HISTORY BY HAND

original historic handwritten manuscripts, documents and letters

a division of Jonathan Sheppard Books

Item Number: DM4057

The Letters: A pair of letters, both dated June 1879, addressed to a "Miss Carpenter".

Letter # 1.  In his letter dated, "Keene, June 16, 1879", E[dward] A[ugustus]. Renouf offers travel advice to Miss Carpenter, the daughter of one of one of his friends, and encloses a note [not present] to "Rev. Jno. B. Morgan" in Paris so that Morgan can assist her with lodging and banking business. He advises her to obtain a detailed street map of Paris showing the omnibus routes. On the back page of the letter, he provides her with a list of Paris contacts. These include: Rev. Dr. Forbes, English Chapel; Rev. Mr. Morgan, American Episcopal Church; Dr. Clemenceau - for physician referral; and Dr. Edward Warren, who he describes as "a very fair American physician".

Size: Letter # 1 measures 8" high x 10" wide, folded to make four pages. Excellent condition.

Letter #2. In her letter to Miss Carpenter dated, "Keene, June 20, 1879", E[sther].T. Renouf (Mrs. E.A. Renouf) offers shopping suggestions for Miss Carpenter's upcoming trip to Europe. She advises her to secure a copy of "Murray's Handbook", and further advises "Get all your dresses and millinery in Paris. You will hear much about the sensible dressmaking in London, but I should rather see it on somebody else, than have any of it." She further advises " Do not be tempted to buy Italian silk . . . it is not worth buying at any price."

Letter # 2 consists of 2 sheets, each measuring 8" high x 10" wide, folded to make eight pages. Excellent condition.

Background Information: Edward Augustus Renouf was born in Massachusetts circa 1822 and graduated from Harvard College in 1838.  A clergyman, he served as assistant rector of St. Stephen’s Church in Boston and, in 1859, moved to Keene, NH to become rector of St. James Church.  He resigned as rector in 1868, but continued in active public life.  He served as Chairman of the local Board of Education in 1880s.  His wife Esther T., who also authored one of the letters to Miss Carpenter, was born in England around 1833 and was the mother of their daughter Eliza, born in Keene in 1867.

Books    Coming Soon     Order Form    Ordering Instructions    Terms and Conditions
Home     Personal Name Index    Place Index    Topic Index    Date Index

Visit Jonathan Sheppard Books for our complete selection of out-of-print books and historic map reprints.

Website last updated: 11/24/07