How to write an 18th Century Letter: Anatomy of the Letter

[@laurafindsjoy]

I have been working on a project to send some "Jane Austen" style letters to my niece, and I've found your videos very helpful. Thank you!

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you Laura! This one is more from the Jane Austen period and may be of interest for you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHrdm6KfpLSFjtE

[@wendybarber5347]

I recently received my teak handle dip pen and more paper. I like the idea of practicing with pencil on lined paper. I will try out my pen this weekend. Love the paper.

[@pumpkintown]

Wonderful!

[@chelseygable289]

This was so cool to watch! I have recently started learning about 17th to 18th-century correspondence and this taught me a lot. Thank you! Can you recommend any books that helped you to learn this information?

[@pumpkintown]

Yes maam! We sell the best one stop shop for books on 18th century letter writing, here pumpkintown-108720.square.site/product/-a-proper-hand-18th-century-writing-techniques-and-history/108?cs=true&cst=custom Also see our online store for all of our writing accouterments here pumpkintown-108720.square.site/

[@caseyd9471]

This video was really helpful! I'm writing a story from that time period and it helped me to get a better idea of the details when my character is sending a letter to another. One thing, though, is that in this time period, both the British and Colonists used the mm/dd/yyyy format. What's more interesting is that it appears that even the same person might write it differently. For example, the famous Tapaan letter from Major John Andre to General Clinton is dated "September 29th, 1780" but an earlier letter from Andre to Clinton is dated "the 19th Feb., 1780".

[@pumpkintown]

I have seen more Day month and year format myself, thanks for the comment! Keep up the good work!

[@stephengove7005]

Have enjoyed all of the videos you have made and have learned a lot from them. You and Renee are truly blessed people.

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you dear brother! Ya'll are too! We have much to be thankful for dont we!?

[@cavtroop50]

Great Video! Please make more about writing letters during the 18th Century!

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you! I will as time allows. Please subscribe for more videos when I upload! Glad you enjoy them!

[@hoodooguri]

I love this. I’m so glad to see someone doing this. One day you may write a book on the subject? Good luck

[@pumpkintown]

Maybe I should! Thank you!

[@karlharrelson1091]

Nicely done! Very informative. Looking forward to more details soon.

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you so much Karl

[@rebekahneighbors]

I absolutely love that you include the I4H even though you have no idea what it means!! It makes it look more authentic and it was used on a real letter, so its not some funky made up idea.

[@pumpkintown]

I have seen it on more than one letter that went through Charleston SC!

[@Jimbob9315]

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you for sharing this with us all! 😊🙏🏻

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you! Please subscribe for future videos!

[@thepockethaven]

Very cool - thanks for sharing! =) I'm coming to this after having watched the 18th century writing series on the Townsends channel featuring guest Brian Allison, so I knew who you were referencing. He was very interesting and knowledgeable - it's great that you've had the opportunity to learn from him! =)

[@pumpkintown]

Brian Allison is THE man!

[@liwiawandachowicz645]

How to write and fold longer letters? I know how to fold one-page letter but what to do when I can't fit on one page? Should I write at the back of the letter or take another piece of paper and fold it together?

[@pumpkintown]

Think of any surface on this letter that won’t end up on the front or back of the folded letter ready to post as fair game. For larger letters we will do a larger paper folded to make 2 pages front and back. Will try an do a video for that later great idea!

[@carddoctor]

Man! Super interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you ! Keep posting I love what you do also! I collect signed 55 Bowmans and I love to see vintage cards! I cant get enough of them! lol

[@carddoctor]

@@pumpkintown Right on! Thanks a lot!

[@katc7765]

Very interesting!

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you so much! Please subscribe and see when we post more!

[@manuelkong10]

Another Excllent video

[@pumpkintown]

Thank you for watching! Please subscribe and keep practicing!

[@amitexo]

I think the QDC "Que Dieu Conduise" is French rather than latin.

[@pumpkintown]

Indeed it is!

[@og_bobby_g]

Great video, just out of curiosity... if you were to put a stamp on it and sent it in the mail, would it make it to its destination? lol

[@pumpkintown]

I think it would probably make a lot of people curious along the way! lol

[@nancylemieux8058]

Check with the Post Office "What is the right size of a postal letter for mailing"...I think it is 3.5" x 5' but double check ...I tried mailing homemade invitations once and they were returned because of their size.

[@aaetha]

Hi! Awesome video, and super helpful for my own 18th century letter writing! I don't know much about Latin, but to me it looks like "que Dieu conduise" is actually a French phrase of the same meaning. Is there any chance this QDC actually derives from French?

[@pumpkintown]

Yes! It is French! I actually found this out about 1 hour after I uploaded the video! Thank for the correction! Glad we have smart folk watching!

[@PahaKaladze69]

Why is QDC crossed out?

[@pumpkintown]

Great Question! I wish I knew. Maybe if the letter was delivered by the Captain of the Ship Safely to its next destination it was crossed out as answered. Thanks for the Question!

[@barbaraszijarto4003]

When you mail out one of these do you enclose them in a regular envelope with modern postage? Just curious.

[@pumpkintown]

Yes maam we ship them in bubble mailer to protect the wax seal, and even add some cotton around it!

[@Macintoshes]

After the QDC, there is a tiny squiggle. What is that, please?

[@pumpkintown]

Likely “& etc”

[@pam3482]

What pen are you using?

[@pumpkintown]

Quills that we sell! Here is the link pumpkintown-108720.square.site/product/feather-quill-professionally-cut-top-quality-/323?cs=true&cst=custom