Letter of Isidoor Fraeys to Guido Gezelle

In this photo of the teachers of the College of Saint Louis (school year 1874-1875), Isidoor Fraeys is the second person on the left in the second row.

Gezelle and the Kortrijk family Camille Vercruysse – Elisabeth Van den Broeck. Camille Vercruysse was a special patron of Gezelle in Kortrijk. In the photo we can presumably see Elisabeth's sister, Mathilde Van den Broeck and standing behind her father, the eldest daughter Marie-Josephine. (Photo, Beeldbank Kortrijk)

Manuscript of Gezelle's poem "Le Dieu de mon baptême" (The God of my Baptism) for the communion card of Marie Vercruysse, Kortrijk June 21st, 1878.

Communion card for Marie Vercruysse with Gezelle's poem "Le Dieu de mon baptême" (The God of my Baptism). The communion card was printed by the Saint Augustine Press in Bruges, where Fraeys was chaplain.

Marie Vercruysse

Communion card with Gezelle's poem "Le Dieu de mom baptême" (The God of my baptism).

The printing and editing company Saint-Augustine at the Houtkaai in Bruges. The Brugean Augustine Press was founded in 1877 by the Tournai editors Henri and Jules Desclée and their brother in law Alphonse de Brouwer, who lived in Bruges. Supported by Baron J.B. de Béthune they developed a series of neogothic lithographic and printed products. From 1889 onwards the lithography department was headed by one of Gezelle’s acquaintances : P. Raoux. Gezelle’s former student I. Fraeys was the company’s chaplain. The Saint Augustine Press printed Duikalmanak and several occasional poems by Gezelle. In the course of the 20th century it would become an international editing company under the name Desclée De Brouwer.

Front of the first communion card of Esther Vercruysse (Kortrijk, June 12th, 1879). On the back side one can read Guido Gezelle’s poem “Le grand Roi, m’appelant en sa sainte présence” (The Great King, Calling Me Into His Holy Presence). The card was eventually printed by the Widow Petyt.

Reverse of the first communion card of Esther Vercruysse (Kortrijk, June 12th, 1879) showing Guido Gezelle’s poem “Le grand Roi, m’appelant en sa sainte présence” (The Great King, Calling Me Into His Holy Presence).

Esther Vercruysse

Karel Van de Vyvere-Petyt’s lithographic company was located at the corner of the Steenstraat and the Zilverstraat in Bruges.