The Colors of Sealing Wax and Their Role in Regency-Era Etiquette

In Regency England, letter-writing was not only a necessity for communication but also a reflection of one’s social awareness and propriety. The paper, handwriting, method of folding, and especially the sealing wax all contributed to the message’s presentation and tone. While wax was primarily used to secure folded letters before envelopes were widely adopted, its color also conveyed meaning. Understanding which colors were appropriate—and when—was part of the unspoken etiquette of the time.

The Purpose of Sealing Wax

Before the mid-19th century, envelopes were uncommon and often expensive. Letters were written on a single sheet of paper, folded to conceal the contents, and sealed with wax to ensure privacy and authenticity. The seal was imprinted with a metal stamp, often bearing the writer’s initials, crest, or personal emblem. If the seal was broken, the recipient could tell the letter had been tampered with. In some cases, the seal itself was more personal than the message inside.

For the Regency gentleman or lady, sealing wax was not chosen at random. Although modern waxes come in a wide variety of hues, the palette in the early 19th century was far more restrained. Each color served a particular purpose, and using the wrong one could be considered careless or even offensive.

Red: The Standard and Most Widely Accepted Color

Red sealing wax was the most common and widely accepted color during the Regency period. It was used for the majority of personal, formal, and business correspondence. Red wax was both practical and respectable, easy to produce in quantity and clearly visible. It was the safest choice when no special sentiment needed to be expressed.

The red color typically came from vermilion (a mercury sulfide compound) or other red pigments mixed with shellac, resin, and sometimes a small amount of beeswax or turpentine. The resulting wax was hard, glossy, and produced a neat, durable seal when applied properly.

Red sealing wax conveyed nothing beyond propriety. It was not romantic, flirtatious, or mournful—it was simply correct. As such, it became the default choice for polite society.

Black: Reserved for Mourning

Black sealing wax was used exclusively in times of mourning. It accompanied letters of condolence or announcements of death and might be used on all outgoing correspondence during the formal mourning period. Using black wax served as a visual marker of grief and somber respect, much like the black borders seen on mourning stationery later in the century.

Unlike red, black wax was rarely used outside of this context. To do so would have seemed morbid or theatrical. Within the bounds of mourning, however, it was considered essential for maintaining dignity and observing social expectations. Black wax was often made by adding lampblack (a fine soot) to the standard wax mixture.

Green: Primarily Official and Institutional

Green sealing wax was not common in private households. It was used primarily by official institutions such as government departments, the Exchequer, and church courts. It may have conveyed legitimacy or bureaucratic formality, but it was not appropriate for personal correspondence.

Some surviving examples show green wax used in wills, legal notices, and other formal documents where authenticity and authority needed to be clearly communicated. The green color was achieved using verdigris, a copper-based pigment, although it could degrade more quickly than red or black wax.

In private correspondence, the use of green wax would have seemed strange or even pretentious unless the sender had official standing.

Other Colors: Rare or Anachronistic

Many colors we associate with sealing wax today—blue, pink, white, gold, silver—did not appear widely until the later Victorian era. These colors, sometimes referred to as “fancy” or “gay” waxes, became popular in the mid-19th century and were often used for social and romantic correspondence among young ladies.

In contrast, the Regency period maintained a more austere and conventional approach. Red was appropriate in most cases, black signaled mourning, and green marked institutional communication. The range was narrow but meaningful.

Using a non-traditional color in a Regency setting would have drawn attention—and likely not the kind a person of good breeding wanted to attract.

Sealing Wax vs. Wafers

In addition to wax, correspondents could use wafer seals—small pre-gummed disks pressed between folds of paper to keep a letter closed. Wafers were cheaper, easier, and more practical for quick or informal notes. However, they lacked the personal touch and authority of a wax seal.

During the Regency, sealing wax was considered more formal and appropriate for letters to superiors or for important messages. Wafers were acceptable among family members, servants, or peers when the content was casual or time-sensitive. The choice between wax and wafer, like the choice of color, signaled the writer’s awareness of social propriety.

Although sealing wax was a simple tool, it held symbolic and social weight during the Regency era. Red wax was the neutral and proper choice for nearly all correspondence. Black wax was reserved strictly for mourning, and green was the domain of government and church authorities. Other colors, though common today, had not yet entered fashionable use. To misuse sealing wax was to risk appearing ignorant of one’s place—or worse, indifferent to the feelings of the recipient.

In an age where communication was deliberate and layered with social nuance, even the smallest detail—like the color of a wax seal—could speak volumes.