The Stationers Guild

Readers of the Stationers Guild news are mindful that I have very high regard for D’Arconte’s beautiful engraved Christmas greeting cards. Bob D’Arconte is, perhaps, the only artisan in the United States that designs and engraves his own holiday cards, custom invitations and stationery. Plainly a master of his profession, his cutting-edge designs on beautiful papers are plainly little works of art.

For the past several years, I have been inundated by requests from readers trying to find D’Arconte’s holiday greeting cards at retailers in their vicinity. Unfortunately, his brand of stationery and Christmas cards are not well represented outside of New York City. Other than our own store in Greenwich, CT, I know that D’Arconte’s holiday cards may be found at Gumps in San Francisco, Francis Orr in Corona del Mar (California) and Tabala Rasa in Salt Lake City.

D’Arconte stationery products are not sold on the web. Mr. D’Arconte has been reluctant to publicize his Christmas cards on the internet because internet image resolutions are inferior and it is impossible to record the subtleties of engraving, especially on the brilliant white papers he uses. This year, I got his agreement to provide you with 18 D’Arconte Christmas greeting cards which may be viewed and acquired online. Picture resolutions do not do justice to the inherent elegance of these greeting cards; however, those acquainted with D’Arconte’s card designs will now have an opportunity to indulge their desire for these lovely works of art.

A word about D’Arconte’s designs. To begin with, the images don’t do his Christmas cards justice. Engraved paper prints are three-dimensional and both the bold and delicate contours of his engraved creations and imprinted frames are easily missing in most Online browsers. Secondly, the lack of color or shade or pronounced “white space” only elevates the attractiveness and symmetry of his artistic designs. Viewed on a “white” Internet background, the visual impression and intricacy is sadly lost. Thirdly, D’Arconte “bumps” metallic inks (primarily gold and silver) a second time to give them a rich burnished feel. D’Arconte’s exuberance and workmanship is – in my opinion – several steps in front of the remainder of the field that appears to have problems finding their brand identity and printing quality that simply lacks inspiration.

View and buy D’Arconte Christmas cards online or find an experienced D’Arconte dealer in your neighborhood.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair Holiday Card

Readership of the Stationers Guild Blog are mindful that I have very high regard for D’Arconte’s fabulous engraved holiday cards. Bob D’Arconte is, perhaps, the only artisan in the United States that designs and engraves his own holiday cards, custom invitations and stationery. Plainly an expert of his craft, his cutting-edge designs on stunning papers are plainly little works of art.

For the past several years, I have been overwhelmed by requests from customers trying to find D’Arconte’s holiday cards at stores in their community. Unfortunately, his line of stationery and Christmas cards are not well represented outside of New York City. Other than our own shop in Greenwich, CT, I know that D’Arconte’s holiday cards may be purchased at Gumps in San Francisco, Francis Orr in Corona del Mar (California) and Tabala Rasa in Salt Lake City.

D’Arconte stationery products are not sold on the internet. Mr. D’Arconte has been hesitant to promote his holiday cards on the internet because internet image resolutions are very poor and it is unlikely to capture the subtleties of engraving, particularly on the vibrant white papers he uses. This year, I acquired his agreement to provide you with 18 D’Arconte holiday greeting cards which may be viewed and purchased online. Image resolutions do not do justice to the inherent elegance of these cards; however, those acquainted with D’Arconte’s designs will now have an opportunity to indulge their craving for these stunning works of art.

A word about D’Arconte’s card designs. To begin with, the online images don’t do his holiday cards justice. Engraved paper prints are three-dimensional and both the daring and subtle shapes of his engraved motifs and embossed frames are easily lost in most Internet browsers. Secondly, the lack of color or shade or pronounced “white space” only enhances the attractiveness and balance of his artistic designs. Experienced on a “white” Internet background, the artistic effect and intricacy is regretfully lost. Thirdly, D’Arconte “bumps” metallic inks (primarily gold and silver) a second time to give them a rich burnished feel. D’Arconte’s talent and craftsmanship is – in my opinion – many steps ahead of the rest of the field that appears to have problems finding their brand identity and print quality that simply lacks inspiration.

Take a look at and order D’Arconte holiday cards online or find a qualified D’Arconte dealer in your neighborhood.

Sheila P. May
Founding Member Holiday Greeting Cards

One of the highlights of my year is visiting Bob D’Arconte at his studio in Dumbo (Brooklyn, NY).  Bob does not suffer fools lightly, which is why I always ask Sheila to schedule the appointment.  We normally schedule a meeting in early August to select our holiday card designs, but this year we got overtaken by events (new granddaughter) and, as such, this meeting was a “last minute” attempt to salvage a few boxes of his much sought after holiday cards.

Each year, I try to select a few images that I believe can be faithfully reproduced in a digital format for viewing on the Internet.  I am always sorely disappointed since D’Arconte’s colors, beautifully engraved images and blind-embossed frames and designs simply can’t be properly reproduced in today’s digital medium.  For that I am truly sorry, since his flair and craftsmanship is - in my estimation - several steps ahead of the rest of the field that seems to have difficulty finding their identity in designs and print quality that simply lack inspiration.

Since we arrived late in the year, Bob was already well into formulating his new holiday cards for 2011.  Like all great artists, some of these “new” designs are mutations of earlier efforts, but all were dazzling examples of what an inspired artist can create who fully understands and appreciates the medium he is working with.   In addition to the holiday cards, we had the opportunity to see some of the initial designs of a new line of stationery that incorporates Bob’s unique art deco motifs.  While Bob can clearly visualize the end result of the design and engraved color combinations,  I saw a few geometric shapes and some “scratchings.”   He patiently talked us through his art deco concept and I am more than convinced that a rich stationery treat awaits us next year.

Found below are several holiday card designs featured in this year’s collection.  These cards are engraved on heavy paper stock and are available in only a few leading stores located in major metropolitan centers across the United States.  D’Arconte does not actively promote his stationery or holiday cards preferring to work only with a few qualified stationers and corporate clients who appreciate the uniqueness of his product and are as passionate about service quality as he is.  I mentioned to him that I had received several requests for images and samples of his designs and we agreed that perhaps next year we could throw up a website that would feature some of his remarkable holiday cards and perhaps some stationery.  I realize this doesn’t help those looking for his cards this year, but at least it is a step in the “right” direction.

Close Up of "Joy" Holiday Card

A word about D’Arconte’s designs.  First, the images don’t do his holiday cards justice.  Engraved images are three-dimensional and both the bold and subtle contours of his engraved designs and embossed frames are simply lost in most Internet browsers.  Secondly, the absence of color or pronounced “white space” only enhances the beauty and symmetry of his designs.  Seen on a “white” Internet background, this visual impact and sophistication is sadly lost.   Thirdly, D’Arconte “bumps” metallic inks (primarily gold and silver) twice to give them a rich burnished feel.  As each engraved color is applied in a separate press run, this extra “bump” for metallic inks  requires an additional run.  Trust me.  The impact couldn’t be more stunning.

Please find below two additional holiday card samples.

Richard W. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

Several weeks ago Sheila and I paid a visit to Bob D’Arconte at his studio in DUMBO:  Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass in Brooklyn, NYC.  A visit with Bob is always both entertaining and educational since we are both so very opinionated.   As Sheila frequently remarks, “Rick is often wrong, but never in doubt.”

While D’Arconte’s fine engraved stationery and holiday cards  may not be as well known as Crane or William Arthur, he is a living legend in the stationery industry.  His holiday cards and stationery are unmistakable in their design simplicity and elegance.  His use of white-space and blind-embossing to frame his engraved designs create a three-dimensional feel that, in my opinion, elevates his work to an entirely different level.

I am hesitant to categorize D’Arconte’s style since under his skilled hand almost any object or landscape can easily be transformed into a work of art.  During our visit, D’Arconte was  in the process of engraving a two-colored peach motif onto a fold-over note.  Bob pointed out that the application of one color before the other created a hue that was quite different when the application of the  ink colors was reversed.  Certainly, the close registration printing and color-match required to create desired outcome: an engraved peach that looks almost eatable, is a tribute to Bob’s fine eye and mastery of his craft.

D'Arconte Engraved Christmas Card

Bob will probably slap my hand for including a sample of his new holiday card line because, quite frankly, the low-resolution internet images do not do them justice.  Bob and I had a long discussion on how the internet is destroying the public’s perception of fine stationery.  Neither Bob nor I can understand how anyone would ever consider buying stationery or a custom invitation online without the benefit of touching various papers and seeing how ink colors change depending on the paper stock and printing process.

While this sample image of D’Arconte’s holiday line give you a hint of Bob’s talent, you should make an effort to see these exceptional examples of contemporary engraving in person.  For instance, a snow globe in the  “Snowman in a Snow Globe” is blind-embossed and the outline of the globe is barely perceptible in a low-resolution internet  image.  I have purposely not reproduced the image because I felt it would detract from the elegance of the card.  In one of Bob’s vintage holiday cards, he has the New York skyline engraved in gold strategically placed inside a blind-embossed apple.  The “Big Apple has never looked so beautiful.

The D’Arconte line is not widely available owing to Bob’s desire to work only with experienced stationers who understand and appreciate his product and have the same attention to detail and customer service that he does.

It is indeed a pleasure to spend a few hours with a master craftsman.  Sheila and I were enriched by the experience.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair