In 1863, Princess Isabel, aged 17, wanted to have fun with her family “catching lots of fish”.
Letter from Princess Isabel to Francisca (Chiquinha).
One sheet, one page.
+/- 15 cm x 20 cm.
August 7, 1863, probably written in Rio de Janeiro.
In good condition, despite a repair with adhesive tape.
Unique piece.
Transcript of the letter
August 7, 1863
My dear Chiquinha
Since we're going fishing on Sunday, we invite you to join in the fun. As do Totonia and Luiz Carlos. You're going to rent a room. I hope to catch a lot of fish.
May God guide you, a hug and a kiss from this dear friend of yours.
I. Christina
Best wishes to Totonia, Luiz Carlos and Philomena who, of course, is also invited.
In 1863, at the age of 17, Princess Isabel lived in the Palácio de São Cristóvão in Rio de Janeiro, receiving a rigorous and comprehensive education to prepare her as heir to the throne of Brazil, including studies in a variety of subjects and discussions of politics. Although her duties as a future ruler were significant, she also enjoyed leisure time with family and friends, as suggested by a letter planning a fishing trip. Isabel was close to her parents, Emperor Dom Pedro II and Empress Teresa Cristina, and her social life included both court events and simpler everyday activities.
Princess Isabel's letters are highly sought after, especially those from her teenage years, as they are rare. In this letter, I really liked the naive and cheerful tone of the Princess, who expresses her desire to escape from the discipline of everyday life for a while and have fun with her family, catching lots of fish.
