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Pattie Boyd selling her love letters.

(151 Posts)
Sago Tue 27-Feb-24 14:16:20

Pattie Boyd, now 79 is selling her love letters from Eric Clapton.

I feel it’s so sad to have something so personal and once so precious up for auction.

Obviously their relationship was over a long time ago but whilst Eric Clapton is still alive it seems wrong.

Am I too sentimental or do you feel the same?

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 27-Feb-24 15:49:40

Yes I believe so. Clapton would know that the letters would be shown to prospective buyers in the catalogue. He’s an intelligent man and, given the business he’s in, would have a good knowledge of copyright laws. I don’t consider that Christie’s are under any obligation to tell buyers about intellectual property. Caveat emptor!

Doodle Tue 27-Feb-24 15:56:10

I find it sad. Love letters should remain between the two people involved.

Glorianny Tue 27-Feb-24 15:56:16

I just wonder who will buy them. Someone planning a book once those involved have all died perhaps? Would an archive or a museum want them?

Kate1949 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:04:17

There don't seem to be many love letters there, although there are a few. There are dresses, jewellery and photographs etc.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:06:46

Yes interesting to see who buys them. If we ever get to know.

A newspaper? Can they then print them? Or a private owner who then sells them on to the media. Who wants to read them? Maybe the sketches are of more interest.

Lovely Pattie Boyd icon of my teenage years is 79...how did that happen!!!

Urmstongran Tue 27-Feb-24 16:07:39

Beats what the rest of us do at our age - bag it for the charity shops!

Dempie55 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:12:40

I've never had any time for Clapton. I think she was crazy to leave beautiful, gentle George for him. And, although he wrote two amazing love songs for her, I don't really want to read any of his letters which are trying to persuade her to leave her husband.

I think it's very, very bad manners to sell such personal letters while the person who penned them is still alive.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 27-Feb-24 16:15:09

Clapton has said he doesn’t mind, George is long dead.

Chestnut Tue 27-Feb-24 16:15:25

I felt it was the wrong thing to do when I heard this, but if Eric Clapton has agreed and given permission then that's what matters. And of course Olivia for anything written by George.

If the writer and the recipient both agree to make them public then it is not for us to judge.

crazyH Tue 27-Feb-24 16:16:11

If she needed the money, I wouldn’t blame her. But if she’s worth 20 million, why ? If she doesn’t want them, destroy them as would most of us 😂

Callistemon21 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:17:58

I don't think they should be destroyed.
They are part of an iconic story.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 27-Feb-24 16:18:08

If I had love letters worth money I wouldn’t destroy them!

Kate1949 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:20:12

Much as I 'loved' George, according to Patties book, he didn't treat her too well in the latter stages of their marriage and Clapton treated her appallingly.
I don't think she should burn them. They are part of history.

TerriBull Tue 27-Feb-24 16:27:31

I read her biography a few years ago, in spite of being eulogised in at least three songs, she wasn't really happy in either of those marriages. Eric Clapton in particular was awful to her for much of their time together, so much for Layla and Wonderful Tonight. It was a source of unhappiness that she was unable to have children.

Letters are personal, often the writer is expressing feelings at that moment in time and not for the eyes of the world to judge. I've probably read letters of the long since dead, kings, queens and other well known people but not sure when some of the people involved are still alive.

There are lots of beautiful iconic people from those times, who haven't aged so well, Bridget Bardot for example. Patti Boyd was lovely in her hey day, but they are just mere mortals like the rest of us, it's the passage of time it affects us all to a greater or lesser extent, depending on all the booze and drugs individual genes, it's hardly surprising.

Callistemon21 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:40:46

Urmstongran

I had to have a nosey at the 79 year old Pattie Boyd so I Googled her.

it's the passage of time it affects us all to a greater or lesser extent
Yup!

She's 80 in about three weeks' time.

MayBee70 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:49:23

Calendargirl

The words of ‘Wonderful Tonight’- the thought that you were the inspiration! What a feeling!

I thought Eric was the most gorgeous, sexy man until I went to see him at the Royal Albert Hall, must be nearly 30 years ago.

He came across as not really wanting to be there, just ‘another’ gig to be got through.

Very disappointing.

I’ve heard that from other people, too.

NotAGran55 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:51:40

The two letters from Eric in the auction were published years ago.

Kate1949 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:59:26

As were most of the photos she is selling, albeit these are originals obviously.

Callistemon21 Tue 27-Feb-24 17:01:17

crazyH

If she needed the money, I wouldn’t blame her. But if she’s worth 20 million, why ? If she doesn’t want them, destroy them as would most of us 😂

She might be giving the money to charity.

We don't know.

pascal30 Tue 27-Feb-24 17:12:02

Callistemon21

Urmstongran

I had to have a nosey at the 79 year old Pattie Boyd so I Googled her.

it's the passage of time it affects us all to a greater or lesser extent
Yup!

She's 80 in about three weeks' time.

It was certainly quite disconcerting seeing her sitting in front of huge blown up photos of when she was about 18..

kittylester Tue 27-Feb-24 17:51:01

Going to argue with you Kate. grin

We've seen Eric Clapton twice and he was brilliant both times.

Casdon Tue 27-Feb-24 17:57:03

I hope whoever buys them keeps the content private. I’ve seen Eric Clapton too kittylester, and I agree, he was very good when I saw him., he has charisma.

Iam64 Tue 27-Feb-24 18:25:37

I read George was always involved with other women. He traded her to Clapton at least once.
These rock women weren’t treated with respect

It’s up to her what she does with her letters

Kate1949 Tue 27-Feb-24 19:19:35

I've never seen him live kitty so I can't comment. I'm sure he's a great musician but there's something about him I don't like which is daft because I don't know him.

BlueSapphire Tue 27-Feb-24 20:05:16

I am nearly the same age as Patti Boyd, and so wanted to be her back in the 60s when she was with George..... but everything is not all that it seems and I was glad I settled for a quiet life!