1r:1
London, 30 March 1874

My dear Theo,
In a letter from Pa and Ma I got a guilder from you to buy a pair of cuff links.1 Many thanks, old chap, but you shouldn’t have done it, you need your money more than I do.
Thanks for your letter of this morning. I was very glad to hear that Mauve is engaged to Jet C.2 That’s wonderful. I’m glad that you’re so well.
It’s good that you’ve read the book by Bürger;3 read about art as much as possible, especially the Gazette des Beaux-Arts &c.  1v:2
Above all, be sure to find out as much as possible about paintings. The Apol that we have here now is very beautiful, last year he painted a similar subject and I found it better and fresher than this one.4
I’m glad that you go to Uncle Cor’s occasionally. You see things there that you never find at the gallery in The Hague.
I’m also busy at present and am glad of it, because that’s what I need.
Adieu, old chap, keep your chin up, and I wish you well. Give my regards to Van Iterson.

Vincent

As regards Anna, I haven’t heard anything more.

021

Br. 1990: 021 | CL: 15
From: Vincent van Gogh
To: Theo van Gogh
Date: London, Monday, 30 March 1874
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1. This had to do with Vincent’s birthday on 30 March. In fact it was not Theo but Mr van Gogh who had given Vincent the money. Mrs van Gogh wrote to Theo: ‘Pa sent him something to do with as he liked, and added that 1 guilder was from you for cuff links to go with his watch chain, and we said that he really must buy them on Theo’s behalf’ (FR b2694, 26 March 1874).
2. Ariëtte Sophia Jeanette (Jet) Carbentus, a cousin of Vincent and Theo, was engaged to Anton Mauve. They were to be married on 26 November.
3. For the book by Bürger, see letter 15, n. 11.
4. It is not known which paintings this refers to.