In 1861, Princess Leopoldina, aged 15, congratulated her aunt Francisca on her birthday with great affection.
Handwritten letter from Princess Leopoldina to her aunt Francisca (Chica).
One sheet, one page.
+/- 10 cm x 15 cm.
Rio de Janeiro, 1861.
In good condition, with a fold mark.
Unique piece.
26th of ? 1861
My dear Chica
Many, many congratulations for today, our Chica. I hope that Totonia (?) has other (?) company like Luiz Carlos. Tell me how your pan is doing and I'll get better with Daddy's medicine. Mommy sends her love to Totonia and Luiz Carlos. Goodbye, accept a hug and a kiss from your dear friend.
Leopoldina Teresa
Princess Leopoldina of Braganza (1847–1871) and her aunt, Princess Francisca of Braganza, known as Chica, Princess of Joinville (1824–1898), had a close family relationship. Francisca was the sister of Dom Pedro II, making her Leopoldina's paternal aunt. In 1861, Francisca was living in France as an established European princess, while Leopoldina was still a 14-year-old teenager in Brazil, receiving her education at the imperial court. Both princesses played important roles in the history of Brazil and Europe, and their connection illustrates the complexity of dynastic relations at the time, with members of the Brazilian royal family marrying into European royal houses, strengthening ties between Brazil and Europe.
Correspondence between members of the Brazilian royal family during the Empire is highly sought after and valued by major private collectors and public institutions, which contributes to the preservation and transmission of this valuable written heritage. Letters from Princesses Leopoldina and Isabel, still teenagers, are particularly rare, and this one is especially interesting because it refers to “Papai” and “Mamãe”, that is, Emperor Dom Pedro II and Empress Teresa Cristina.
