In 2003, I interviewed Valentino memorabilia collector Bill Self. He knew I was searching for the case file of Rudolph Valentino's probate records and attempted to negotiate my being able to read them. In the e-mail below (transcript) he tells me the case file has been returned to the Valentino family by the collector who had them in his possession. He also refers to the shipping case I discovered which he states here he is not interested in buying. The truth was he already had the shipping case by the time he wrote this e-mail. I have redacted the names of all parties except Bill Self. I add emphatically I told him the records were to be housed in the Los Angeles County Hall of Records and were not family heirlooms. I implored him to inform the Valentino family that the case file should be returned and available for public review.
