[Rarebooks] FS: Woman traveler writes from Steampship "Bolivia"

[Bob Petrilla]

Anonymous.  HANDWRITTEN LETTER WRITTEN ABOARD THE STEAMSHIP "BOLIVIA" BY A
QUAKER WOMAN RETURNING HOME FROM TRAVELS IN EUROPE , ADDRESSED TO HANNAH
PANCOAST AT MOUNT HOLLY, NEW JERSEY, 1877.  Original manuscript. 4pp,
octavo, written in sepia ink on a single, folded leaf; top few lines of
first page are cross-hatched as the writer finishes up her message. In the
original mailing envelope (torn open) addressed to Hannah Pancoast, Mount
Holly, Burlington Co., New Jersey, with a three-cent stamp postmarked at
Philadelphia.  Very Good condition.

Addressed to “My dearest H.”, the writer says she received her letter when
she was about to leave Paris, but is writing her a less “hurried” reply now
that she’s aboard ship, although “it seems impossible to give thee an idea
of the joy of the whole summer.” The rest of the letter is rhapsodic in its
report of the beauties of Italy and Switzerland. The writer, who notes that
only 8 of “our party…went through Italy entirely,” mentions seeing Naples,
Pompeii, taking “lovely rides on the Bay of Naples”, and “days at Rome
sightseeing.” She then spent “day after day at Venice…riding in those
gondolas, a lazy dreaming life…”, and including a trip from there to “the
island where Byron spent so much of his time”, San Lazarro degli Armeni.
“The glory of the beauty of some of the past scenes can never fade from
memory,” and she singles out the ride from Pisa to Genoa, with its tunnels,
and sights of “fishermen and …children…[and] little parties in bathing….”
as especially charming. She was equally taken with the beauties of
“Switzerland with its lakes”, where she accomplished “the ascent of the
Rigi” mountain near Lake Lucerne and also crossed the unforgettable
mountain passes. She concludes “But I must tell thee all about this” in
person, and goes on to describe shipboard life. “There are ten Rev.
gentlemen on board and they have family worship twice a day.” There is also
“a great deal of musical talent on board…quite a concert…[and] last night a
comical school. Miss Florence would have nejoyed the fun…fancy readings and
recitations, then one is asked to promenade and play games.” she also plays
two-hour chess games with a “prof. from Georgia” and then with “another
gentleman”. She opines “this is a lazy life” and says she’ll be happy to
see her “dear ones” next week, lists them all, and ends with “Han, I long
to see thee and tell thee of the romances of this whole summer outing…”
Unsigned.

[We find online that Hannah H. Pancoast was born 28 May 1862, the daughter
of Joseph Pancoast and Susan Thompson of Salem County, New Jersey. the
“Steamship Bolivia” was an Anchor Line ship, built by Glasgow’s Robert
Duncan Co. and launched in 1873.]  $75.00

Postpaid in US.  Usual trade terms.



    *  R & A  Petrilla*



*          Antiquarian Booksellers                     PO Box 306
   Roosevelt, NJ 08555*


*           bob at petrillabooks.com <%28609%29%20426-4999>**        Member:
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