In 1860, Leopoldina wrote a note with the innocence of a 13-year-old child and the elegance of a princess.
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Handwritten letter from Leopoldina to "Chica," Francisca Carolina de Verna Magalhães de Fonseca, the granddaughter of the former Lady-in-Waiting of Pedro I.
- A leaf.
- In Portuguese.
- 10.7 cm x 13.6 cm.
- No information about the location, probably in Rio de Janeiro, April 22, 1860.
- Excellent condition, with only a small insect hole above "querida" (darling).
- Unique piece.
In 1860, Princess Leopoldina of Braganza and Bourbon (1847-1871), younger sister of Princess Isabel, was only 13 years old and lived in Rio de Janeiro, at the São Cristóvão Palace, in Quinta da Boa Vista. She was the youngest daughter of Dom Pedro II and Empress Teresa Cristina. As part of the imperial family, her education was a priority, receiving lessons in history, geography, languages (French, German, English), natural sciences and etiquette, as well as piano and drawing.
During this period, Leopoldina was not yet involved in political or diplomatic matters, but she was a constant presence at court events and in family life. Her life began to change a few years later when, in 1864, her marriage to Louis Augustus of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, an Austrian prince connected to the European royal family, was arranged. This marriage would strengthen alliances between Brazil and the noble houses of Europe. Thus, in 1865, at the age of 18, she left Brazil permanently to live in Austria. Therefore, in 1860, Leopoldina was still a young princess in Brazil, dedicated to her studies and the social life of the court, surrounded by the affection of her family and Empress Teresa Cristina, with whom she had a strong bond.
Letters written by princesses in childhood or adolescence are very rare. This is the first one from Leopoldina, still so young, that we have found and preserved. In this special letter, the polite formulas and refined handwriting contrast with the short sentences and childlike tone of a thirteen-year-old girl.
