I may be the only one who finds this letter great, but I only know how to buy things that touch me personally, so here this is! In addition to the great drawing of (one assumes her) house on the third page, what I especially love about this 1887 letter is how completely identifiable but also nearly over the top are this Grandmother's repeated pleas for news and visits, and sharing of woes. No doubt she's an very empathetic character, but also a bit of a passive aggressive one, I think:
Why don't you come down and see your poor old grandfather and grandmother. We are booth poorly I don't know what will become of us but we want to see you so much...Tell your father he has not answered any letter....I want to see you all so bad...Now my darling Bertha you answer this won't you...I can't write much it hurts me so you write all the news won't you...I am very poorly sometimes a little spell that I feel better then I am down again...So many sad hours I pass through that no one knows anything about...But they all so good to us we are blest with such good children...
Anyway, while I am sad for this Grandmother, somehow this letter makes me happy, I think perhaps because I imagine Bertha was quite a good granddaughter, replying with all of the news of the family promptly, and arriving in person visit soon after that.
7 1/8" x 5" as folded. A little tearing along the horizontal fold lines but otherwise in good condition, still bright and clear.