Return to Results

Three Letters from a Family Moving to South America

Age toning and light soiling. The first page has a 1 1/2" x 1/2" spot of what appears to be red wax from a seal.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: February 1855. In early 1855, a husband and wife, moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Estancia del Folag with their two sons, Hasen and Jonathan. The collection contains three letters, comprised of eighteen pages, written to the wife's friend. Color vignette on first page with stationer's embossing on remaining sheets. The letters are only signed "Affectionally yours" with no name. The letters describe some of the hardship she had adjusting and the difficulty in settling up her household. The majority of the letters comprises of the retelling of a long carriage ride taken during the move. At first the wife seems determined to find fault in everything in South America, often mentioned the lack of manners of the locals and how filthy everything is.

"There is no places of resort or of being of interest, no pleasant walks or rides, in fact nothing except catholic churches. Plenty of those if you are inclined to visit them."

Eventually, she begins to enjoy her surrounds and find companionship in her neighbors, and in particular an American named Judy. She even waxes poetically about the fruit she can get there, and how much the whole family enjoys it.

"I determined from the first of my decision to come to make up my mind to nothing and then I should not be disappointed."

"I am not homesick, and though we are what many would call unpleasantly situated, I never had so happy [a] two months in my life as the last two."

These three letters have been hand-bound by a thread into a booklet. The first page has a hand colored illustration on the top. Measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Price: $175.00

Item #24000103