In 1880, Dom Pedro II became interested in Graham Bell's new Photophone and observed Jupiter.
- Handwritten letter from Dom Pedro II to Henri Edouard Tresca.
- One page.
- In French.
- 13.6 cm x 21.1 cm.
- Rio de Janeiro, 23rd of ? 1880.
- Excellent condition of conservation.
- Unique piece.
Sir,
I have not had many opportunities to talk about science in recent months. We cannot yet fully appreciate the importance of the principle on which the photophone was invented. I have read the latest reports from your government regarding the subway commission and I am waiting for official and private information on this subject.
I am sending a new work from the Rio Observatory. I had the opportunity to enjoy the view of the beautiful Jupiter arch.
Greetings to you and to all my acquaintances in France.
Dom Pedro d'Alcântara.
Very interested in science and technology since childhood, Dom Pedro II studied languages, astronomy, geology, archaeology and many other subjects throughout his life. Through reading, observations, travels and meetings, he gradually acquired real knowledge in these fields of research, despite the short time left by his political and administrative responsibilities as Emperor of Brazil.
Often accused of being indifferent to the country's social and political issues, leading to Brazilian newspapers often depicting him with a telescope in his hand, a clear reference to his interest in astronomy, Dom Pedro II was highly praised by the academic world, among writers and scientists, for his love and dedication to art and science. The Brazilian Historical and Geographical Institute (IHGB), for example, received support from the Emperor since its founding in 1838, who participated in hundreds of meetings and personally financed several research projects.
Exiled in France for the last two years of his life after the Proclamation of the Republic, the deposed Emperor devoted himself almost exclusively to his reading, research and scientific friendships, such as that with Henri Edouard Tresca (1814 - 1885). Tresca was such a renowned engineer that Gustave Eiffel had his name engraved on the Eiffel Tower, along with those of 71 other personalities who honored France from 1789 to 1889.
In the 1880s, Brazil continued to prosper and develop, including socially, with the first movement for women's rights, for example. However, the letters that Pedro II wrote during this period often show a tired and somewhat pessimistic man. Even though he took his responsibilities as Head of State seriously, he led without much enthusiasm.
Written in 1880, this letter - in almost perfect French - shows all of Dom Pedro's curiosity and knowledge of science. The Emperor comments on an important discovery of the time: the Photophone, invented by Alexander Graham Bell and his assistant, the ancestor of today's smartphones. We see that the Emperor also participates and shares in the research of the Rio de Janeiro Observatory, which he created in 1846.
The letter is particularly beautiful, with paper and ink in excellent condition. Also notable is the elegant writing of the Emperor, who signed himself "D. Pedro d'Alcantara", a custom he had with his foreign correspondents.
