Signed Greeting Card.
This South African dentist was the recipient of the world's first successful heart transplant, performed by Christian Baarnard, in 1968, which made him front-page news worldwide. Signed greeting card, 4" X 6½", n.p., 1968. Fine. Item #19429
Bleiberg received numerous get-well cards from well-wishers after the operation, which he usually signed by way of acknowledgment and returned. Front panel depicts a bird-hunting dog posing and a bird in flight above, with the printed caption "The Best to You on your Birthday." Inside panel bears similar birthday wishes, and below this the sender has inked "Dr. Philip Blaiberg [sic] / from -- / Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Collett / Mbld. 1968." Bleiberg's scrawled, sickly-looking signature in blue ballpoint appears on the verso. Unusual.
Price: $75.00