Holiday, Billie (Eleanora Fagan). Poignant autograph letter signed ("Lady Billie Holiday"), in pencil, 2 pages (10 ¼ x 8 in.; ...

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Holiday, Billie (Eleanora Fagan). Poignant autograph letter signed ("Lady Billie Holiday"), in pencil, 2 pages (10 ¼ x 8 in.; 260 x 203 mm.), Box No. PMB A, "Alderson, West Virginia," 12 July 1947 to her husband, Joseph Guy, 10 Reed St., County Prison, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the letter is stamped "CENSORED BY:" (and initialed) at the top of page one. An emotional letter from Billie Holiday incarcerated on narcotics charges, to her husband, also in prison. Holiday writes, in full with misspellings uncorrected: Joe Darling. Your letter just arrived and it just makes me sick the way people set there sevls [their selves] up to be so true blue. Bama has told everybody on the street he gave you money a darlor [dollar] indeed could he spare it. As for Bobby I am sure he will send you some when he can. He said he had to wait until pay day and as you know sweetheart he has got a wife and two kids. But hasn't he wrote to you yet. He owes me a letter also. Well hes working on 52nd st and has to travel way over to Jersey. But I don't think he will let us down. We are going to the Movies tonight so I will finish this when I get back. Well baby I am back from the Movies it was called Sister Kennedy [Sister Kenny, 1946] with Rosland Russel [Rosalind Russell]. It was a very good picture but it made me kind of sad thinking about the last show we seen together odd man out ["Odd Man Out", 1947] rember [remember] I shall never forget darling its lights out now so I will finish this in the morning. I am going to try so hard to dream of you. Don't laugh. Sometimes I am lucky and can there goes the lights Well darling its night again. After I got thru [through] my work today I just couldn't write. I cried for the first time. Oh darling I love you so much I am so sorry you have to stay there in Phila. It must be awfully hot. Yes baby I gained nine pounds and I am getting biger all the time gee you wont love me fat (smile) But you must look wonderful. Youer [you are] so tall and you needed some weight. So thank heavens for that and what ever happens at your trial sweetheart keep your chin up don't let nothing get you down. It won't be long before were together agian [again]. My lights has been out every [ever] since I last saw you. But they will go on agian for us all over the world. Write to me Joe as soon as you can. Ill always love you as ever your Lady Billie Holiday. American jazz vocalist, known as "The First Lady of the Blues," Billie Holiday exhibited highly individual phrasing and intonation, and was known for her dramatic intensity and impeccable timing. She first sang professionally in Harlem nightclubs in 1930 and made her first record in 1933. Touring as a vocalist with some of the more popular big bands of the 1930s (Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Duke Ellington), she came to fame as a major jazz artist, with her popular songs Strange Fruit, Fine and Mellow, and Them There Eyes. This poignant heart-wrenching handwritten letter from Lady Billie Holiday to her husband, incarcerated in a Philadelphia prison came at a time when Holiday was incarcerated herself. She was arrested in Philadelphia in May 1947 for possession of narcotics and sentenced in June by the Philadelphia Federal Court to a year and one day. Lady Day's successful solo career was marked by personal tragedies including the heroin addiction that led to her death. Her autobiography, Lady Sings The Blues was written in 1956.