Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0066 (441)

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My dear Constantine,
Aristides has just received mother’s letter of the 18th instant and I answer thereto in the name of all three. The Indemnities are now in course of payment, by order of nationalities, and there is little doubt we shall be paid next week, thus enabling us to send you the £140 by the mail of the 2nd September. We have carefully read all you write about furniture, and in this matter
as well as in that of the choice of a house, we shall act for the best and as circumstances may direct. Besides the house already mentioned, Aristides has one in view in the Boulevard de
Ramleh, which may probably suit us. Whe[n] the house is taken we shall send you a detailed [plan] of the internal arrangements. We clearly un- derstand that if we get into our money by the
1st of September, we shall rent the house from the 1st of October; if our indemnity be not paid until the middle of September, we shall rent the house from 1st of November. We further understand that
no linen is to be bought by us here; ― pray remem- ber that, on anything you purchase in Constantino- ple, you will have to pay Custom House duty: namely 8% less 10%; the valuations of goods imported
are very arbitrary, and you must not be surprised if you find duty is charged on a considerably higher than the real value of the stuff you will bring with you. We cannot refrain from thinking
that things are as cheap here as in Constantinople. As far as the monthly remittance is concerned, I regret I shall be unable to send you at the
   end of this month the usual £10: I require this    sum to furnish myself with many necessaries;    such as shirts, flannels, drawers, socks, a suit
   of clothes, boots, a hat etc. Peter is in a like    state of nudity, and he will keep this month    what he usually sends you, to purchase an
   outfit. It is impossible to make clothing    last for ever, nor is it decent to go about    one’s business “en guenilles”. It appears
   strange to us how this has never crossed your    minds; for surely you cannot think that    £10 a month are sufficient for board and lodging
   and the replenishing of an empty wardrobe, and    I will not do you the injustice to believe that    you wish us to walk the streets like beggars.    These are truths, ― unpleasant if you will,    ― but none the less truths, which must be told    and met.
   Give our sincere love to mother, Alexander    and Paul, and believe me dear Constantine,
          Yours affectionately
               John.

C.F. Cavafy Esquire
     Constantinople

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IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0066 (441)

TITLE:

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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23/8/1885

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Item

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32.5 x 18.5 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F54_Φ1-25

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 both sides of a ruled sheet. The Egyptian Government has started paying indemnities. The author is looking for a suitable house in Alexandria, with the prospect of the family’s immediate return there. Financial matters. (Alexandria)

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

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CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

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English

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Writing in ink. Physical item wear: tears and holes.

NOTES AREA

NOTE:

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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.

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SUBJECTS:

Letter

PLACES:

Istanbul / Constantinople (Turkey)

PERSONS:

Cavafy (Fotiadi), Charikleia

Cavafy, Aristeidis

Cavafy, C. P.

Cavafy, John Constantine

Cavafy, Peter John (junior)

CITATION:

For citation purposes, please use the reference provided here.

Cavafy, John Constantine. “Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy”. Letter, 23.08.1885. GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0066 (441), 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-SF001-0066.