Raymond Chandler Autograph Postcards Signed.

CHANDLER, Raymond.

$1,800.00

Item Number: 147854

Rare autograph postcards signed by Raymond Chandler to his secretary Jean Fracasse and her son Vincent. Duodecimo, two postcards of Palm Springs, California, dated 21 November 1957. Chandler and Vincent had bonded over playing darts, and in the postcard Chandler tells Vincent to “have the dartboard ready” and that he’d “like to get you .22 rifle for Christmas.” The postcard itself appears to have been used for darts also upon receipt. The other postcard is addressed to “Sweet and lovely Jean” and reports to her that he swam 14 lengths “but it was so cold outside I only did 2 dives.” Additionally both postcards have short postscripts from Chandler‘s literary agent Helga Greene. In very good condition, with light toning and dart indentations to one postcard. The pieces measure 5.5 inches by 7 inches.

Raymond Chandler was a pivotal figure in 20th-century American literature, renowned for his contributions to the hardboiled crime genre. His work, particularly through the chronicles of private detective Philip Marlowe, provided a nuanced examination of moral ambiguity, societal corruption, and the complexities of justice. Chandler’s novels, including The Big Sleep and Farewell, My Lovely, explored themes of class, power, and alienation, while also engaging with the conventions of noir fiction. Marked by its economy of language and careful attention to atmosphere, his writing elevated the detective genre, merging literary qualities with the structural elements of crime fiction. His literary legacy remains central to ongoing academic discourse in the fields of literature, cultural studies, and criminology. Chandler moved to California in the 1920s, eventually settling in La Jolla, a coastal community in San Diego County. His time in California, particularly in La Jolla, had a significant influence on his writing. The stark contrast between the region’s natural beauty and the social complexities of its urban centers shaped the settings and themes in his works.