Description:

Barnard Christiaan 1922 - 2001 Christiaan Barnard, the doctor who preformed the world's first human-to-human heart transplant, signs a typed letter to Hollywood's famous private eye, Milo Speriglio, and includes a beautiful signed photograph of himself in his scrubs. Typed Letter Signed, "Chris Barnard" on University of Cape Town stationery, , 1p., 8" x 10". Cape Town, South Africa, February 10, 1969. Lightly creased with center fold and faint show-through from prior mounting, else near fine with extremely faded signature.

Photo signed "Chris Barnard", 1 p., 4.75" x 6.5". Handling creases visible when viewed on an angle. Bold signature- in purple ink- contrasts strongly with image. Near fine condition.

The letter is written on University of Capetown stationery, where Barnard earned his doctorate and later became a professor. Dr. Barnard references his "first human heart transplant operation" and mentions the inclusion of a "metal-clip cannula," which is not present.

In 1967, two years prior to this letter, Barnard, assisted by his brother Marius, performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant. The recipient, Louis Washkansky, lived for 18 days. Barnard was hailed around the globe for his medical feat.

The letter is addressed to Milo Speriglio (1938-2000). Speriglio was a detective in Los Angeles for the Nick Harris Detective Agency. A prodigious private investigator, he claimed to have handled more than 35,000 cases over his twenty-year long career. He gained notoriety for his investigation of the death of George Reeves, TV's superman, concluding he had been murdered. However, he is most famous for his books and his theory that Marilyn Monroe had been murdered, not committed suicide.

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November 10, 2016 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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