In this age of emails, texts, and instant messages, receiving a letter has become a rare treat. Engraved stationery can make a piece of correspondence, whether a short note, formal letter, or business card, even more special. Once an integral part of social life, the use of engraved stationery has become a lost art. In The Complete Engraver, author Nancy Sharon Collins brings this venerable craft to life-from the history and etiquette of engraved social stationery in America to its revival and promise of new visual possibilities. Illustrated with gorgeous, original specimens of social stationery, calling cards, and monograms, The Complete Engraver also includes an instructional section that walks the reader through the engraving process and the steps required to commission engraving work today.
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"Today, Nancy Sharon Collins brings crisp wit and undying love to one of history's most spirited printing processes. As the letterpress revival grips designers in its leaden thrall, we might ready ourselves to receive engraving's lighter touch." - Ellen Lupton
"While many designers enjoy the letterpress renaissance, Nancy champions the more involved process of metal engraving. The results can be transcendent: intricate, expressive work imbued with very fine hatching, capable of subtle figural beauty." -- Uppercase
" Filled with beautiful images... some of the notes on etiquette are pretty amusing... and some are quite useful." -- Bust magazine
"A wonderful surprise of a book... a terrific introduction to the terminology and processes that can seem complicated to those who were raised in a primarily digital design environment... abundantly illustrated and [Collins's] timeline of engraving, from Gutenberg (who dabbled in copperplate engraving) to today's specialty engravers is clear and useful." -- Fine Books & Collections
"An approachable, interesting, and compelling read... Collins is erudite. The Complete Engraver is a welcome addition to the canon of design history." -- I Love Typography
"Known for her luxurious stationery designs, which are witty, chic and thoughtful...Collins is something of a crusader for the art of engraving, and her fervor has produced a lively book called The Complete Engraver." -- T: The New York Times Style Magazine
"While many designers enjoy the letterpress renaissance, Nancy champions the more involved process of metal engraving. The results can be transcendent: intricate, expressive work imbued with very fine hatching, capable of subtle figural beauty." -- Uppercase
" Filled with beautiful images... some of the notes on etiquette are pretty amusing... and some are quite useful." -- Bust magazine
"A wonderful surprise of a book... a terrific introduction to the terminology and processes that can seem complicated to those who were raised in a primarily digital design environment... abundantly illustrated and [Collins's] timeline of engraving, from Gutenberg (who dabbled in copperplate engraving) to today's specialty engravers is clear and useful." -- Fine Books & Collections
"An approachable, interesting, and compelling read... Collins is erudite. The Complete Engraver is a welcome addition to the canon of design history." -- I Love Typography
"Known for her luxurious stationery designs, which are witty, chic and thoughtful...Collins is something of a crusader for the art of engraving, and her fervor has produced a lively book called The Complete Engraver." -- T: The New York Times Style Magazine
About the Author
Nancy Sharon Collins is a typographer, print history scholar, partner in Collins, LLC, AIGA New Orleans director of special projects and a member of adjunct faculty at Loyola University, New Orleans. She maintains three blogs and her own website. Collins owned and operated the graphic design studio Nancy Feldman in New York City from 1978 to 2004. Clients included Williams Sonoma, Waterford, Wedgwood, Clinique, Prescriptives, Revlon, Charles of the Ritz, Curve fragrance, the Metropolitan Opera Shop and the Museum of Modern Art.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By S. Ulanoff
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Complete Engraver is an engaging book, rich with well chosen historical and current examples of the fine art of engraving. The excellent layout draws the reader into the subject, including special sections on the etiquette of actually using engraved notes. The section about font design is fascinating. Reading this book makes me want to return to the golden days of handwritten invitations and letters, on my very own bespoke stationery with my specially designed cipher in the upper corner, of course. I wonder if Ms. Collins has a how-to about elegant handwriting in the works?
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Complete Engraver." More than that, I loved seeing all of the examples Nancy Collins shared with her readers. I expected this to be more technically written than it is. Rather, it is very accessible for those of us who secretly (or not so secretly) long for the not so distant past, when letters were the social and business means of communication. More than that, she makes engraving personal, and her interests, sensibilities, and expertise show throughout. "The Complete Engraver" leads us through the history of engraving, its uses, the fine design it allows, and of course the etiquette of social stationery. I learned a lot and am richer for reading the book and viewing the graphics and typefaces.
Ms. Collins clearly loves the subject of engraving and the tactile enjoyment that comes from fine monograms, crests, ciphers, and seals. Her interest and expertise in design shine through in every detail, down to the very complete notes and typeface she chose for the book. If you have interest in the history of type and engraving, and in the history of social media, read this book.
Ms. Collins clearly loves the subject of engraving and the tactile enjoyment that comes from fine monograms, crests, ciphers, and seals. Her interest and expertise in design shine through in every detail, down to the very complete notes and typeface she chose for the book. If you have interest in the history of type and engraving, and in the history of social media, read this book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By cthomas
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ms. Collins obviously loves the art of engraving and it shows throughout her book. The book is well designed and I love just holding it and leafing through the pages. Attention to detail is evident. I especially enjoyed reading about the history of social stationary and seeing Ms. Collins' own monograms. I was particularly fascinated with the etiquette of mourning stationary and how it was used. Every young lady and gentleman should be made to read this as part of their coming out ritual.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Stationers and the engravings which accompany then will be part of the refuse from the Internet age. so I am hanging onto my days in classes learning caligraphy, engraving, etc. Days of Yore.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An exquisitely crafted homage to the author's life's work, accessible to both experts/practitioners and newcomers, The Complete Engraver is indeed a labor of love.
6 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By K Hasty
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really wanted to love this book. The title was intriguing and a couple of my favorite blogs had lovely things to say about the author. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to its billing. The Complete Engraver reads like a dry scholarly monograph without ever reaching for the depth that makes such books worth the hard slog to the last page. The illustrations are primarily from author's own collection, so if you wonder what her initials [NSC] would look like in a variety of engraving styles or you are particularly interested in the history of social stationery in and around New Orleans, you may well find this work fascinating. That said,the printing, binding and layout are all exceptional. It has the appearance a of truly interesting book, but lacks some essential spark to make it all come together.
I cringe knowing that the author will see this review, but truly, I cannot recommend this book.
I cringe knowing that the author will see this review, but truly, I cannot recommend this book.
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