The Jane Austen Letters Token

You needn’t rival Captain Wentworth. But do write.

Austen readers know what a letter can do: overturn a judgement, expose a secret or finally say what conversation has failed to manage. The Jane Austen Letters Token gives your own words a suitably literary setting. Write affection, thanks or encouragement at its centre, then fold it closed for someone to discover. No dramatic misunderstanding required, although a little anticipation is entirely appropriate.

Echoing the eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century tradition of folded puzzle-purse valentines, this keepsake makes opening a note part of its pleasure. Inside are four letters from Austen’s novels, from Willoughby, Lydia Bennet, Mr Darcy and Captain Wentworth, alongside eight miniature book illustrations representing works published during her lifetime and after her death. Austen made letters an essential part of her storytelling, from the letter-based Lady Susan to the revelations threaded through her later novels. Here, a Regency-style letter design and soft blue ribbon set the scene for your own contribution. It doesn’t have to alter the course of a novel. Making someone feel remembered will do nicely.

Details

• By The Keep Sake Press
• Pack of two hand-folded paper keepsakes
• Each opens in layers, with space for a personal message at the centre
• Includes a practice sheet and folding instructions
• Paper sheets measure 16 × 16 cm
• Printed on traditional laid paper
• Features letters from Willoughby, Lydia Bennet, Mr Darcy and Captain Wentworth
• Interior includes eight miniature illustrations of Austen’s books
• Folds into a Regency-style letter, wrapped with a soft blue ribbon

Perfect for

• Austen readers who can recognise a pivotal letter before the seal is broken
• Literary romantics with something heartfelt to put into their own words
• Correspondents who keep treasured notes tucked among their favourite books