Raymond Chandler At Sotheby's New York

On 13th December 2011 Sotheby’s Fine Books and Manuscripts sale in New York will include The Jean-Vounder Davis Collection of the Raymond Chandler Library - a unique group of books from the collection of one of America’s greatest detective fiction writers. Many of the titles are personalized by the author and offer a fascinating insight to his closest relationships. The writer rarely inscribed his works and this is by far the most important Chandler collection to have appeared on the market.

After Raymond Chandler’s death all of these books, manuscripts, and screenplays entered the library of his secretary and fiancé Jean Vounder-Davis, whose daughter has consigned the collection. Despite a 30 year age gap, Jean cared for the author keeping him healthy, sober, and focused on his writing. In turn he helped to care for her children, becoming their legal guardian.

The group is led by a remarkable double presentation copy of The Big Sleep - Chandler’s momentous first novel – that is inscribed to his beloved wife, Cissy (est. $80/120,000). Further highlights include a dedication copy of the first edition of Chandler’s novel Playback as well as his personal copies of the movie scripts he worked on, including Three of a Kind and The Blue Dahlia.

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