Bernadeth Marie
If you have a Virginia Woolf fan in your family or circle of friends, you may be wondering what to get them for an upcoming birthday or holiday.
To help you find the perfect Virginia Woolf-themed gift, here are a few ideas:
(Disclaimer: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Virginia Woolf T-Shirt:
This To The Lighthouse V-Neck T-Shirt is great because it features the first edition cover of Virginia Woolf’s famous novel To The Lighthouse. The artwork alone is cool and interesting but I also like it because you don’t often see vintage book covers on t-shirts so that makes it quite unique.
The image features a lighthouse surrounded by roaring waves and was created by Virginia Woolf’s sister, artist Vanessa Bell, who did the artwork for all of Virginia’s books.
The t-shirt is a cotton/poly blend and comes in a light gray color. The listing says the t-shirt is a slim fit and runs a size small. The shirt is by Out Of Print Clothing which specializes in products that celebrate books and literature. Proceeds from the sales go to literacy programs that purchase and donate books to communities in need.
Virginia Woolf Poster:
This Virginia Woolf poster is a famous photo of Woolf taken by the photographer George Charles Beresford in 1902. It is one of the most iconic images of Virginia Woolf and was taken when she was only 22 years old. In the photo, Woolf wears a simple white dress and has her long brown hair pinned back in a bun while she gazes softly into the distance.
Woolf fans really respond to this image not just because it demonstrates what a natural beauty Woolf was but also because, in the image, Woolf looks so lost in thought that one can’t help but wonder what she was thinking about when the photo was taken. It’s such a beautiful and somewhat mysterious photo that it’s no wonder it has become so popular.
The poster size is 12 x 18 and is printed in a photo lab on high grade paper. The poster is made by the Perfect Posters and Pics company which specializes in posters featuring iconic images of politicians, celebrities, musicians and historical locations.
Virginia Woolf Tote Bag:
This double-sided tote bag features two images of the first edition covers of Virginia Woolf’s famous books To The Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway. Like all of Woolf’s first edition book covers, these images were created by Woolf’s sister, artist Vanessa Bell.
The tote bag is made out of 100% cotton canvas and has an inner pocket. The bag is 15 inches wide and 17 inches tall with 11 inch straps and is made in the USA.
This tote bag is also made by the Out of Print Clothing company. The company specializes in products that celebrate books and literature. Proceeds from the sales go to literacy programs that purchase and donate books to communities in need.
Virginia Woolf Doll:
This Virginia Woolf Plush Little Thinker Doll by The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild is a charming little doll of Virginia Woolf dressed in a Bloomsbury-inspired print dress with tiny green earrings and her long brown hair pinned back in a bun.
The doll is a part of a series of dolls, known as the Little Thinkers, that are based on famous writers, painters and etc. Other dolls in this series include Jane Austen, Frida Kahlo and William Shakespeare.
The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild specializes in “thoughtful gifts for thinking people.” The company was founded in Brooklyn, NY by two brothers who manufacture all of the products.
The doll is approximately 11 inches long. In addition to the doll, the company also makes a Virginia Woolf finger puppet.
Virginia Woolf Candle:
The same company that made the Virginia Woolf Little Thinkers Plush Doll also makes a Virginia Woolf Secular Saint Candle.
This candle is designed to mimic a saint candle, which is a type of prayer candle that is burned as an offering to a particular saint. The company jokingly describes Virginia Woolf in the product description as the “patron saint of lighthouses, Thursday evenings, and a room of one’s own” which is a reference to two of Woolf’s famous books, To The Lighthouse and A Room of One’s Own, as well as a reference to the Bloomsbury Group’s Thursday night parties.
The candle is 8.5 inches tall and is in a glass container. This candle would make a fun and humorous gift for any Woolf fan.
Virginia Woolf-Inspired Clothing:
Virginia Woolf fans who also have an interest in fashion might like the Vanessa Virginia collection by Anthropologie. It’s a collection of clothing named after and inspired by Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell. The collection features lots of bohemian-style printed dresses and white flowy tops.
As the company’s website explains “The epitome of boho femininity, the label’s flowy, flowery essence takes its cues from European styling.” The outfits range in price from $30-$160. If you don’t know which size to get, gift cards are available at anthropologie.com
Virginia Woolf Books:
This one may seem obvious, but one of Virginia Woolf’s best books would also make the perfect gift. Woolf wrote so many books, it’s unlikely the Virginia Woolf fan in your life has every one.
If they do though, you can instead give them a copy of Virginia Woolf’s diary (there are five volumes), a book of Virginia Woolf’s letters (there are many volumes of letters to her many friends) or one of the many great biographies about her (I recommend the biography written by Woolf’s nephew Quentin Bell titled Virginia Woolf: A Biography.)
Sources:
Little Thinkers.” The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, philosophersguild.com/collections/little-thinker
“Vanessa Virginia Collection.” Anthropologie, www.anthropologie.com/brands/vanessa-virginia
“Women’s Vanessa Virginia Clothing.” Lyst, www.lyst.com/shop/vanessa-virginia-clothing/
