Handwritten letter dated 1916 intimate correspondence war memoir

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

Old handwritten letter, written in black ink on a cream-colored sheet of paper, visible in the provided photograph. The cursive, regular, and dense handwriting occupies a large part of the page, demonstrating a neat style typical of the early 20th century. The letter is dated "Sunday, November 5, 1916" at the top of the page, which clearly places this document in the middle of World War I. The top of the sheet shows a slight, marked fold, with no apparent tear. A narrow upper margin and manual text alignment are observed, characteristic of private correspondence from that era.

The letter appears to address personal subjects, notably mentioning a marriage and family relationships, in an intimate and direct tone. Some passages are legible, mentioning gifts, a child, and daily concerns. The support used is laid paper, slightly yellowed by time, with rounded corners and a visible texture in the photograph. The ink, mostly dark, shows small variations in intensity, typical of a regularly dipped pen.

The object is presented flat on a wooden surface, with the spines of old bindings in the background, which highlights the historical nature of the document. No watermark or publisher's mark is visible on this side. The letter is not signed on the visible part, and no proper name clearly appears in the photographed area, apart from a possible mention of "Lemotte" in the running text.

This handwritten document constitutes a direct testimony of daily life and family ties during the Great War. It is a unique piece, typical of private correspondence exchanged during times of conflict, where the intimate dimension and spontaneity of writing are particularly marked. The calligraphy, well-preserved, offers fluent readability despite the age of the support.

Condition

Used letter, sold as is. The sheet shows signs of wear consistent with its age: pronounced fold at the top, slightly rounded corners, yellowed paper, and some superficial marks. The writing remains legible on the presented side.

Did you know? Private correspondence exchanged during the First World War constitutes a valuable source for historical research today. It allows for a better understanding of the experiences of civilians and soldiers, as well as the family ties maintained despite the separations imposed by the conflict.

AFW Reassurance

Fast shipping and careful packaging guaranteed by a professional seller specializing in historical documents and antique stationery.

Keywords: handwritten letter 1916, intimate correspondence, war memory, written document, old paper, cursive writing, First World War testimony, family letter, historical archive, old French letter, handwritten letter, WW1 correspondence