1. It is not known which ‘scratch’ after which ‘larger’ watercolour this is; judging by the rest of the letter it was a beach scene (l. 42). Later Vincent writes that he had once sent Theo a small watercolour with this subject (letter 366).

2. Which watercolour of visitors Van Gogh means is not certain. Perhaps it was People strolling on the beach (F 1038 / JH 228). He also did a drawing with this subject: People strolling on the beach (F 980 / JH 204).

3. The poor and money (F 970 / JH 222 ).

4. This package would have been inspired by his father’s successful visit to Vincent’s studio: see letter 269. The ‘warm lady’s coat’ was a sign that they did not entirely deny the presence of Sien.

5. The parents most probably wrote about the Nuenen churchyard; Theo had suggested it before as a possible subject, and Van Gogh’s father had also mentioned it (see letter 259, n. 6 and letter 269, n. 5).

6. The watercolour enclosed is Miners in the snow: winter (F 1202 / JH 229).

7. It is difficult to determine whether Van Gogh regarded one of the watercolours of the beach mentioned at the beginning of the letter as representing summer or whether here he meant another subject.

8. Orchard in blossom with two figures: spring (F 1245 / JH 230).

9. This small watercolour of autumn is not known.