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Handwritten letter from Joaquim Nabuco (1898)

Handwritten letter from Joaquim Nabuco (1898)

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Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Digital Warranty ©

This item is no longer available. However, we can potentially put you in touch with its owner — who knows, they might accept your offer? — or, alternatively, suggest other items of similar interest, without any obligation. Please contact us via WhatsApp: +55 31 98221-5758 or email: contato@glorias.com.br

Withdrawn from political life after the end of the monarchy, the abolitionist Joaquim Nabuco responds to a request from the prestigious Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute.

  • Handwritten letter from Joaquim Nabuco to Henri Raffard.
  • One sheet, two pages.
  • In Portuguese, 11 cm x 16.5 cm.
  • May 11, 1898, Maricá (RJ), Brazil.
  • Excellent condition.
  • Unique piece.

Pilar Farm, Maricá

May 11, 1898

My dear friend Mr. Raffard,

I see that the Institute has adopted the date of May 20th for its commemoration. On that day, unfortunately, I will not be able to be in the city. I have come to "the countryside" for health reasons, and there is very little time to return - and with a speech. Please excuse me with the Institute. It is a beautiful occasion that I yield to others to extol the Portuguese: for my part, I have already done so sufficiently and so many times that it would be monotonous for those who listened to me. I will not telegraph you because all this explanation would not fit in a telegram. Believe me, I am very sincerely

Your friend and confidant [?]

Joaquim Nabuco

Known for his fight against slavery, having founded the Brazilian Anti-Slavery Society, Joaquim Nabuco (1849 - 1910) strongly criticized the Catholic Church, which, in his view, had not defended the emancipation of slaves in Brazil. Furthermore, he advocated religious freedom and the separation of Church and State. He was also a historian, jurist, and journalist, as well as one of the founders of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. He served as Brazil's ambassador to the United States from 1905 to 1910, at the end of his life.

With the advent of the Republic and being a monarchist, Joaquim Nabuco withdrew from public life, married, and had five children. He dedicated himself to journalism, his work, and his studies. It was during this time that this letter was written at the Pilar farm, which belonged to Joaquim Nabuco's family. An interesting fact is that Princess Isabel visited Maricá in 1868, stayed at the farm, and participated in a ball in her honor in the noble hall of the Maricá City Council.

The recipient of this letter is Henri Raffard (1851-1906), son of a Swiss consul-general, a merchant, industrialist, and elected first secretary of the IHGB from 1891 until his death. The IHGB is the oldest and most traditional institution supporting research and preservation of Brazil's history and geography, culture, and social sciences; it was created in 1838.

Joaquim Nabuco is seen as one of the great names in Brazilian History, considered a national hero and honored in various instances and monuments: his autograph documents appear very rarely, especially in excellent condition, with an important recipient (the IHGB) and interesting content that relates a certain weariness from Nabuco "It is a beautiful occasion that I yield to others to extol the Portuguese: for my part, I have already done so sufficiently and so many times that it would be monotonous for those who listened to me."

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