Inquiring readers: CLD Stationery has been creating personalised stationery for over thirty years. Its staff has learned a great deal about the traditions and etiquette of stationery and letter writing through the ages, especially the history of personal correspondence, from beautiful writing instruments and the development of the quality of paper to the evolution of quality inks. At my request, this post was written especially for Jane Austen’s World. Enjoy!
How many of us take pens and paper for granted? Correspondence is such an integral part of our daily lives and it has played such an important role in the history of our civilisation.
Jane Austen as we know well, was a prolific writer and not just of novels, she enjoyed writing many personal letters that are thankfully, still in existence today for us to enjoy. In particular, there are many splendid examples of letters that Jane sent to her sister Cassandra that have been collected into this fascinating book.
“You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve” From a letter to her sister Cassandra, 1798
Her letters are delightfully witty and they are also beautifully written – despite her misgivings. When you think of how easy it is for us to write and edit our work today on a computer, it adds an extra dimension to her wonderful writing skills. The image below shows a real excerpt in her own handwriting from the novel Persuasion.
http://www.janeausten.ac.uk/manuscripts/blpers/1.html
During Jane Austen’s life, metal pen nibs had already been invented but were still rare and much more expensive than using a quill pen. The majority of people were still using feather quills for all their personal correspondence. Jane Austen at this time would be using a quill made from a large goose feather or perhaps even a crow’s feather for smaller text. The most desirable and hiqh quality quills were made from swans or peacocks feathers.
The feather quill has the ability to hold a little ink, allowing for less dipping time than using a reed or fine brush, this accounts for its huge popularity. Interestingly, the feather quill is still used today as the preferred choice for calligraphy experts, due to it’s flexibility. The quill is cut with a knife to vary the thickness of writing, creating the perfect bespoke nib for the writer.
“I must get a softer pen. This is harder. I am in agonies. … I am going to write nothing but short sentences. There shall be two full stops in every line.” From a letter to her sister Cassandra, 1813
The quill cannot just be taken from the goose and cut, it needs to be hardened and there is some skill needed in creating the perfect writing tool – as you can read from Jane’s frustrations with her own quill!
If, like Jane Austen, you are a prolific letter writer and you favour the personal touch of a handwritten letter, then do visit our CLD Stationery website where we have a great selection of personalised stationery, from invitations to correspondence cards.
Jane Austen's World 
When I was younger I always wanted to revert to a previous era and found it appropriate to do so when the electricity went out. On one such occasion I recall my mother teaching me how to use a quill pen, upon request. Thanks for the post that spawned such a memory!
How interesting.