In 1888, a few months after signing the Lei Áurea, Princess Isabel tried to reconcile public and private responsibilities.

• Handwritten letter from Princess Isabel to "Luiza Velha de Avelhos" (who we have not identified)?
• One sheet, two pages + A card from a previous owner, with writing that looks like child's writing.
• In Portuguese.
• ~ 13.5cm x 21cm.
• Petropolis, October 14, 1888.
• Good condition.
• Unique piece.

This letter, written by Princess Isabel of Brazil in 1888, expresses warm congratulations and best wishes to a close friend on the occasion of her birthday. In the text, the princess mentions having found a moment to write, even in the midst of a busy routine, making metaphorical reference to “a cross and a council”.

In the context of 1888, when Isabel had signed the Lei Áurea (Golden Law) and was facing significant political and social tensions, the expression may reflect the challenges of leading in a turbulent period. “The cross” would represent the sacrifices and pressures of the moment, while “the council” would indicate the negotiations and deliberations that she had to lead or participate in. It is a metaphor that illustrates the difficulty of reconciling public and private responsibilities.

Although she was the heir to the throne and therefore called the “Imperial Princess of Brazil”, her title of “Countess d'Eu” was frequently used in private, social or informal contexts, and even in her personal correspondence. It was only after the proclamation of the Republic and her departure for exile in 1889 that the use of this title acquired a more marked connotation, reflecting her life as a member of the nobility outside Brazil.

This two-page letter is notable for having been written in 1888, the year in which Princess Isabel sanctioned the Lei Áurea, officially abolishing slavery in Brazil, a crucial moment in Brazilian history.