How did Jane Austen write her letters?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a letter in possession of a good address, must be in want of a postal mark.

Jane Austen is one of the most famous English novelists. Her novels were mainly set in the Regency period (1811-1820), portraying the life of the gentry, the upper and middle classes. Four of her novels (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma) were initially published anonymously between 1811 and 1816, with Northanger Abbey and Persuasion published after Austen’s death in 1818.

She was also a prolific letter writer. It is estimated that she wrote about 3,000 letters, of which only 160 survived. She corresponded with her friends and siblings, especially with her sister Cassandra, with whom she was very close. But what do her letters tell us about the postal system at the beginning of the 19th century?

Letter writing in the Regency period

Through letters, whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance. (Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 48, Jane Austen)

In the early 19^th century, the British postal service was in need of reform. There was a lack of consistency in pricing and anomalies in how the service worked. Letters were charged by distance and the number of sheets of paper they contained. It was also the recipient that paid, not the sender. Additionally, some items travelled free-of-charge, such as newspapers or letters to and from Members of the Houses of Parliament. It wasn’t until 1840 that pre-paid postage stamps were introduced, which democratised access to the post.

To save money, people often ‘cross-wrote’ their letters – a technique where people would save space by writing both horizontally and vertically across the page (pictured below).

An example of a cross-written letter, 3rd December 1824. 2015-0001.

An example of this can be seen in Austen’s own letters, available in the online exhibition Jane Austen’s Artful Letters at Jane Austen’s House, Chawton. In a letter from May 1801 to her sister Cassandra, Jane wrote the postscript (or the ‘PS’) of her letter upside down to save space. The lines intermingle with the main script to save space and mention the gift the two sisters received from their brother Charles of ‘Gold chains and Topaze Crosses’.

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Postal markings

Adhesive postage stamps didn’t exist in Austen’s time, but letters would receive various postal markings, such as mileage marks.

The earliest English mileage mark recorded was struck at Arundel on 1 October 1784, They were replaced with a second series of mileage stamps in 1801, used until 1830, the one most likely used during Jane Austen’s time.

Postmarks had various designs: circular, waves, concave curves, or even within a scroll.

Handstamp dated 18 November 1865 for Halesworth post-town. 8044355.

Free franking

Another type of postal marking largely used before 1840 was the free frank. Until this point, peers and Members of Parliament could frank their letters and send them through the post free-of-charge. They would also frank letters for family members and acquaintances so they could benefit from this privilege too and send correspondence without paying for it. The postal reform of 1840 removed this privilege, including Queen Victoria voluntarily giving up her franking privilege.

An example of a letter with a free frank, 1827. PH111_17.

One of Jane’s brothers, Edward, was High Sheriff of Kent. It is unclear if he had the free-franking privilege and if he did, whether or not he offered it to Jane. We can see that Austen did occasionally get free postage from Mr Lushington, MP for Canterbury, as she notes in a letter to her sister:

‘Now I will prepare for Mr Lushington, & as it will be wisest also to prepare for his not coming or my not getting a frank I shall write very close from the first & even leave room for the seal in the proper place.’ (Jane to Cassandra, 14 October 1813)

The Post Office was essential during the 19^th century, allowing people to keep in touch with friends and family. Austen’s novels give a glimpse into life during the Regency period and how important letters were then. Her own letters offer an additional insight into her daily life and possible inspirations for her stories. Her correspondence was written with the same wit and familiarity as her novels, providing a vision of her domestic life and relationships, with family and neighbours.

Learn more about Jane Austen and her letters by visiting the online exhibition Jane Austen’s Artful Letters at Jane Austen’s House, Chawton.

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