About the shop: Recto & Verso

Tell us about your shop. What do you sell? How long have you been on Etsy?

Recto & Verso is a small literary gift shop specializing in candles, tea ephemera, gift sets, stationery, and more. We have been on Etsy since October of 2019, so we’re relatively new, but we’re always thinking up fresh bookish ideas to introduce into our shop! Our main mission is to bring the perfection of the sensory reading experience into the world through aesthetically pleasing literary candles, supplies, and gifts.

What first inspired you to create these items?

Our team is made up of bibliophiles who prefer to connect to the world through books, and who lament the fact that books must end! We wanted to bring elements of our favorite books to life so that we could always be reminded of stories and characters that feel like home. The items we create prioritize comfort – and what better comfort than to feel more connected to the stories that have left their mark on our souls?

What appeals to you about Jane Austen’s writing?

Jane Austen’s wit and biting social commentary are always relevant, no matter if you’re reading one of her novels in 1820 or 2020. While many characterize Austen as a writer of regency-era “romance” novels, we appreciate that she is more of a social critic who focuses on many complex concepts: socioeconomic class, family, property and inheritance, relationships, reputation, and perception (to name a few!).

Do you have a favorite Jane Austen book or character?

Our team couldn’t come to a unanimous decision, which shows just how diverse Jane Austen’s novels and characters are, and how they speak to all of us in different ways. Some notable favorites are Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey for his humor and wit, Elizabeth Bennet from Pride & Prejudice for her independence and strength of mind, and Captain Wentworth from Persuasion for his enviable letter writing abilities. Our favorite Austen couple is shy, sensitive Edward Ferrars and mature, levelheaded Elinor Dashwood from Sense & Sensibility.

What do love about your work?

Everything, really! From brainstorming, to the design process, to creation, to listing items in our shop and communicating with our lovely customers, we really love everything about being a part of Recto & Verso. Our community is full of kind people who appreciate literature and have a particular eye for those small, simple, beautiful details that make life as a bibliophile so wonderfully enriching.

Do you have a favorite item you’ve created?

This is another question that elicited diverse answers from our team members. We’ve narrowed it down to two: our Jane Austen Mystery Date set and our Little Women Teacup & Candles gift set.

We created the Mystery Date set during COVID-19 quarantine as a unique way to bring a bit of fun into the homes of Jane Austen readers and book lovers. This set (which includes an Austen novel and a coinciding character candle, selected at random for maximum surprise!) isn’t always available, so the exclusivity and mystery of it is something we really enjoy.

The Little Women Teacup & Candles gift set was developed specifically to celebrate Mother’s Day, as it contains a gorgeous tea cup, saucer, and tea bag, as well as five 4 oz. sized candles representing Marmee, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Other variations are available, which contain all of the above except that the smaller set contains only two candles: Marmee and your choice of “little woman.”

You can check out our Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/RectoandVerso, follow us on Instagram @rectoandversoshop, or visit us on Facebook at fb.me/rectoandversoshop.

About the giveaway

In creating a candle based on Mansfield Park’s heroine Fanny Price, we not only considered her character, but her circumstances. Many would argue that Fanny is a product of her circumstances – a woman who must make do with her lack of social standing as she relies on the charity of her wealthier relatives. Because of this, Fanny’s quiet, introspective nature and the emphasis she places on virtue make her a particularly interesting Austen heroine. Likewise, Fanny is the only Austen heroine whose childhood and adulthood are both represented within the novel, and as such, we’ve tried to capture these facets of Fanny in our Mansfield Park-inspired candle.

Our 8 fl. oz. natural soy wax Fanny candle is a medium sky blue in color. Top notes of fragrant spring daffodil represent Fanny’s troubled childhood and her transition from her own impoverished family into the care of her relatives at Mansfield Park. Daffodils are not only associated with new beginnings, but often symbolize uncertainty, hope, and unrequited love – all concepts Fanny wrestles with throughout the novel. We’ve paired daffodil with the rich floral scent of blue hyacinth, which is often associated with sincerity of feeling and loyalty, thus representing Fanny’s growing affection for Edmund Bertram. While these two notes reign supreme in our Fanny candle, we’ve also included wisteria, white lilac, and fresh spring rain to create a veritable English garden you can enjoy from the comfort of your home.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to U.S. residents only, ages 13 and over, except where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to enter or win.
Sponsored by Recto & Verso. Not sponsored or endorsed by Etsy, Facebook, or Twitter.
Giveaway opens Monday, July 6, 2020 at 12 a.m. EST and ends Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 12 a.m. EST. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. If the winner does not claim their prize within two days of notification, a new winner will be selected. Odds of winning dependent on number of entries received. Winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter after confirmation.
Prize is one (1) candle.
Entries submitted via bot or automatic entry service are invalid and cannot win.
Email emilyrachellewrites@gmail.com with questions.