| THE EPISTOLARIAN |

Among the quieter pleasures of correspondence is the rebus: a phrase rendered in images rather than letters. A kind of visual shorthand, it is part riddle, part sentiment. An eye for “I.” A ewe—or a yew—for “you.” A well for “wellness.” These are not mere substitutions but gestures—each one inviting interpretation, not just reading. A rebus is an act of attention, a shared moment of care between sender and receiver.

The first antique rebus I collected was a seal inscribed with the word “All’s” beside a well—“All’s well.” Another followed: a more intricate composition using an eye, an anchor (a symbol for hope), a yew tree, and a well to spell out “I hope you are well.”

I decided to make one side of the rebus penny a modern interpretation of "I hope you are well."

When I began designing my own seals, I knew I wanted to create a rebus, though I didn’t yet know what form it would take. Then one day, my friend Sonia—a calligrapher and artist—showed me a journal she’d designed. Its cover was scattered with bees, and in delicate gilt calligraphy, the words: “Bee you.” I loved the simplicity. Be you. We spoke about adapting it into a seal for the Hastings Étui, and I added a deer. The pun completed itself: Be you, dear.

But it also became something quieter. Less a directive than a murmur. Not “live authentically” in the way of slogans and self-help maxims—but something gentler. A phrase that didn’t instruct so much as make room.

In Journal of a Solitude, May Sarton writes: “We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” It’s a beautiful imperative—but sometimes, daring looks less like a grand declaration and more like a quiet affirmation. Less like a roar, more like a whisper.

Be you, dear is not a slogan. It’s not shouted from a mountaintop or emblazoned on a banner. It’s an invitation tucked into an envelope, a kindness disguised as a pun. It offers not advice, but space—for strangeness, for softness, for becoming. For the possibility that the truest version of oneself may arrive not all at once, but in fragments, over time, and often in quiet.

Seal of the Week: Bee Yew Deer (Be you, dear)

Tomorrow, the newest Hastings Étui penny will be available. The heads side shows the rebus "Be you, dear" and the tails side "I hope you are well." I'll send the second half of the Epistolarian with a rebus dictionary to use for your letters too.

The first 7 pennies ordered will come with a special gift from Sonia. She wrapped the Bee You journal and included a letter with it too!

Color of the Week: Cacao

This high-quality metallic bronze color is inspired by the rich, deep tones of cacao, the beloved ingredient used to create delicious chocolate treats. Cacao Metallic Bronze is a warm, inviting color that is sure to add a touch of luxury to any letter.