OMG I WANT.
The back of a letter I sent to my friend Kristen.
I’ve become mildly obsessed lately with the idea of using really old stamps to mail letters in the present. I’ve been scouring eBay for cheap copies of high-denomination stamps from the early 20th century, seeking out ones with flaws that make them less valuable to collectors, but still usable for postage. The whole enterprise is premised on the idea that stamps never expire; in the past, I’ve successfully used stamps from the 70s and 80s - even the 50s - to mail things, but I haven’t tested it with anything from the 20s (like the King George V “Admiral”s in the top row) or 30s (the pictorials in the bottom row).
Now, with the current basic rate for a letter being $0.63, you’re going to end up needing two or three of these old stamps to make up correct postage, and you’re definitely going to pay a premium over their face value - maybe 10 or even 20 times the nominal price. But to me, it’s worth it. A vintage airmail envelope isn’t that expensive, and using period-appropriate stamps really enhances the effect to a degree that I think is worth shelling out for.
But of course, I’m not trusting the adhesive power of 90-year-old stamp gum; I’ve been using acid-free liquid scrapbooking glue to affix the stamps to the envelopes.
Collecting Writing Gear
While most of us have traded in our pens for texts and emails, esteemed calligrapher and fine stationer Bernard Maisner continues to collect them. For more than 30 years, he has been practicing the fine art of writing, meticulously and artfully hand-lettering pieces such as wedding invitations and stationery.
1940’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel airmail envelope
This is the back of a nautical-themed envelope I’m putting in the mail today. The gold stripes were inspired by naval officers’ uniforms. And here is the stamp I used - coordinating so perfectly with the theme!
(Hat tip to the recipient, my friend Erica, for taking these photos!)
So it turns out that the QEII Diamond Jubilee souvenir sheets from last year are the perfect size to be cut up and pasted onto a monarch-size envelope. I used some scraps from the souvenir sheet to tip the flap, and a paper napkin for the lining.
My scanner seems to be broken, but that will not stop me from sharing these Valentine’s I have made: JUST FOR YOU.
…/for a Valentine’s Day Sale at school.Okay, so I extremely dislike Valentine’s Day for a multitude of reasons, but I do love writing with quill and ink. Also: sarcasm and sass.
I made this envelope to resemble an Hermès box. It was intended for my friend Steph, but she moved before I got a chance to use it, and since her address is printed directly on the paper, I now won’t be able to send it. But you can still enjoy it! I think it’s some of my best work.
From my personal collection. Because vintage airmail envelopes are awesome.
