"The Case of  The Velvet Claws" inscribed to his parents

This book was dictated in the upper study of his home in Ventura, California (see his daughter's statement on the home page). This book was patterned after actual places and people Uncle Erle met in Ventura (not Los Angeles, as it is commonly thought). The dictation was transcribed by a secretary on the third floor of the bank  building which is located on California and Main Streets in Downtown Ventura. He wasn't sure if the book would gain as popular acceptance as his pulp stories would when he penned this inscription. Only about 2000 first edition copies of "The Case of The Velvet Claws" were published. Of course, the book was a hit and Mason was on the way to being a cultural icon. The Mason in the first three books is quite different that the TV version, or in fact, the Mason of the later books. More hard-boiled and riding continually on the thin gray line between committing crimes and solving them. I like the early version of the lawyer the best.

To mine dear pa-rents Gosh I hope this amounts to something so I can wipe out the stain of being a soap salesman. But soap salesman, lawyer or author I love you, and I haven't , and I haven't forgotten those days when you denied yourself the things of life you wanted so I could have a chance , even if I do seem hard boiled at times With love Erle   This inscription resides at University of Texas, Austin

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