COUSTEAU JACQUES: (1910-1997) French oceanographer, filmmaker and author who co-invented the first successful open-circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), called the Aqua-Lung, which assisted him in producing some of the first underwater documentaries. T.L.S., J Y Cousteau, one page, 4to, Monaco, 29th September 1962, to Vice Admiral Galleret, on the attractive printed stationery of the Institut Océanographique at the Musée de Monaco, in French. Cousteau commences his letter by stating ´Permettez-moi de vous exprimer ma vive reconnaissance et celle de mes collaborateurs pour l´appui que vous avez bien voulu donner tout récemment à l´Office Français de Recherches Sous-marines at à moi-même´ (Translation: ´Allow me to express my sincere gratitude and that of my colleagues for the support you have recently given to the French Office for Underwater Research and to myself´) and continues to remark ´Grâce aux facilités que vous avez accordées à nos bateaux, nous avons pu mener à bien l´expérience "Précontinent Station N1", qui s´est terminée de façon excellente´ (Translation: ´Thanks to the facilities you have provided for our vessels, we have been able to successfully complete the ‘Precontinent Station N1’ experiment, which ended on an excellent note´). VG