The Rare Collections Finds the Doors' Jim Morrison Paris Journal in the a Los Angeles Collector's Estate
The Rare Collections has uncovered what appears to be Jim Morrison's "Paris Journal," a handwritten manuscript from the 127 Fascination box in a private collection in Los Angeles. According to several accounts and published articles about the 127 Fascination Box, this is the story behind this incredible find.
Los Angeles, CA, April 30, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The 127 Fascination Box was a strongbox containing more than two hundred pages of unpublished poems and other works. In addition to Jim Morrison’s last writings in Paris, the box included unpublished songs and a small notebook entitled, “The Square of Life,” the original manuscript of The Lords and The New Creatures and a forty-three-page poem entitled “An American Night” and other treasures.
Jim Morrison willed all of his belongings to his girlfriend Pamela Susan Courson upon his death. Morrison often introduced Pamela as his “cosmic mate” and she appointed herself custodian and champion of Morrison’s poetry early in their relationship. After Morrison’s death in 1971, the box was part of the items that Pamela Courson inherited.
Pamela returned to Los Angeles after Jim’s burial, but moved to the San Francisco area in early 1972. There she met Michael Vejraska, a 23-year-old taxi driver and Merchant Marine with whom she resided for 10 months. While in San Francisco, Pamela attempted to get help publishing Morrison's poems without success. That fall, she returned to Los Angeles and lived on a modest stipend provided by The Doors while Morrison’s will moved through Probate Court.
On April 25, 1974, Pamela was found dead in her Hollywood apartment of a heroin overdose; this was a month before the settlement of Morrison’s will, which affirmed Pamela as Morrison’s sole heir. Like Morrison, she was 27 when she died. She left all of her belongings, including those she inherited from Jim Morrison, to her parents.
In 1986, some of the writings of Jim Morrison that were left with Vejraska in San Fransisco resurfaced. Pamela’s parents, Columbus B. "Corky" Courson and his wife, Pearl Marie, were stunned to learn about the lost writings. "Corky has files of Jim’s poems that he’s been working on for years," said Doors' associate, Frank Lisciandro, who helped Courson sort through 1,600 manuscript pages collected from Vejraska and Pamela’s apartment. Some of the poems had as many as 50 different versions.
The Coursons filed suit in 1987, and demanded the return of the original manuscripts and asked for $1 million in damages. They also copyrighted all of Morrison’s writings they had in their possession and began actively compiling their own manuscript of poems for Villard Books. In February 1989, a settlement in the legal battle over the "127 Fascination" manuscripts was reached. Claims for publication rights to the poetry were given to the Coursons in exchange for the rights to sell original manuscript material as memorabilia. Pieces of the collection began to be sold to private collectors and at auction after the settlement was reached. The contents of the collective works known as the “127 Fascination” Box were dispersed.
Now the box itself, and several pieces from the collection have resurfaced in a private collection in Los Angeles. Although several pieces have been sold through private sales and at auction. The owner continues to sell pieces from the collection, but is not yet ready to part with the box itself.
For information, photos or details on obtaining any of these items, please contact The Rare Collections at 972-638-RARE, email info@therarecollections.com or visit www.therarecollections.com
Jim Morrison willed all of his belongings to his girlfriend Pamela Susan Courson upon his death. Morrison often introduced Pamela as his “cosmic mate” and she appointed herself custodian and champion of Morrison’s poetry early in their relationship. After Morrison’s death in 1971, the box was part of the items that Pamela Courson inherited.
Pamela returned to Los Angeles after Jim’s burial, but moved to the San Francisco area in early 1972. There she met Michael Vejraska, a 23-year-old taxi driver and Merchant Marine with whom she resided for 10 months. While in San Francisco, Pamela attempted to get help publishing Morrison's poems without success. That fall, she returned to Los Angeles and lived on a modest stipend provided by The Doors while Morrison’s will moved through Probate Court.
On April 25, 1974, Pamela was found dead in her Hollywood apartment of a heroin overdose; this was a month before the settlement of Morrison’s will, which affirmed Pamela as Morrison’s sole heir. Like Morrison, she was 27 when she died. She left all of her belongings, including those she inherited from Jim Morrison, to her parents.
In 1986, some of the writings of Jim Morrison that were left with Vejraska in San Fransisco resurfaced. Pamela’s parents, Columbus B. "Corky" Courson and his wife, Pearl Marie, were stunned to learn about the lost writings. "Corky has files of Jim’s poems that he’s been working on for years," said Doors' associate, Frank Lisciandro, who helped Courson sort through 1,600 manuscript pages collected from Vejraska and Pamela’s apartment. Some of the poems had as many as 50 different versions.
The Coursons filed suit in 1987, and demanded the return of the original manuscripts and asked for $1 million in damages. They also copyrighted all of Morrison’s writings they had in their possession and began actively compiling their own manuscript of poems for Villard Books. In February 1989, a settlement in the legal battle over the "127 Fascination" manuscripts was reached. Claims for publication rights to the poetry were given to the Coursons in exchange for the rights to sell original manuscript material as memorabilia. Pieces of the collection began to be sold to private collectors and at auction after the settlement was reached. The contents of the collective works known as the “127 Fascination” Box were dispersed.
Now the box itself, and several pieces from the collection have resurfaced in a private collection in Los Angeles. Although several pieces have been sold through private sales and at auction. The owner continues to sell pieces from the collection, but is not yet ready to part with the box itself.
For information, photos or details on obtaining any of these items, please contact The Rare Collections at 972-638-RARE, email info@therarecollections.com or visit www.therarecollections.com
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The Rare Collections
Kate Kirby
972-638-RARE
www.therarecollections.com
Kate Kirby
972-638-RARE
www.therarecollections.com
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