Lot 138

Ansel Adams TLS in Card Featuring Beloved Yosemite National Park, to Cardiologist: "Please, doctor, can I look at girlie magazines after the operation????"

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Ansel Adams TLS in Card Featuring Beloved Yosemite National Park, to Cardiologist: "Please, doctor, can I look at girlie magazines after the operation????"

Estimate: $350 - $500

Starting Bid: $160

(0 Bids)

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

Ansel Adams
n.p., December 21, 1978
Ansel Adams TLS in Card Featuring Beloved Yosemite National Park, to Cardiologist: "Please, doctor, can I look at girlie magazines after the operation????"
TLS

A 1p typed letter signed by American landscape photographer Ansel Adams (1902-1984), as "Ansel" just above the card hinge. December 21, 1978. N.p. Typed on the inside of an elegant black and white card reproducing Ansel Adams's "Clearing Winter Storm: Yosemite National Park, California" (ca. 1937). With a few typewriting errors. The card hinge is well-creased. Isolated negligible surface scuffs on both sides, with several non-rusted paper clip impressions found along the top edge recto. Else near fine. Measures 6.5" x 4.5" in card form; 6.5" x 9" completely unfolded.

Adams addressed this letter to his cardiologist, Dr. Francis L. Chamberlain (1905-1995), former president of the American Heart Association (1958-59), and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine at San Francisco. Adams had suffered from recurring heart ailments during his later years, finally culminating in cardiac surgery. In February 1979 - about two months after writing this Christmas note - the 76-year-old Adams would undergo open heart surgery at the Presbyterian Hospital of the Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. During the 5-hour-long procedure, Adams's aortic valve was replaced with an implant and two vein bypasses were completed. Adams later recounted that he had started dieting seven months prior to the heart surgery, which explains his pride at dropping down to 177 lbs.

Adams wrote in full, with untouched punctuation:

"12-21-78

Dear Dr, Chamberlain

I appreciate the talk with you and I feel vastly relieved having the time ahead in which to finish some very important work.

I am really feeling surprising good! Down to 177 this AM.

Naturally, if anything occurs which is not normal - frequent symptoms, etc. I shall immediately advise you.

Please, doctor, can I look at girlie magazines after the operation????

Best wishes and a Merry Christmas to you and yours - and your nice people in your office!!

as ever

[signed] Ansel"

Adams's interest in photographing natural scenery coincided with his discovery of Yosemite National Park, and with joining the environmentalist Sierra Club in the 1920s. Although Adams did commercial photography to pay the bills, it was always transcendent views of the natural landscape that captured his imagination and inspired his technical photographic innovations. Sadly, his heart finally caught up with Adams a few years later, when he died of cardiovascular disease at age 82 in April 1984.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: unfolded: 6.5" x 9"
  • Medium: TLS

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