Image of the Day; The Request

Outside of the note . . .

and the inside of the note.

“My Dear Samuel…” May 16, 1994

This found letter discovered between pages an old book, was written Wednesday, May 16th, 1894 near Greenland and was postmarked almost 3 months later in Philadelphia on August 7, 1894. Page 3 of the letter notes the sailing ship the writer was on getting stuck in drift ice, and on June 9th seeing “the green ray as the sun set we have no night now.”

Close-up of the embossed seal on the letter. It looks like a capital dome, but I cannot make out the lettering above it.

200-year-old love letter found in chair

via retronaut

“A 200-year-old love letter has been found in the arm of a chair at a furniture upholsterers in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England. The note, written in French, was in the chair bought in a house clearance in France. ‘When I started to work on the arm’, said Graham Simpson of Theocus Furniture, ‘I could see a small note, tightly folded up, about the size of a penny. When I opened it, to my amazement it was a note written in pencil, in old French.’

The style of language suggests the letter was composed about 200 years ago. It was written from a man to a woman and sent from the town of Mercurol in the Alps. The translated letter:

“My dear small love, do not be worried, do you seriously believe I would tell anything to these people, who don’t understand anything about love?


If someone insists that I say something, it will be anything but the dear love acquired by you, which is the great treasure hidden in my heart.


I didn’t tell you to come yesterday because I didn’t have the opportunity, but do come every Tuesday around 5:30, and Fridays as well; I count/hope on you tomorrow.


At the moment I write this letter, I can hear my aunt yelling, who else annoys us all day long, today and tomorrow.


My dear, I cover you with kisses and caresses until… I need you in this moment of desire. I love you.”