Business card and text of Princess Isabel, Countess of Eu (1900s)

Exiled in France, Princess Isabel organizes concerts with young musicians.

 Princess Isabel 's business card, with a French text written by her. France, no information on the date. 10 cm x 6 cm. Excellent condition. Single piece.

I would be very grateful if you would keep the enclosed tickets for the concert that I am organizing in favor of my dear Young Musicians Project. If you cannot keep them, please send them to me as soon as possible. If you would be so kind as to take them with you without being able to go to the concert, be so kind as to hand them over so that my young protégés can see a full room.

Talking to one of the loyal collectors of the collection, passionate about music, Mário - who I take the opportunity to thank again here - I learned that Princess Isabel and Conde d'Eu have a long history with music, since the Second Reign. They always promoted receptions and dances with musicians at the Palácio das Laranjeiras. Celebrities such as the American Louis Moreau Gottschalk, the German Richard Wagner and the Brazilian Carlos Gomes also had the opportunity to meet the imperial family in Brazil or in Europe. This practice and this taste of the couple continued, although in a different and reduced form, in France during the exile.

Interesting detail that was also told to me, the Princess played the piano, as highlighted by the Countess of Paris in her memoirs:

“But of all the unusual characters who visited my grandmother, I liked M. White the most. This black man with thick white hair, combed like General Dourakine, with thick tufts above his ears, was a violinist and accompanied the countess d'Eu (princess Isabel ) on the piano, or rather, it was the countess d'Eu who accompanied M. White on the piano… I think she was really a virtuoso. He came, in any case, several times a month, and for hours the music could be heard coming from the hall where no one had the right to enter. Only children, from time to time, were permitted to enter this sanctuary.”

I found this piece in France. At first glance, I liked this business card from Isabel - the first one I've seen, it's very rare - and the extensive and delicate text in French written by the Princess, for an unidentified recipient. The content is also unique and exceptional - the music - because it allows us to discover another aspect of the personality and tastes of this Princess, who is very cultured and capable. It is also important to highlight the excellent condition of this piece, impeccable. Anyway, a piece that I consider very special.