Comprising a copy of a typed letter to executor George Ullman, dated August 28, 1926, from Dr. Harold Denman Meeker, who performed surgery on Valentino and treated him until his death, which outlines the progress and ultimate deterioration of Valentino in minute detail from the moment he entered the physician's office: " I examined Rudolph Valentino for the first time at 5:15 P.M. August 22nd, 1926, at the Polyclinic Hospital. He was suffering great pain... " He then proceeds to explain his operative findings and the severity of Valentino's illness. He goes on to report that Valentino showed steady improvement up to the 5th day when he complained of chills and severe pain in his chest: " On the 6th day there was a marked involvment [sic] of the valves of the heart. The patient died about noon on the 8th day overwhelmed by the sepsis. The above is a true account of the last illness of Rudolph Valentino as observed by me "; a copy of a $200,000 life insurance check dated August 23, 1926 and written out to " Feature Productions Incorporated, a corporation of which Rudolph Valentino was an employee "; a mimeographic copy of an agreement between Teresa Werner, the aunt of Natacha Rambova and to whom Valentino was very close, and Valentino's siblings, Alberto Guglielmi and Maria Strada, unsigned and dated 1931, relating to Werner's claim on her part of Valentino's estate; a 2 pp typed list of unpaid bills charged to the estate totaling $98,825.43; approximately 46 black and white 8 x 10 in. vintage photos pertaining to Valentino's funeral and 12 small color snapshots (c.1970); a book titled " Valentino Forever: The History of the Valentino Memorial Services " by Tracy Ryan Terhune (AuthorHouse, 2004) signed by the author; and an archive of letters, c. 1961-1965, approximately 47 pp, from Ditra Flame, who claimed to be the original "Lady in Black," a mysterious woman who visited Valentino's grave annually, to Jean Wells Vespia, who attempted to continue the tradition and to keep Valentino's memory alive. The two women exchanged many letters, with Flame giving Vespia advice on how to proceed as "The Lady in Black." Provenance : The Estate of William Self 15 x 12.5 x 2 in.
Comprising a copy of a typed letter to executor George Ullman, dated August 28, 1926, from Dr. Harold Denman Meeker, who performed surgery on Valentino and treated him until his death, which outlines the progress and ultimate deterioration of Valentino in minute detail from the moment he entered the physician's office: " I examined Rudolph Valentino for the first time at 5:15 P.M. August 22nd, 1926, at the Polyclinic Hospital. He was suffering great pain... " He then proceeds to explain his operative findings and the severity of Valentino's illness. He goes on to report that Valentino showed steady improvement up to the 5th day when he complained of chills and severe pain in his chest: " On the 6th day there was a marked involvment [sic] of the valves of the heart. The patient died about noon on the 8th day overwhelmed by the sepsis. The above is a true account of the last illness of Rudolph Valentino as observed by me "; a copy of a $200,000 life insurance check dated August 23, 1926 and written out to " Feature Productions Incorporated, a corporation of which Rudolph Valentino was an employee "; a mimeographic copy of an agreement between Teresa Werner, the aunt of Natacha Rambova and to whom Valentino was very close, and Valentino's siblings, Alberto Guglielmi and Maria Strada, unsigned and dated 1931, relating to Werner's claim on her part of Valentino's estate; a 2 pp typed list of unpaid bills charged to the estate totaling $98,825.43; approximately 46 black and white 8 x 10 in. vintage photos pertaining to Valentino's funeral and 12 small color snapshots (c.1970); a book titled " Valentino Forever: The History of the Valentino Memorial Services " by Tracy Ryan Terhune (AuthorHouse, 2004) signed by the author; and an archive of letters, c. 1961-1965, approximately 47 pp, from Ditra Flame, who claimed to be the original "Lady in Black," a mysterious woman who visited Valentino's grave annually, to Jean Wells Vespia, who attempted to continue the tradition and to keep Valentino's memory alive. The two women exchanged many letters, with Flame giving Vespia advice on how to proceed as "The Lady in Black." Provenance : The Estate of William Self 15 x 12.5 x 2 in.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
