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:
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Virginia Woolf T-Shirt:
This Mrs. Dalloway v-neck t-shirt is great because it features the first edition cover of Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway, which is probably her most famous book.
The artwork alone is cool and interesting but it’s also great because you don’t often see vintage book covers on t-shirts so that makes it quite unique.
The image itself is abstract but evokes some of the themes of the novel such as flowers, nature, water and fluidity and it was created by Virginia Woolf’s sister, artist Vanessa Bell, who did the artwork for all of Virginia’s books.
The t-shirt is made out of a cotton/polyester blend and comes in a light gray color. The listing says the t-shirt is a slim fit and runs very small so definitely size up at least two sizes if you want a looser fit or order the unisex version which is a regular fit.
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 Finger Puppet:
This Virginia Woolf Plush Little Thinker Finger Puppet and Refrigerator Magnet by The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild is a charming little finger puppet 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 puppet is a part of a series of puppets and dolls, known as the Little Thinkers, that are based on famous writers, painters and etc. Other puppets in this series include Jane Austen, Frida Kahlo and William Shakespeare.
The puppet can be used for storytelling, puppet theater, a class presentation or just as a decoration.
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 puppet is approximately 4 inches long and has a magnet on the back so you can hang it on the refrigerator.
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, such as the biography Woolf’s nephew Quentin Bell wrote which is titled Virginia Woolf: A Biography.
If you have a Virginia Woolf fan in your life who also likes to cook you could give them a copy of the Bloomsbury Cookbook, which is a collection of recipes and dishes that the Bloomsbury Group often ate and served at their dinner parties, or you could give them one of the many other books about the Bloomsbury Group.
If these ideas aren’t what you’re looking for and you are located in the UK or Europe, you can always check out the Literary Gift Company in the UK and browse their Virginia Woolf collection. The company also ships to the United States too if you don’t mind the long shipping times.
Sources:
“Our Story.” Out Of Print Clothing, outofprint.com/pages/our-story
“Little Thinkers.” The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, philosophersguild.com/collections/little-thinker