Engraving and Die Stamping

Without a doubt, hand engraved die-stamped stationery is second to none! Working from copperplates and steel dies, the most beautiful and distinctive form of printing can be produced.

Engraving developed rapidly in the 1500s, and by the end of the 17th century it had achieved something akin to rock-star status. Artists such as Dürer, Carracci and the world-famous French engraver Robert Nanteuil, gradually developed a set of techniques that allowed engraving to rival the best of painting and sculpture.

In the beginning, all work was done by hand. The image was carefully hand-cut into a metal plate by expert craftsmen. Nowadays, the image is often engraved into a steel die or copper plate, then acid-etched after photographic exposure.

Whatever the method, the beauty of engraved stationery is an exact reflection of the skill of the craftsman who does the work. If, as is often the case, he is a person with a talent and a keen eye, and if he has spent years in training and practice, then the work that comes from his bench will be of great and obvious beauty.

When it comes to those important, once-in-a-lifetime occasions, all authorities agree that the situation demands the use of engraved invitations, announcements, and the like. Social and business stationery properly designed and engraved will always command respect.