Sold For $303
*Includes Buyers Premium
TLS signed “Ray,” one page, 8.5 x 11, April 20, 1948. Letter to publisher James Hamish Hamilton, whom Chandler refers to as “Jamie,” in full: “Mr. Tyler has shown me some correspondence with you about the royalties to be paid on the so-called ‘cheap editions’ of my books put out under your imprint, and also on the projected Penguin editions. These arrangements seem to have been made and concluded between yourself and Innes Rose without reference to me. The point that strikes me is not whether the terms are proper, since I would assume merely on your assurance that they were, but whether Innes Rose had any power or authority to accept them, unless I specifically give him such power. I cannot see that he can assume it. The modification of the royalty terms on the cheap editions amounts to a modification of the original contract between your company and myself. Surely only you and I can modify those terms. The arrangement as to the Penguin editions strikes me as being an entirely new contract, requiring an agreement of force and effect only if signed by you and me. However casual and perfunctory the agreement may be I am the only person who can make it with you.
There is something here which I fail to understand. It would appear that you have attributed to Innes Rose powers which he does not possess, and that he has exercised powers which I have in no sense given him. As a matter of fact, Innes Rose is not directly my agent at all, and never has been. He is sub-agent of my American agent, and during the period affecting these new arrange- sents my American agent has been H. N. Swanson. I am quite sure that Swanson has not authorised these modifications or arrangements, since my experience with him is that he is most meticulous in referring all such matters to his clients, far more so than some New York literary agents I have dealt with.
Much as I dislike burdening you at a time when you have all you can bear, this situation does seen to me to require some clarification. Also, in order that there may be no misunderstanding in the future, I should perhaps advise you in a formal way that Innes Rose has no power whatsoever to act for me in any matter except such as arise out of arrangements heretofore concluded and contracts previously entered into.” In fine condition.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$150.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
