Print

A Proposal by Letter
- Postillon d’amour


"A love letter for you, my most virtuous friend, Anna Kirstine Niels Datter". With these words Peder Nielsen Wilhelmsen begins his beautifully ornamented letter for the object of his choice in 1820. And he continues: "Let love be the ribbon tied firmly in our hearts…".


The decoration and the wording indicate that the fine letter is a so-called "tie-letter". Tie-letters are an old German custom which has been used in Denmark from the 17th century to sometime in the 18th century. The expression derives from the fact that they contained a riddle or a regular knot of fine ribbons to be untied. If the recipient could not solve the riddle or untie the ribbons, then he or she was "bound" i.e. obliged to fulfil a wish or a promise.

Peder has, however, sent no riddle and if there was a knot, it has disappeared now. But his business and the promise he wants to bind himself with is clear enough. He wants to marry Anna Kirstine and ends his letter as follows:

"Let us now make the promise
not to forget
to share joy and sorrow
with a lowing heart
I give you this in the name of Jesus
In your honour and to my benefit."


Print

All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or ortherwise, whitout the prior written permission of the publisher.