Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0026 (401)

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[Alexandria] 5 June 1883
My dear Constantine, Many thanks for your letter 28 May. The news therein contained about Strikidi and others are very inte- resting and extremely well-written. Your epistolary style is reaching the very climax of perfection ― Veuillot’s epitaph is nice ― but I am afraid that is the most that can be said of it: the idea is a hackneyed one. As regards your lottery tickets, their correct deno-
mination is “Crédit Mobilier d’Autriche, lots de 100 florins 1858.” The Pays Financier makes sufficient distinction in calling them “Lots d’Autriche 1858” seeing that no other Austrian lottery was issued in that year and therefore the impossibility of any confusion or misap- prehension. This is Bauer’s explanation. ― By last mail I received the Conseil du Rentier, a little book published by the editors of the Pays Financier for the benefit of its subscribers. Amongst other interesting matter, I found a list of all the Credit Mobilier tickets which have drawn prizes since the beginning of the lottery in 1858. I have carefully gone over this list and I am thereby convinced that both your tickets are ge- nuine and have not been drawn. My poetical vein is at present desultory and spasmodical: I have not much leisure time. Rest assured however that I have not ceased courting
    the lyric Muse. The “Arabesque” is completely equipped     for the dangerous ride to an ideal Parnassus and only     awaits the appearance of some high-spirited Pegasus     whereon it may betake itself thither. ― To drop this     somewhat hazy simile: ― I am doing my best to bring     to a happy close the aforesaid poem.     Here follows the Greek translation:     “Aνάγνωθι, επανέλαβεν ο άγγελος, εν ονόματι του Kυρίου,     ποιητού απάντων, ος και τον άνθρωπον από πάχνης ε-     ποίησεν. Aνάγνωθι εν ονόματι του Yψίστου, ος ανθρώ-     πω την ωφέλειαν της γραφίδος εδίδαξεν· ος περί ψυχή     ανθρώπου ακτίνα σοφίας καταχέει, και τα πριν άγνω-     στα αυτώ διδάσκει.” ―
    I am still waiting your report about “Callicles”.     Can you tell me who first thought of the impracticable     problem of the “squaring of the circle”?           With much love, I am, dear Constantine,                Your affectionate brother                     Johannisberg.
P.S. By this same mail we are remitting you £ 10.                     id.

DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0026 (401)

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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5/6/1883

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Item

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44 x 27.5 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F52_Φ1-31

CONTEXT AREA

NAME OF CREATOR(S):

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Cavafy, John

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

SCOPE AND CONTENT:

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Handwritten letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy on the first and third pages of double sheet letterhead of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. He comments positively on his brother’s way of writing and refers to his own involvement in poetry. Reference to lottery tickets in the possession of C. P. Cavafy. Translation of a short quote into Greek. (Alexandria)

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CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

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Mainly English

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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Writing in ink. Watermark: R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. Physical item wear: oxidations.

NOTES AREA

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The transcription and editing of the letters of John Constantine Cavafy addressed to C. P. Cavafy was first carried out by Katerina Ghika; said transcriptions were subsequently uploaded to the official website of the Cavafy Archive.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Literary annotation, providing additional information on the digital object.

Reference to John Cavafy’s poem “An Arabesque”. John translates an unidentified passage into Greek.

ACCESS POINTS

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SUBJECTS:

Letter

Newspapers:

Pays Financier

Works by other authors:

"An arabesque" [Cavafy, John C.]

Conseil du Rentier

PERSONS:

Bauer, (?)

Cavafy, John Constantine

Goodrich, (?)

Veuillot, Louis

FAMILIES:

Strikidis, family

CITATION:

For citation purposes, please use the reference provided here.

Cavafy, John Constantine. “Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy”. Letter, 05.06.1883. GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0026 (401), Onassis Foundation C. P. Cavafy Fonds. From The Digital Collection of the Cavafy Archive, edited by Onassis Foundation, Athens, last modified 01.10.2025. https://doi.org/10.26256/CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0026.