Mourning stationery is a letter, envelope, or calling card with a black border, used to signify that a person is experiencing mourning.[1][2] It was first used in the 17th century in Europe and was most popular during the Victorian era, during which it was also used in the United States and West Africa.[1][3][4][5]
Letter with a mourning border c. 1861
The border may start thick and thin over time,[1][4] or the thickness may depend on the level of bereavement, or both. For example, the death of a child may call for a thicker border than the death of a cousin.[6][7] Social norms expected that the mourning period was to be displayed in both public and private. After the death of a reigning monarch, a mourning border may be placed on public notices, newspapers, and other government stationery.[1]
Convention was that children did not use mourning stationery.[8] If seals are used with mourning stationery, they are conventionally black.[8][9] Black borders may also be used on letters announcing an execution.[1]
Upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, mourning stationery was sold in many stores to honour her.[10]
Nineteenth-century American newspapers used a black border when announcing a death.[11]
After the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 2021, Queen Elizabeth II chose not to use the black border to signify mourning (opting instead to use her royal coat of arms printed in black rather than red on correspondence),[12] although she did use it once as a final note to Philip. This was a break in tradition which started in 1861 by Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert. Despite Queen Elizabeth's break from tradition, Prince Charles (now King) and Camilla continued to use the mourning border.[12]
Appearances in works of artedit
Mourning stationery in a painting by George Elgar Hicks
A black-bordered letter makes appearance in George Elgar Hicks' 1863 painting, Woman’s Mission: Companion of Manhood.[13]
^Keim, De B. R. (1889). Hand-Book of Official and Social Etiquette and Public Ceremonials at Washington (3rd ed.). Рипол Классик. p. 264. ISBN978-5-87661-545-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^"mourning stationery". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
^ abHall, Nigel (2000). Letter Writing as a Social Practice. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. p. 99. doi:10.1075/swll.9.06hal. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
^Peterson, Derek; Newell, Steph; Hunter, Emma (2016-09-29). African Print Cultures: Newspapers and Their Publics in the Twentieth Century. University of Michigan Press. p. 398. ISBN978-0-472-12213-4.
^Popova, Maria (2012-12-21). "How to Write Letters: A 19th-Century Guide to the Lost Art of Epistolary Etiquette". The Marginalian. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
^Westlake, J. Willis (1876). How to write letters; a manual of correspondence. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
^ abEichler, Lillian. "The Project Gutenberg eBook of Book of Etiquette, Vol. 1". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
^Crowther, Mary Owens. "The Project Gutenberg eBook of How to Write Letters". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
^"The Queen Is Making One Subtle Modern Change to the Royal Mourning Period". Vanity Fair. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
^"Mourning Stationery in 19th Century America". Shapell Manuscript Foundation. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
^ ab"Queen Elizabeth's Stationery Marks a Break From Royal Tradition". Town & Country. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
^"Condolence Letters Spurred by the Penny Post". victorianweb.org. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
December 19, 2023
mourning, stationery, letter, envelope, calling, card, with, black, border, used, signify, that, person, experiencing, mourning, first, used, 17th, century, europe, most, popular, during, victorian, during, which, also, used, united, states, west, africa, lett. Mourning stationery is a letter envelope or calling card with a black border used to signify that a person is experiencing mourning 1 2 It was first used in the 17th century in Europe and was most popular during the Victorian era during which it was also used in the United States and West Africa 1 3 4 5 Letter with a mourning border c 1861The border may start thick and thin over time 1 4 or the thickness may depend on the level of bereavement or both For example the death of a child may call for a thicker border than the death of a cousin 6 7 Social norms expected that the mourning period was to be displayed in both public and private After the death of a reigning monarch a mourning border may be placed on public notices newspapers and other government stationery 1 Convention was that children did not use mourning stationery 8 If seals are used with mourning stationery they are conventionally black 8 9 Black borders may also be used on letters announcing an execution 1 Contents 1 History 2 Appearances in works of art 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editUpon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 mourning stationery was sold in many stores to honour her 10 Nineteenth century American newspapers used a black border when announcing a death 11 After the death of Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh in 2021 Queen Elizabeth II chose not to use the black border to signify mourning opting instead to use her royal coat of arms printed in black rather than red on correspondence 12 although she did use it once as a final note to Philip This was a break in tradition which started in 1861 by Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert Despite Queen Elizabeth s break from tradition Prince Charles now King and Camilla continued to use the mourning border 12 Appearances in works of art edit nbsp Mourning stationery in a painting by George Elgar HicksA black bordered letter makes appearance in George Elgar Hicks 1863 painting Woman s Mission Companion of Manhood 13 See also editIn memoriam cardReferences edit a b c d e Mourning Stationary PDF Keim De B R 1889 Hand Book of Official and Social Etiquette and Public Ceremonials at Washington 3rd ed Ripol Klassik p 264 ISBN 978 5 87661 545 9 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint date and year link mourning stationery Oxford Reference Retrieved 2023 09 07 a b Hall Nigel 2000 Letter Writing as a Social Practice Amsterdam John Benjamins Publishing Company p 99 doi 10 1075 swll 9 06hal Retrieved 2023 09 07 Peterson Derek Newell Steph Hunter Emma 2016 09 29 African Print Cultures Newspapers and Their Publics in the Twentieth Century University of Michigan Press p 398 ISBN 978 0 472 12213 4 Popova Maria 2012 12 21 How to Write Letters A 19th Century Guide to the Lost Art of Epistolary Etiquette The Marginalian Retrieved 2023 10 01 Westlake J Willis 1876 How to write letters a manual of correspondence pp 16 17 Retrieved 1 October 2023 a b Eichler Lillian The Project Gutenberg eBook of Book of Etiquette Vol 1 www gutenberg org Retrieved 2023 09 07 Crowther Mary Owens The Project Gutenberg eBook of How to Write Letters www gutenberg org Retrieved 2023 09 07 The Queen Is Making One Subtle Modern Change to the Royal Mourning Period Vanity Fair 2021 04 20 Retrieved 2023 09 07 Mourning Stationery in 19th Century America Shapell Manuscript Foundation Retrieved 2023 09 07 a b Queen Elizabeth s Stationery Marks a Break From Royal Tradition Town amp Country 2021 04 20 Retrieved 2023 09 07 Condolence Letters Spurred by the Penny Post victorianweb org Retrieved 2023 10 01 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mourning stationery amp oldid 1181047301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
