Friday Night Favorite Reads

Montblanc Royal Blue Ink Review at Without Ink

Review: Hublot Fountain Pen and Ink Well at Amateur Economist

On Holiday.

My apologies for the infrequency of December posts, first it was my final exams, and now I'm on a brief holiday visiting family in Minnesota. But, I assure you, Everyday Correspondence will be back up and kicking in the New Year. There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon.

Of particular interest is the new zine that will be published, with collaboration from members of the Everyday Correspondence community. Submissions are due on January 9, 2010, and I'll be working hard to produce a final product just as soon as possible.

Additionally, I've received a number of vintage letterhead images from members of the online letter writing community that I will begin "refurbishing" for addition to the archive just as soon as I'm back home.

And, I'll have time in the New Year to begin tinkering with my newest printing press (my first platen press)!

To those of you that are Christians, I wish you a Merry Christmas! To those of you that celebrated, I hope you had a wonderful Winter Solstice. And, to everyone, I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Very truly yours,

James

Cultivating Good Correspondence in the Modern Age

I heart correspondence etiquette. As such, several weeks ago I ordered a 1920s desk book on etiquette, measuring smaller than a 3" x 5" notecard. After losing it, and then finding it, I finally gave it a good read. I was struck by a section in the introduction, which stated that:

There is nothing more indicative of good breeding and refinement of taste than correspondence; and today, when the expert assistance of stationers, engravers and authorities on the etiquette of correspondence is readily placed at everyone's disposal, there is no excuse for the mistakes sometimes seen.

Aside from the implication that good manners are somehow tied to one's genetic disposition, I took interest in the insistence that given the innovations of the early 20th century, there were no longer any excuses for poor correspondence and bad manners. Drawing that insistence out to the 21st century, one would think that, with internet access to "authorities on the etiquette of correspondence" and the presence of a printer in most every home, that the correspondence of the modern day would be frequent and flawless. Yet, somewhere between the publication of this little desk book and the publication of this post, good correspondence has gone from a baseline expectation from any lady or gentleman to an indication of especial care on the part of a friend or business contact.

I suppose that with the innovation and access to "authorities" also came increased informal access and communications with social contacts. But to me, that only decreases the expectation of formality, not necessarily the quality of the correspondence. My little desk book also notes that:

To be a really good correspondent is truly an art, perhaps first of all a gift, to be cultivated and developed

While I don't think that the qualities of a good correspondent are a gift in the same sense that I think one's ability to create a Michaelangelo from a block of marble is a gift, I do agree that it is a talent that develops through practice with the intent to improve.

I, myself, make no claim to be a good correspondent, yet. But, I do hope that I am improving. And, wouldn't you know it? I'm using the internet to access the "authorities" and the good advice of stationers. Hmm... maybe my little desk book was on to something.

Quotations are from A Desk Book on The Etiquette of Letter Writing and Social Correspondence in General, published by the Eaton, Crane & Pike Company in 1927.

Friday Night Favorite Reads

Letters to Santa at Letter Writers Alliance

Yes Virginia, There is a North Pole Postmark at Letter Writers Alliance

Fountain pen in meets watercolor paper. And Water. at Leigh Reyes. My Life As a Verb.

Ennio Pauluzzi Postcard at The Art of the Postcard

Ink Review: Diamine Rustic Brown at All-My-Hues

Letter Writing Concerto at 365 Letters

George Bateman & Son Brewers Vintage Letterhead

In the spirit of the holiday party season, I bring you the George Bateman & Son Brewers vintage letterhead. The image is now available for download in the Vintage Letterhead Image Archive.

Enjoy!