[MANUSCRIPT] A naval cadet on HMAS Tingira writes a troubled note to his girlfriend. Rose Bay (Sydney), 1912-14.

A$165 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Manuscript in ink, 2 1/2 pp. on octavo bifolium of notepaper with illustrated letterhead featuring a fan with a Japanese view; headed L Mess, HMAS Tingira, Rose Bay, Sydney , without date (but almost certainly just prior to WW1); addressed My Dear Hazel , and signed at the foot George , with a postscript initialled G. H. D. ; original folds, light creasing and some staining on the last side. Mum went off crook a treat So what happened the night before? A fascinating, secretive love letter or perhaps problem letter would be more apt written by a young cadet based on the training ship HMAS Tingira to his friend Hazel. Transcript of the letter (with punctuation and spelling errors corrected): My Dear Hazel, I cannot help thinking over what you were talking about last night. More than that, I do not know what you mean by saying that you are not decent, I can t make out what you mean. Please Dear let me know, for you can put more in writing than you can say. I hope you did not get into any row when you got in last night. I got home at 1.30 am this morning and mum went off crook a treat. I told her that we went to a party and that you went sick and I took you home and as no-one was in I stopped until your mother came home, so if she asks you, you say that was right won t you Hazel. Aly will bring a reply back for me and tell me if I have to come down home to meet you or not. With best love, George P.S. don t let anyone see this. G.H.D . HMAS Tingira (formerly the passenger ship Sob

• Binding: Hardcover

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.