Autograph letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra Austen, [15-16 Sep 1813]

Item

MS. 21838, fols.3-6

Held at the Weston Library

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Digital surrogate of autograph letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra Austen, [15-16 Sep 1813]
Link to digital surrogate

Written from Henrietta Street [London] and addressed to 'Miss Austen, Chawton, By favour of Mr Gray'.

Jane refers to her visit to London, including an account of the journey there, and trips to the theatre, shopping, and to the dentist. Jane also mentions family and acquaintances, fashion, favourable opinions of Pride and Prejudice by Lady Robert [Kerr] and [Warren] Hastings, and (briefly) Sense and Sensibility.

Four leaves quarto [about six lines and signature cut away from top of fourth leaf], black wafer seal (fol.6). No postmark. Some pencil markings, including note 'Autograph letter of Jane Austen/ Signature cut off./ M./ Bought at Sothebeys [sic]'.

Dates

Creation: [15-16 Sep 1813]

Extent

4 Leaves

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

To ensure its availability to future readers, access to this item is restricted, and readers are asked to work from reproductions and published descriptions as far as possible. To apply to see the original, please send a message to specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk, outlining the subject of your research, the importance of this item to that research, and the resources you have already consulted. Please also tell us about the timeframe for your project, if any, and when you hope to visit.

Shelfmark

MS. 21838, fols.3-6

Jane Austen's House reference:

This item has the accession number CHWJA:JAHLTR.50.1-2 at Jane Austen's House.

Additional Description

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital surrogate available in Digital Bodleian.

Bibliography

First published in Edward, 1st Lord Brabourne, Letters of Jane Austen (London, 1884), volume 2, p.145.
Deirdre Le Faye (ed.), Jane Austen's Letters (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011, 4th edition), letter no.87.

Physical Facet

Laid post writing paper made on a single faced mould. Extent: 4 leaves, two half sheets. Sold as: half sheet quarto letter paper with all edges commercially cut, leaf size 228-230 x 185-187 mm. Probable sheet size: 480 x 384 mm, post, 102 gsm. Watermark: Post-horn in a crowned shield over ‘1810’. Twin 1 (fols. 3-4): Reads from the felt side of the paper, centred on the half sheet. 122 x 54 mm, chain line spacing recorded at the widest part of the watermark, with the watermark in square brackets: 6 | 23.5 | 23 | 25 | 9 [14 | 24.5 | 15.5] 7 | 24.5 | 23 | 23 | 8 mm. Twin 2 (fols. 5-6): Reads from the felt side of the paper, centred on the half sheet. 123 x 53 mm, chain line spacing recorded at the widest part of the watermark, with the watermark in square brackets: 5 | 24 | 23 | 23.5 | 9 [14.5 | 24 | 14.5] 10 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 23 | 10 mm.