Stationery!

retrogirl1941 · Jun 4, 2008

What kind of writing papers/stationery do all of you use? What kinds of ettiquete rules go along with it also? I am in the market for nice stationary and want to see what everyone else uses.Thanks!

Samantha

Miss Neecerie · Jun 4, 2008

Pick your year for stationery Etiquette....and there are different rules for it.
Crane's has something called the Blue Book, which my stationery loving self -lusts- after and I have not yet bought....http://www.crane.com/prdSell.aspx?Name=CA9000_BlueBookofStationery

They do have -some- basic guidelines online here: http://www.crane.com/navContentProduct.aspx?NavName=Etiquette_Tips&DeptName=Etiquette_Stationery

That said, Crane's is the absolute stationery powerhouse. Pricey as all get out though.

www.crane.com is their main site.

and if you ever go to estate sales (and I mean proper ones, either in houses or yards of the house) look for paper. I have picked up at least one box of Crane's this way. Old people keep stationary. Paid 2.50 for a box of Neiman Marcus co-branded Crane's, that you just -know- was a good 40 dollars retail.

Now....for the -real- world of stationery. (translate that to 'poor folk' rules)

Get the best paper you can afford. Office supply stores have some decently thick and nice feeling paper. Cream is ever so classic and thus inoffensive for most situations.

While social stationery sizing is different then say an 8.5 by 11 sheet, 99% of the universe no longer even knows the sizing rules, let alone would notice you breaking them.

ok...that's enough for one post...I could write about this for hours. Stationery is a -fetish- of mine, so I gush and ramble excitedly when anyone wants to discuss it.

dhermann1 · Jun 4, 2008

Not to be toooo pedantic, but I believe your stationery should remain stationary.

VisforVictory · Jun 4, 2008

Geez, Dan, and I thought I was the only Hermann from Brooklyn who nitpicks on good ol' Sam!

Hello to both of youse, by the way!

Miss Neecerie · Jun 4, 2008

dhermann1 said:
Not to be toooo pedantic, but I believe your stationery should remain stationary.

lol

That is quite pedantic indeed sir! Have you never heard of the hostess using the wrong fork so as not to make someone else feel poorly?

*that's my excuse for continuing the trend...and I am sticking to it.

BegintheBeguine · Jun 4, 2008

When I got married almost 4 years ago I realized, about 5 weeks or so before the event, I hadn't ordered invitations yet. At one of the bridal shows I'd grabbed a flyer from one company and so I went there, a print shop that has been in business for years. They didn't yell but did a great job very reasonably priced, cheaper, easier and better than a do-it-yourself kit from the office supply or craft store. It was fun looking through that huge book. They also included note cards with our names in proper Mr. and Mrs. style and envelopes. I use these cards and love them, especially now that my mail is forwarded here.

miss_elise · Jun 4, 2008

i love stationery and office supplies stores...

i should get me some nice stationery, but i keep getting stationery gift sets from people and i think i probably should use all that up before i buy some more or else my husband will murder me

retrogirl1941 · Jun 4, 2008

VisforVictory said:
Geez, Dan, and I thought I was the only Hermann from Brooklyn who nitpicks on good ol' Sam!

Hello to both of youse, by the way!

Hey Marc!

Nice to see you on the lounge!

Samantha

retrogirl1941 · Jun 4, 2008

dhermann1 said:
Not to be toooo pedantic, but I believe your stationery should remain stationary.

Oopps! I was;nt sure if I spelled it right! I guess not

!

Samantha

retrogirl1941 · Jun 4, 2008

Miss Neecerie said:
Pick your year for stationary Etiquette....and there are different rules for it.
Crane's has something called the Blue Book, which my stationary loving self -lusts- after and I have not yet bought....http://www.crane.com/prdSell.aspx?Name=CA9000_BlueBookofStationery

They do have -some- basic guidelines online here: http://www.crane.com/navContentProduct.aspx?NavName=Etiquette_Tips&DeptName=Etiquette_Stationery

That said, Crane's is the absolute stationary powerhouse. Pricey as all get out though.

www.crane.com is their main site.

and if you ever go to estate sales (and I mean proper ones, either in houses or yards of the house) look for paper. I have picked up at least one box of Crane's this way. Old people keep stationary. Paid 2.50 for a box of Neiman Marcus co-branded Crane's, that you just -know- was a good 40 dollars retail.

Now....for the -real- world of stationary. (translate that to 'poor folk' rules)

Get the best paper you can afford. Office supply stores have some decently thick and nice feeling paper. Cream is ever so classic and thus inoffensive for most situations.

While social stationary sizing is different then say an 8.5 by 11 sheet, 99% of the universe no longer even knows the sizing rules, let alone would notice you breaking them.

ok...that's enough for one post...I could write about this for hours. Stationary is a -fetish- of mine, so I gush and ramble excitedly when anyone wants to discuss it.

Thank you so much! This is some good info. I am going to to the stationery store this weekend and checking out what they have. I looked at hallmark but they had almost nothing

. I figured since I will be writting probably close to a hunded or so letters this suimmer to my husband at boot camp, I would try my hand at proper penmanship,using a fountain pen(is that the same thing?) and using really nice stationery(any excuse right?

)

Samantha

dhermann1 · Jun 4, 2008

I'm sooooo sorry! I just couldn't help myself. That kind of stuff was drilled into me early in life. I will remain at my station and you will hear nary a word from me.
BTW, Marc, you still are. I'm in Da Bronx now. (Sob!!!)

retrogirl1941 · Jun 4, 2008

dhermann1 said:
I'm sooooo sorry! I just couldn't help myself. That kind of stuff was drilled into me early in life. I will remain at my station and you will hear nary a word from me.
BTW, Marc, you still are. I'm in Da Bronx now. (Sob!!!)

Thats fine! I was tired when I posted and did'nt know if I spelled it correctly. Thank you for the correction though! Now back to practising my aweful penmanship(its really scary

)

Samantha

retrogirl1941 · Jun 4, 2008

Back to the topic of Stationery.................In the 19th century calling cards with a thin black border meant the person was in mourning(can't remember what stage though); I recently saw a set of stationery like that. During the golden era what was the ettiquete with balck bordered stationery?

Samantha

ltedge · Jun 4, 2008

Stationary tips

Samantha, a couple of tips. My wife bought me some custom notecards with envelopes so that I could send her love notes while I'm deployed

. She ordered them from Crane and they're fantastic. First, if you have a favorite type of writing instrument, go to the store and try that out with the stationary. I use a fountain pen so wanted to make sure it didn't bleed on the paper. Second, get something special that you truly enjoy writing on. If everything you use when you write makes the experience enjoyable, you will probably use it much more often. I brought my notecards and pen to Iraq with me, and I find time to write and send notes home to my wife at least once a week.

John Boyer · Jun 4, 2008

retrogirl1941 said:
What kind of writing papers/stationery do all of you use? What kinds of ettiquete rules go along with it also? I am in the market for nice stationary and want to see what everyone else uses.Thanks!

Samantha

First of all it is refreshing to hear from someone that values the handwritten letter, card and thank you notes, &/c. I purchase most of my various stationary items from www.finestationary.com. I really like the interactive website and ability to design my own stationary products. Overtime, I keep coming back to Crane products as they are relatively reasonably priced and work well with my fountain pens. I defer, often, to "Crane's Blue Book of Stationary: styles and etiquette of letters, notes and invitations". Sort of off topic, I recently purchased a Parkins & Grotto Oak Stationary Cabinet w/ writing slope, c. 1880. My 13 year old daughter is going to help me upload pictures, "when her schedule opens up".

Mike in Seattle · Jun 4, 2008

retrogirl1941 said:
Oopps! I was;nt sure if I spelled it right! I guess not !

Samantha

The little trick one of my English teachers hammered into us was that stationERY referred to the papER type, and stationARY was something not moving out in the AIR

Also, my understanding of mourning paper (black border) was like wearing black while you were in mourning - one year from the date of death and you stop using it.

retrogirl1941 · Jun 5, 2008

Thank you everybody! Can you use nice stationery for typing on too? I think what I will look for then is going to be something vintage inspired(still I have a longing to get vintage repop ) , so it can be sent to a variety of people without confirming how far into the 1940s I live!

Samantha

John Boyer · Jun 8, 2008

retrogirl1941 said:
Thank you everybody! Can you use nice stationery for typing on too? I think what I will look for then is going to be something vintage inspired(still I have a longing to get vintage repop ) , so it can be sent to a variety of people without confirming how far into the 1940s I live!

Samantha

I use the same stationery regardless as to whether or not I am writing with a fountain pen or typing a more formal letter. I have not found any vintage stationery websites, but would be interested in vintage stationery if you find some. We recently uncoved several old 1930-ish file cabinets in our organization. The stationery inside does not appear much different than what we are using now. Although, again, I would certainly be interested in a vintage type stationery, should you come across somthing like this.

Two Gun Bob · Jun 8, 2008

You could do worse than try Britain's best loved writing paper, 'Basildon Bond'. You can't get much more vintage in a modern paper - the brand goes back to 1911, and became our best selling paper in 1932

If you want to really look old school, get the blue Air Mail paper and envelopes with stripy borders and imprinted 'By air mail Par avion', evocative of the days of the Imperial Airways flying boats.

For more on Basildon Bond:

http://www.basildonbond.com/pages/history.asp

16_sparrows · Jun 23, 2008

I absolutely adore writing letters to the point where my friend and I made a letter writing alliance to keep the art alive! (I know, we're nerds.) Anyway, I adore writing on vintage stationery and have had some wonderful luck finding dead stock paper goods at resale markets and Ebay. In fact, I just acquired a vintage airmail writing set; envelopes and a writing pad, complete with a line guide to place under the paper comes all together in a folder like package. It's super keen. My favorite though is a Greek hotel stationery that is booklet style letting you write up to four pages on one sheet. And the paper is great for fountain pens!

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