Home » Blog » Writing with a Quill Pen

Guests at the Town of York Historical Society / Toronto's First Post Office gala were invited to "Try your hand" at writing with a quill pen, which is not as easy as it looks.
Guests at the Town of York Historical Society / Toronto's First Post Office gala were invited to "Try your hand" at writing with a quill pen, which is not as easy as it looks.

Writing with a Quill Pen

It was a pleasure to attend the annual gala of the Town of York Historical Society, proprietors of Toronto’s First Post Office (TFPO), both a museum and a working post office, the other night at St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto. To add to the ambience, each table was provided with a number of goose feather pens, a pot of walnut ink, and slips of paper inviting attendees to “Try your hand…”.

Lovely bright and historical table centrepiece. I appreciate the thought and effort that went into preparing these displays and activities.
Lovely bright and historical table centrepiece. I appreciate the thought and effort that went into preparing these displays and activities.

So I did! This was (probably?) the first time I’ve attempted to write Jane Austen-style with a quill pen, so it qualifies under my Year of Trying New Things project (and I should properly say town of York, Upper Canada, in the 1830s-style).

I enjoyed the experience of using the pen, concentrating on placing the tip on the paper just so to achieve a consistent line. Funny thing was I was only able to collect enough ink for one or two characters at a time, which makes me wonder about the patience required to complete a full document in this fashion. Perhaps just my beginner lack of technique? I wasn’t dipping deeply enough in the ink? Or a difference in pens used in practice?

I wondered if TFPO had any guidance on this matter, and they do. Last September 2023, for Ontario Culture Days, TFPO held a quill writing workshop: “After a brief introduction to all the materials, and a few tips on mastering quill, ink, and sealing wax, you’ll have the opportunity to write your very own letter which we encourage you to mail at Toronto’s First Post Office, Canada’s oldest purpose-built post office still in operation.” Perhaps they will hold the workshop again in September 2024, so I may improve my skill.

In the meantime, this video with former TFPO Postmistress and Curator Zoé Delguste-Cincotta explains how to write an 1830s-style letter, complete with sealing wax.