0- 1899 Brazil early football history Sport Club do Pará, Charles Miller Scotland Saints Corinthians

CHARLES MILLER ? Could be! SEE ALL 5 images

It's from 1899, an important piece of Brazillian football history, an early football artifact from one of the oldest soccer clubs in Brasil! 

In 2016, the Brazillian author Taion Almeida wrote of  Club do Parà, "it is older than imagined." Well, until today no one had the evidence that the club IS at least 4 years older than its previous 'earliest known date' of 1902.

This envelope has stamps of an 1899-designed series and two postmarks, one front and the other to the rear, showing the "99" of 1899.

It was sent from Belem, in Brazil, via Lisbon Portugal to Reading in GB.

It ought to be remembered that Charles Miller, the Scottish founder of Brazillian football, went to school in Southampton, not too far from Reading. He also played for Saints (St.Mary's) and both for & against Corinthians., so Berkshire was most definitely known to him, and it seems he had a good friend there, in Reading. In 1899, you did not go to the trouble and expense of writing and sending seamail letters around the world to just anyone.

His club, Southampton. would become the first UK footy team to travel to South America, touring around about 1904.

Theodore Henry White (b.1843), of 34 Baker Street, Reading, the address on the envelope, was a school master. Was he once school master to Charles Miller, or to one of the other Brits who helped set-up the game in Brazil? Maybe.

More fascinating stuff on Charles Miller is to be found here https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Miller

THIS IS A PRICELESS PIECE OF BRAZIL FOOTBALL HISTORY and someone is going to get a bargain!

Sold as seen, empty original postal cover (envelope) from Para to Reading via Lisbon