Europe, 1928

History

This is a series of travel letters from 1928, written by Abby Turner to her cousin Jessee Giddings and to Abby's friend Sarah Smith. Abby asked for these letters back upon her return to the USA, so that's how they ended up back in her possession.

The Images

All letters have at least their first page or a portion of the first page scanned, and comments about their contents are included below.

Itinerary: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of itinerary, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 18, 1928: envelope Addressed to Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Jun 26, 1928 in Kristiansands. Stamps removed.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 27, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Fred Giddings in Nashua, NH and forwarded to Phillips, ME, from S.E. Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Jul 12, 1928 12:30pm in South Hadley, and Jul 14, 1928 6am in Nashua, NH.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 28, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Fred Giddings in Nashua, NH and forwarded to Phillips, ME, from S.E. Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked in South Hadley, and in Nashua, NH.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 3, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Fred Giddings in Nashua, NH and forwarded to Phillips, ME. Postmarked in South Hadley, and on Jul 26, 1928 8:30am in Nashua, NH.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 9, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. J. W. Giddings in Nashua, NH and forwarded to Phillips, ME. Postmarked Jul 11, 1928 in Dresden, and Jul 29, 1928 8:30am in Nashua NH. Stamp has fallen off.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 10, 1928: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 18, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Jessee Giddings in Phillips, ME from Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 29, 1928 10am in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 22, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Jessee Giddings in Phillips, ME from Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 6, 1928 5:30pm in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Postcard Written on Jul 24, 1928: front St. Bartholomä a/Königssee mit Walzmann (2714 m)"; back Divided back, postmarked abroad, and on Aug 1, 1928 8:30am in Nashua, NH. "July 24 - Probably you are in Maine - but I haven't heard definitely, so I'll send this to Nashua. This is the loveliest mountain lake you can imagine. Alice says it is some like Glacier Park - great high mountains and wonderful blue-green water. The little chapel is very quaint - to St. Bartholomuew - and we found quantities of new flowers along the shore. I hope things are going well for you - Lots of love - Abby"
A Letter Written on Jul 26, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Jessee Giddings in Phillips, ME from Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 13, 1928 10am in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 4, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Jessee Giddings in Phillips, ME from Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 18, 1928 12:30pm in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 7, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Jessee Giddings in Phillips, ME from Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 28, 1928 12:30pm in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 11, 1928: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 12, 1928: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Postcard Written on Aug 16, 1928: front Untitled view of the Matterhorn.; back Divided back, postmarked Aug 16, 1928 in Riffelalp. "Zermatt, Hotel Riffelalp, Matterhorn." Inscription: "Aug. 16 Riffelalp. 'Tis a grand mountain - but it doesn't appear to us like this. On the way here from Innsbruck we had 3 1/2 good days out of a possible 4 - but we have seen little here thus far, though we have seen glimpses, such as the top above clouds, all covered with fresh snow. There is another day coming, however. I'll write more anon. Love - Abby" Addressed to Miss Sarah E. Smith at Faculty House in South Hadley.
Letters Written on Aug 16 and 19, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. Jessee Giddings in Phillips, ME from Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Sep, 1928 in South Hadley.; page 1 First of two letters. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.; page 1 Second of two letters. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 19, 1928: envelope Addressed to Mrs. J. W. Giddings in Phillips, ME. Postmarked Aug 20, 1928 in Geneva.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 22, 1928: envelope Addressed to Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 25, 1928 4:45pm in Paris.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Postcard Written on Aug 25, 1928: front "American University Women's Paris Club / 4, Rue de Chevreuse - Paris"; back Divided back, postmarked in Paris. Addressed to Mrs. J. W. Giddings in Phillips, Maine. Inscription.
A Letter Written on Aug 25, 1928: envelope Addressed to Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 28, 1928 in Brussels, transit mark in New York City, and postmarked Sep 10, 1928 10am in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Newspaper Article from Aug 26, 1928: envelope Addressed to Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Aug 28, 1928 in Brussels.; page 1 An Observer article, presumably the article Abby mentions in the previous letter which she mailed the same day.
A Letter Written on Aug 31, 1928: envelope Addressed to Sarah Smith in South Hadley. Postmarked Sep 1, 1928 in Cherbourg.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.