my head of renting my studio and going to stay in Vermont . so I would not have to earn so much money and could go on etching - but it is only an idea and may never materialize. ." [Jan 7 1924] New York to Flora Temple Lash, Philadelphia "Dearest Love! . All this week every evening till Saturday I have to play the little Pirandello Play - and on Monday the 14 - I begin the portrait of Mr. Tyler at Elkins Park. I shall go to Philad. Sunday the other two drawings they ordered are to be done later. Tyler wrote that they loved the boy's portrait. On the 17th I lecture at the Fellowship. Did you get the photographs & get them to Mary Butler? And on the 19th I give my lecture on drawing here at the Anderson ." June 27, 1924, Binghamton, New York to Flora T. Lash, Philadelphia "My Beloved - First how are you? You dear - I hope quite better and feeling allright. I never like to see you suffering. It.…