TLS signed “Ray,” one page, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, August 6, 1947. Letter to "Swanie," his agent H. N. Swanson, in part: "I should like to send your letter of August 2d, about Knopf's royalty statement, to Knopf, but I don't suppose you would want me to. I can't understand the situation either, unless it was that the booksellers overbought when the Black Widow edition of these books came out. Also, there should have been published a Forum motion picture edition of the book with scenes from the motion picture, at the time the picture was released, and I don't remember whether this happened or not. As to finding out whether the booksellers are having any trouble getting copies of the books, why don't you have somebody call Mr. W. L. Martindale or Mrs. Rachel Brand of Martindale's? Also, call some of the other big stores around town, such as Bullock's and Robertson's book departments, Campbell's in West Los Angeles, and Brentano's. I was told quite some time back that Vroman's Book Store in San Diego could not supply a friend of mine with copies of a couple of my books, but I didn't pay much attention to it, because I thought the reason might be that they would not order a sufficient number. The booksellers, a while back, had a rule that they would not accept an order for less than five copies. That rule might not now be in effect, however." In fine condition, with staple holes to the upper left corner. In celebration of the 1946 film adaptation of Chandler’s The Big Sleep, Warner Brothers and Forum Books reissued the novel in its ‘First Photoplay Edition,’ which featured several scenes from the Howard Hawks-directed film starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.Format: TLS