Original 1933 international correspondence archive between Barcelona, Spain and Kyiv, Soviet Ukraine, connected with the international auxiliary language Ido, a reformed Esperanto-derived language.

The lot consists of an original mailed envelope, handwritten letter and Barcelona photographic postcard.

The envelope is particularly interesting because it was specially printed to promote the international language Ido. The upper portion bears the Ido and Spanish text:

“LERNEZ LA LINGUO INTERNACIONA IDO / ESTUDIE V. LA LENGUA INTERNACIONAL IDO”

together with the emblem of the Ido movement and the address of the Spanish Ido Society in Barcelona.

The envelope was mailed from Spain to Galina Bogdanovich in Kyiv, Soviet Ukraine, at Bockovskogo St. 12, Apt. 13.

It bears a Spanish Republic 40 céntimos Emilio Castelar postage stamp, postal cancellations dated April 1933, and additional postal transit / arrival markings.

The enclosed handwritten letter is written in Ido, not Spanish, and is signed by:

Juan Rovira

Address: Calle Mas 73, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.

In the letter, Rovira introduces himself as a 23-year-old carpenter who was unemployed at the time. He describes L'Hospitalet as an industrial working-class city near Barcelona and discusses his correspondence with Galina, including newspapers / magazines they exchanged.

He also mentions Barcelona and Catalonia, asks his correspondent to write back, and promises to send illustrated Catalan publications.

Included is an original photographic postcard:

Barcelona – Salón de San Juan / Saló de Sant Joan

The postcard has a handwritten note identifying the location of the Palace of Justice in the photograph.

This is an unusual surviving example of international pen-pal correspondence using the Ido language between Republican Spain and the Soviet Union during the early 1930s.

Contents: 1 envelope + 1 handwritten letter + 1 Barcelona photographic postcard

Date: 1933

Origin: Barcelona / L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

Destination: Kyiv, Soviet Ukraine, USSR

Sender: Juan Rovira

Recipient: Galina Bogdanovich

Language: Ido

Envelope dimensions: approximately 125 × 156 mm (4.92 × 6.14 in)

A fascinating original 1933 Spain–USSR correspondence group documenting the international Ido movement and personal communication between Barcelona and Soviet Ukraine.

All three original items are offered together as one archive lot.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.

Combined shipping is available for multiple purchases. New vintage and antique items are listed regularly.