Followers of the Stationers Guild Blog are mindful that I have great admiration for D’Arconte’s fabulous engraved holiday greeting cards. Bob D’Arconte is, perhaps, the only craftsman in the United States that designs and engraves his own holiday cards, custom invitations and fine stationery. Clearly a master of his profession, his cutting-edge designs on stunning papers are simply little works of art.
For the past several years, I have been inundated by demands from readers trying to obtain D’Arconte’s holiday greeting cards at retailers in their community. Unfortunately, his line of stationery and Christmas cards are not generally available outside of New York City. Other than our own retail store 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 web because internet image resolutions are very poor and it is not possible to record the subtleties of engraving, particularly on the brilliant white card stock he uses. This year, I secured his agreement to offer 18 D’Arconte Christmas cards which may be seen and purchased online. Image resolutions do not do justice to the inherent elegance of these cards; however, those acquainted with D’Arconte’s card designs will now have a chance to indulge their desire for these stunning works of art.
A word about D’Arconte’s designs. To begin with, the internet images don’t do his holiday cards justice. Engraved printing are three-dimensional and both the bold and subdued contours of his engraved artwork and stamped frames are simply missing in most Online browsers. Secondly, the absence of coloring or distinct “white space” only enhances the elegance and proportion of his designs. Looked at on a “white” Internet background, the artistic effect and elegance is sadly lost. Thirdly, D’Arconte “bumps” metallic inks (primarily gold and silver) twice to give them a luxuriant burnished look and feel. D’Arconte’s exuberance and craftsmanship is – in my opinion – several steps in front of the rest of the field that appears to have problems finding their brand identity and print quality which simply lacks energy.
Take a look at and buy D’Arconte Christmas cards online or find a qualified D’Arconte dealer in your neighborhood.
Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair Holiday Card
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