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BRONTË, Charlotte (1816-1855). Autograph envelope addressed to 'Miss Ellen Nussey Brookroyd Birstal Leeds' and annotated 'Pd' in upper left corner, red penny stamp to upper right corner, postmarks on verso 22 May 1850, date added to recto in pencil, black wax seal.

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BRONTË, Charlotte (1816-1855). Autograph envelope addressed to 'Miss Ellen Nussey Brookroyd Birstal Leeds' and annotated 'Pd' in upper left corner, red penny stamp to upper right corner, postmarks on verso 22 May 1850, date added to recto in pencil, black wax seal.

Ellen Nussey (1817-1897), Charlotte Brontë's lifelong friend and correspondent whom she met at Margaret Wooler's school at Roe Head, was considered 'conscientious, calm, religious ... who fulfilled Charlotte's dutiful self and need for affection' (ODNB). Charlotte's early correspondence with Ellen had displayed a growing internal crisis as she 'transferred her desperate need for love onto Ellen, to whom she now wrote in the tone of a lover'. In the month that this envelope was posted, Charlotte had been staying with the Smiths in London, where she visited the Royal Academy, dined with Thackeray and had her portrait drawn by George Richmond. Provenance: bought at the sale of Ellen Nussey's effects in 1898 by Alice Needham (accompanying note).
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