February 2025 Auction Ends Thursday, February 27th, 5pm Pacific
Raymond Chandler lot of five typed letters signed, all written in 1958 to Janet and Whitey Birss regarding private details of Chandler's life. A medical doctor, Whitelaw ''Whitey'' Birss made a house call to Chandler earlier in 1958 and they became friends thereafter, extending to Birss' wife Janet. Four of the letters are written to Janet and one to Whitey, with details revealed regarding Chandler's complicated relationships with his literary agent Helga Greene and his secretary Jean Fracasse. Upon Chandler's death, Greene inherited his estate leading to Fracasse suing Greene by contesting a handwritten codicil to Chandler's will. Greene ultimately prevailed in the lawsuit.
At this time in 1958 Chandler was still a champion of Jean Fracasse, although he admits to a love relationship with Greene. He writes to Whitey on 23 May, in part, ''...so except for Helga I should still be broke and can't accept any of the money due me--quite a sum. Helga went off to France today for ten days. I don't find it easy to spare her, but I know I must on occasion. We are very deeply in love and there are, I know, times when she thinks she really is a fool not to marry me. But I know better. She really needs the sort of independent life she has...Yours to the death, [signed] Ray''.
In the letters to Janet, Chandler reserves special ire for Jean Fracasse's husband, writing in part, ''...His whole campaign from the time he deserted his family and left them without any money has been to beggar and destroy his wife. He did not succeed, but it was not for want of trying. Yours with much admiration and more love, [signed] Ray''. In the same letter he goes into detail about the ownership of assets between Jean and her husband after their divorce.
In another letter dated 4 July, Chandler writes to Janet, ''In the first place do not insult me by calling me Mr. Chandler. I gather from your note that my car - if it is my car - is in dead storage. It seems a pity as it isn't good for the car - the battery will deteriorate and probably have to be replaced and why on earth doesn't a spirited girl like yourself learn to drive and use my car? / Jean seems to be much better because she has started to insult me again. I believe Dr. Fracasse is planning some sort of court action against her and perhaps against me, as you so rightly imagined, but I can't see what grounds he has for trying to reopen the case provided he is informed where his children are...As to why she married him I am as puzzled as you are. Why did women fall in love with Landru? Why do the most hideous-looking men seem to have a marvellous success with the ladies? You as a lady probably know the answer to this far better than I do...[signed] Ray.'' With several more letters to Janet with interesting content.
Lot is accompanied by two handwritten and confidential letters by Janet Birss, written to Judge G. Sipos. In these two letters Birss confides that it was actually Jean Fracasse who was the duplicitous actor in the satellite of personalities surrounding Raymond Chandler. She claims that Fracasse would feign sickness and do other things to garner sympathy. These letters are accompanied by press clippings related to the trio and an envelope postmarked sometime during the 1980s.
Four of the five Chandler letters measure 7'' x 9'', with three on his pale blue stationery; original envelope included with one of the letters. One letter has a photo of Chandler stapled to it, ostensibly sent by him. The letter to Whitey is an air mail letter measuring 7.75'' x 9.625''. Letters run 1-2 pages each. Folds, staple punctures and a few underlined sentences. Very good condition. An interesting group of correspondence giving insight to a well-publicized legal battle regarding Raymond Chandler's estate.
Raymond Chandler Lot of 5 Signed Letters -- Full of Drama Regarding His Relationships with Helga Greene (His Literary Agent & Love Interest) and His Secretary Jean Fracasse
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