Fascinating Frank Lloyd Wright archive related to the Della Walker House in Carmel Point, California, including five letters signed by Frank Lloyd Wright, all dated 1951-1953 during and shortly after the house's construction. One of Wright's most famous houses and the only one built on the ocean, progress of and problems with construction of the Della Walker House are described here in detail between Wright, Aaron Green - his San Francisco representative overseeing the project, others working at Taliesin, and Mrs. Walker herself.

Lot includes five typed letters signed by Wright all addressed to Green on his red square stationery signed in full. In these letters, Wright responds to problems of leaks and masonry issues, and chastises Mrs. Walker for allowing builders to ruin his design. One letter reads in part, ''Mrs. Walker's roof is a disappointment and I am afraid the enamel will be too glaring unless a matt surface can be contrived...I don't believe the salt-water would do much harm to the pigment - if every five years the thing had to be refreshed that is not so bad?...I do not understand the fear of leaks in the overlapping or standing seams...''

In another letter, dated 2 January 1952, Wright mentions that ''Mrs. Walker writes 'leaks and smoke'...The damper is, probably, the trouble. Send sketch of how done. Should be no trouble to fix the chimney...'' The other correspondence comprises three telegrams sent by Wright, and dozens of mailed letters and retained copies by Green and Taliesin employees, such as John H. Howe, William Wesley Peters, Eugene Masselink and David Wright. In them, details of the house and Mrs. Walker's specific requests are laid bare. One letter dated 15 June (1950 or 1951) reads in part, ''Mrs. Walker has written Mr. Wright concerning the steps down to the beach which were originally 4' wide and on the latest drawings were 2'. She wants the 4 foot wide step instead of the 2'...I am reluctant to write Mrs. Walker because I fear that if she thinks she can succeed in this request of hers (in Mr. Wright's absence) there will be countless others she can get away with as well...''

In a retained copy of a letter to Green dated 21 May 1951, Wright writes, ''My dear Mrs. Walker: The stone work is very badly done. Evidently the mason has no feeling for this sort of thing. No feeling...I can hardly believe you have allowed the builder to make changes from the plans as the affair of a house as a work of art is a sensitive affair as you well know and the contractor does not - say the outside entrance to the North which violates the charm - and practicability also, I may say, of your opus. / Once the builder gets out of hand the chance of perfection or anything approximate is gone. / Do be guided by the counsel of the boys trained by me in getting my work done...'' This letter is initialed "FLW", likely by Wright with a cursive variant.

In another correspondence dated 29 May 1951, a handwritten list of expenses related to the house is present, accompanied by a typed retained copy of a letter: ''Mrs. Walker has been the origin of changes rather than the contractor, although it is intolerable that he had them drawn up. Mrs. Walker was absolutely adamant about the kitchen door, and claimed Mr. Wright once told her she could have it. She wanted a window in addition and we were equally adamant. They claim that Mr. Wright had verbally approved the changes and that they sent him a revised floor plan. Since Mr. Wright's letter had not been received when we were there, it was difficult to determine just what he had approved...We were emphatic that the plans be followed, and I hope convinced Mrs. Walker that none of the additional changes she frets about are in order...''

With much more interesting content about one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous and evocative homes. Wright's signed letters measure 11'' x 8.5'', as do most of the other letters. Overall in very good condition.