Original manuscript

Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. b700 V/1962

In this unfinished and unsent letter Vincent thanks Theo for his letter, dated 22 July 1890 (901), and the money it contained, which must have arrived that very day, as he indeed writes in letter 902 (l. 1*). Therefore the present letter, which is an earlier version of letter 902, probably also dates from Wednesday, 23 July. Cf. Hulsker 1973, p. 212 and Hulsker 1998, p. 44.

Vincent had this unfinished letter on his person when he wounded himself on 27 July, as revealed by a note Theo wrote in pencil on the manuscript: ‘lettre qu’il portait sur lui le 27 Juillet jour du sinistre’ (the letter he had on him on 27 July, that horrible day).