Calling on friends and family is so important in Austen’s novels, with layers of etiquette that feel foreign to the modern reader. For instance, Harriet’s too-short visit to the Martins is a statement they all understand, and Caroline’s late-return visit tells Jane that the friendship is over. What were the social rules that we can’t see? This month, I’m diving into the etiquette of calling cards and morning calls to find out more about the social propriety of these visits that were such a cornerstone to Austen’s world.
What were calling cards?
If you were anyone in Regency England, then you had a calling card. This was a small card that stated your name, your title if you had one, and the name of your house or district. In later years, they often included your address and the times when you were at home to receive visitors.
Regency era cards were simple, with men’s cards sized small enough to fit into their breast pockets, and ladies’ cards slightly larger. As they gained in popularity, however, calling cards became more elaborate. Ladies’ Victorian era cards could be glossy, cut into shapes, or fringed with lace.
This site is ending, so I’ve moved this post. Read the rest here to find out how calling cards established an oh-so-elegant system of silent superiority that’s lacking in society today.
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