Mail during the Regency functioned somewhat differently than today’s mail system which influence several of the era’s letter writing practices. Under the Act of 1805 postal rates were determined both by distance and whether the letter weighted a full ounce or was written on one or two sheets of paper. Two sheets of paper cost twice the postage of once sheet and a full ounce was four times! Needless to say, everyday correspondence generally limited itself to one sheet of paper.

The goal would be to get as much as one could on that single sheet of paper. Informal letters often used a small, tight hand and narrow margins to fit as much as possible on that precious single sheet. Similarly utilizing initials instead of names and the abundant use of contractions and abbreviations helped conserve precious literary real estate.

This can be seen in the letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra.

Another frequently used strategy would be to utilize every scrap of space, sometimes in very creative ways, like cross-writing.  Once the space was filled writing in the usual direction, the paper might be turned 90 degrees and written over again. Very ambitious souls might also write along the diagonals, getting four pages worth of writing fitted into a single page. (How the recipient might have read that is another matter entirely. It makes my eyes water just thinking about it.)

This letter was only written in two directions and it is a bit mind boggling.

Another clever way to eke out extra space to write was to pay very close attention to how the letter would be folded and write in areas traditionally (and more properly) left blank.

How to Fold a Letter

Common paper used for letters measured approximately 15×19 inches.

This paper was usually folded in half for letter writing, in a configuration like a modern greeting card. The ‘front’ would be left blank for the address while the letter would be written on the two ‘middle pages’ and the ‘back page’.  

Writing on that ‘back page’ required a certain amount of caution as the writer should “leave on the middle of the margins of the third page , a space an inch and a half square to receive the wafer or seal . If this be neglected , the wax or wafer must be placed on part of the writing , which will of course be destroyed, thus occasioning blanks in the sense, which have, in many cases been of the greatest importance.“ (Dougall, 1815, p 64)

Following this advice would have avoided this problem in Jane Austen’s letter to her sister.

Addressng the Letter

When it was time to post the letter, the address would be placed in the center of the ‘front page’, with the folded edge at the top.

To seal the letter for the post, the letter would be turned address side down. Then the sides folded in toward the center folding the letter in to thirds. Finally, the bottom would be folded up and the top down over it like a flap. Sealing wax or wafers would glue these edges together to keep the letter private.

The clever correspondent might notice that additional ‘private’ space might also be found on the ‘front page’ of the letter where folds would take place.

This letter from Jane Austen to her sister demonstrates this strategy. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Letter_from_Jane_Austen_to_her_sister_Cassandra,_1799_June_11._Page_4_(NLA).tiff

When your letter is sealed , you must write the superscription ( if it be to your superior or equal ) in the following manner, viz . Write the word ‘To’ by itself, as nigh the left-hand upper angle or corner of your letter as is convenient : then begin the title, or name, of the person about an inch lower, and almost in the middle or centre of it, according to the length of the person’s name, or title; and write the place of his abode in a line. by itself at the bottom, in a larger character then the other part, thus :

~The Complete Letter Writer

Since writing the address after it was sealed would probably make the writing difficult to read, it is likely a letter would be written, folded, addressed, then sealed.

Dougall (1815)  cautions that “In writing to persons to whom one wishes to mark particular respect, it is customary to inclose (sic) the letter in a cover. In this country however such a letter is considered as double, and consequently charged double postage.” (p64) If an outer wrapper were used, the technique for folding would still be the same.

Next time we’ll have a closer look at the ins, outs, and finer points of how to seal a letter.

References

Anatomy of a Regency Letter. Her Reputation for Accomplishment. May 6, 2015. Accessed May 16, 2023 https://herreputationforaccomplishment.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/anatomy-of-a-regency-letter/

Austen, Jane. Letter to her sister Cassandra, 1799 June 11. Wikimedia

Dougall, John. The Young Man’s Best Companion and Guide to Useful Knowledge. Kinnersley: Bungay. 1815

Note & Wish. Regency Era Letter Folding Tutorial. Note and Wish. August 12, 2012. Accessed June 9, 2023. https://noteandwish.com/blogs/journal-lab/regency-era-letter-folding-tutorial-jane-austen-style

Shanahan, Eunice. Postage Rages within Great Britain 1805-1839. Letters from the Past. Accessed June 9, 2023. http://www.earsathome.com/letters/Previctorian/rates.html

Learn more about Writing and Letters in Austen’s day HERE