Personalized Stationery

[plumeophile]

Hi Everyone

 

This is my first post. Been watching and reading from the sidelines. I've been a penthusiast since the good Dominican Sisters made us write with the old Sheaffer cartridge pens. Still have a few around the desk.

 

I'm looking to purchase some personalized stationery for letter writing. I have note cards but want something bigger for letters. I will want second sheets also. Looked into Crane but soon realized I would need to mortgage my home to get some .

 

I write with a medium nib FP. Any sources?

 

Thanks,

Tom

[kiavonne]

Welcome to FPN, Tom!

 

There are a couple of sources for correspondence cards that are fairly reasonable in price. However, when it comes to personalized letter stationery, that is an order a little harder to fill. There have been some other threads along these lines, too, though today I'm too lazy to search. Classic Communication (and I think American Stationery) have letter sheets which are likely fountain pen friendly. I find their correspondence cards to be fairly good, and their tablets are smooth and fountain pen friendly. No second sheets with either, however.

 

One suggestion might be to contact a local printer and checking their paper samples to see what might be good for your style of writing. I had a box of personalized stationery printed by a printer here some years ago, and although it wasn't cheap, per se, it wasn't over the top in comparison to some of the fine stationery we find from places like Cranes. Adding second pages was of course very easy in that process, all I had to do was buy blank sheets to go with my personalized pages.

 

I want to try Piccolo Press stationery, its been highly recommended here, but it will run very expensive. Seeing as it is truly premium, engraved stationery from the finest production staff in Scotland, well I suppose that is why. It is on my wishlist for when I can once again afford these luxuries. (This year saw the depletion of all my reserves, with the last of it going out yesterday to buy a new car after my 12-year-old Saturn finally decided to nickel and dime me to the tune of $2k this year alone.)

 

An alternative may be to find a plain stationery that meets your needs, and add a personal touch at the end of your correspondence with an inexpensive monogram seal and sealing wax. If going through the mails, using one of the newer sealing waxes designed for longevity might be the way to go, but if sufficiently padded and protected, a seal of traditional wax may make it unscathed to the destination of choice. Or, even a craft rubber stamp, which come in so many many different styles and motifs and can be embellished with embossing powders. A personalized paper embosser is also a thought, for raised blind embossing on your letter page.

 

My current stationery of choice for regular letter and note writing is Verge de France by G.Lalo. It is very reasonably priced (in tablet form), has a nice laid finish, comes in a nice sampling of colors, holds up well for medium nibs (in my experience - it really will depend upon the particular nib in your own pen), and matching envelopes are available. I add wax seals using Atelier Gargoyle sealing wax for sending through the mails. I use J.Herbin traditional wax when I am not concerned for breakage when going through postal machines.

Edited December 25, 2009 by kiavonne

[plumeophile]

Welcome to FPN, Tom!

 

There are a couple of sources for correspondence cards that are fairly reasonable in price. However, when it comes to personalized letter stationery, that is an order a little harder to fill. There have been some other threads along these lines, too, though today I'm too lazy to search. Classic Communication (and I think American Stationery) have letter sheets which are likely fountain pen friendly. I find their correspondence cards to be fairly good, and their tablets are smooth and fountain pen friendly. No second sheets with either, however.

 

One suggestion might be to contact a local printer and checking their paper samples to see what might be good for your style of writing. I had a box of personalized stationery printed by a printer here some years ago, and although it wasn't cheap, per se, it wasn't over the top in comparison to some of the fine stationery we find from places like Cranes. Adding second pages was of course very easy in that process, all I had to do was buy blank sheets to go with my personalized pages.

 

I want to try Piccolo Press stationery, its been highly recommended here, but it will run very expensive. Seeing as it is truly premium, engraved stationery from the finest production staff in Scotland, well I suppose that is why. It is on my wishlist for when I can once again afford these luxuries. (This year saw the depletion of all my reserves, with the last of it going out yesterday to buy a new car after my 12-year-old Saturn finally decided to nickel and dime me to the tune of $2k this year alone.)

 

An alternative may be to find a plain stationery that meets your needs, and add a personal touch at the end of your correspondence with an inexpensive monogram seal and sealing wax. If going through the mails, using one of the newer sealing waxes designed for longevity might be the way to go, but if sufficiently padded and protected, a seal of traditional wax may make it unscathed to the destination of choice. Or, even a craft rubber stamp, which come in so many many different styles and motifs and can be embellished with embossing powders. A personalized paper embosser is also a thought, for raised blind embossing on your letter page.

 

My current stationery of choice for regular letter and note writing is Verge de France by G.Lalo. It is very reasonably priced (in tablet form), has a nice laid finish, comes in a nice sampling of colors, holds up well for medium nibs (in my experience - it really will depend upon the particular nib in your own pen), and matching envelopes are available. I add wax seals using Atelier Gargoyle sealing wax for sending through the mails. I use J.Herbin traditional wax when I am not concerned for breakage when going through postal machines.

Wow! Thanks for the response. I had a printer give me stationery as a Christmas gift years ago, but the printer has since gone under. I'm with you on the Crane's. I looked at what it would cost for 50 or 100 sheets and we're talking a small fortune. I'll keep searching and post my findings. Thanks, again and have a great New Year.

[satrap]

http://www.neenahpaper.com/index.asp?ft=Home

 

Check this place. I have purchased their sample packs in the past (under the drop down menu item "Shop Now") and I really like their papers. Check the "Classic" line. Oh, and I notice they now carry Crane's.

 

 

diane

[RonB]

I have had very good results with Americanstationary.com. The quality is very good and the prices are great. This is the one I use:

 

http://www.americanstationery.com/shopping/prod_detail/main.asp-pid-144

 

100 personalized monarch size letters with envelopes for $39.95.

[Vulcan1066]

I just make my own. I find a paper that fp friendly and pick a design that I like. Usually I only make it in batches of 10 or so. The blank sheets just get added in behind the personalized sheet.

[BillZ]

Not sure what your budget is but I use Crane CH3116 sets for letters. The set has 40sheets/20 envelopes and retails for $18USD. I buy thenm from a local stationer who prints my initial on half of the sheets for a small fee. I use a blank for the second sheet. Still more expensive than plain paper but not nearly so as the embossed stuff from Crane!