Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

CSwanc — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 15:10:18 -0000

Great history article! I was looking for articles on how to meet women and I found this to be most helpful. I'm gonna try it!

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

lucy cadwallader — Fri, 16 May 2014 12:18:02 -0000

It is refreshing to see Victorian customs reborn. In our fast paced society, it is comforting to know people/gentlemen still care about past traditions. This article was very helpful while I prepared for an upcoming Victorian Tea.
Thank you

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Carrie — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 19:08:10 -0000

What about calling cards for modern ladies?

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Daniel — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:13:16 -0000

I've used calling cards for years. It started my senior year of high school when I got my graduation package. Included were small cards with my name which were meant to be included in the announcements. I ended up having quite a bit of cards left over and simply wrote my number on the back before I'd go out for the evening. I haven't asked someone for their number in about twenty years. After chatting for a while, at a bar, housev party, cafe, bookstore, etc... I hand them a card and ask if they'd call me or say something to the likes of If you'd like to go out sometime. By this point they know I'm interested and unless they're vying for an Oscar I pretty much know if they're interested as well. If im wrong it saves face or putting them in uncomfortable situation of shooting me down. I've used a local printer when times afford and vista print when they didn't and trimmed them down slightly. Also, I carry both Calling and Business since you never know who you'll meet and want to look professional to potential business contacts, but not so boastful to someone you're interested in.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Angela Floyd — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:03:50 -0000

What a wonderful piece of writing! I was reading an Oscar Wilde stage play entitled "An Ideal Husband" and there was a portion of dialogue about leaving a card. That led me to search for the significance of leaving a card...which led me to your site. The world belongs to those who create. Thank you. Consider committing some of your creations to paper. Being a lover of history, I worry about what will be lost in this digital world.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Toni — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 04:56:52 -0000

Thank you for the informative article! I used to use callings cards while a college student, and reading your article makes me want to order some--just because.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Jerry — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 17:05:25 -0000

I have and continue to use personal "calling" cards. So often in todays world our jobs are in "transition". How tacky to use your old business card with everything scratched out. further, if gainfully employed, a personal card is so much more - dare I say it - personal.

@Sharon - albeit 5 years late - Barry is hitting on you!!

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Renee — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:46:41 -0000

It almost seems like everyone these days has a generic calling card! I was at a conference not long ago, and I was given few dozen cards, and I can't say there was a lot of originality shown!

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Matt — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:09:55 -0000

Splendid! I enjoyed reading this article. As a designer, there are so many avenues to explore when it comes to creating business and calling cards. However, I've always been partial to letterpress. This is the embossed effect when the physical typeface sorts are pressed into your card during the printing process. Definitely will set your card apart from the crowd in an elegant way. I found a website that specializes in this technique. http://www.letterpress-call... I am going to give them a try and post again with the results. Also for those interested in learning a bit more about letterpress, youtube has a great little documentary on the subject. http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Kind regards,
Matt

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Clayton E. Blackburn — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:12:24 -0000

Crane has wonderful products. Unfortunately, as far as I've been able to determine, the company no longer produces engraved calling cards. I maintain the engraving plate they prepared for me 17 years ago so guess I could obtain more engraved cards from Dempsey & Carroll.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Webster — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:54:25 -0000

I checked out American Stationary because you noted that they are inexpensive, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they have over thirty designs (not all "manly", though).

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Just Press Print | Business ca — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:52:17 -0000

Business cards have been arount for ages. They keep changing with the times. Now adding your social bookmark sites has become very popular.

Great Written blog!

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Paulo — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:21:33 -0000

I'm implementing this one! Great concept!

Paulo Caldeira
paulocaldeira.wordpress.com

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Poster Printing Atlanta — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:54:12 -0000

Great List!

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Elizabeth Pfeiffer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:04:02 -0000

Great list, but I am partial to Fine Arts Engraving, myself ;) We've been doing personal and professional stationery for over 75 years.

I think calling cards are a great idea. How many people have blogs / facebook accounts / twitter names / etc. They say that print is dead, but I believe that social media is only making it have a resurgence!

On a personal note, a calling card beats the heck out of a bar napkin anyday!

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Rick Glaser — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:55:15 -0000

Hey great list there. Those are some of the top companies helping people get the professional look they need. What about wellsdrew.com I didn't see them listed there, and think they are the best when it comes to styles such as engraving.

Thanks!

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Nubclub — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:32:22 -0000

I never thought in my wildest dreams that I ever have a reason to even have a title, much less an actual calling card to put it on, untill I went into business for myself. Now that I do, I can't keep enough of 'em. They're great for professional AND personal needs.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Ted Westrick — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:30:07 -0000

In addition to reading and loving this entry, I decided to take the frugal route and make my own calling cards. I used a modified business card template on my computer's program "Pages" and printed it on heavy paper. I glued the full sheet of paper to another identical (albeit blank) sheet, pressed it while it dried, then used a straightedge and an exacto-knife to cut them (almost perfectly) square. Done. (Showed them to a buddy, and he thought I had sent away for professionally made business cards.) The whole thing costs two sheets of heavy paper and some glue, giving me 10 calling cards.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Anthony — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:06:37 -0000

I think the Best business cards are from http://www.acceptprint.com/

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Matt — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:50:50 -0000

Does anybody know anything about the engraving process? A group of friends and I would like to start making calling cards, and we are wondering what kind of machinery (if any) you need. There seems to be little information about the actual process on the internet, unfortunately.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Dario Paolini — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:32:37 -0000

If only I could simply tell people not to bother me again by sending my calling card in an envelope! Life would be so simple :)

On a serious note though, the design of the traditional calling card is a great thing to look back on as inspiration for the modern version of such a device. I will certainly be looking at how I can incporporate this elegance in my future designs...

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Joshua Winkler — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:39:46 -0000

Barry,

I have to say, I'm impressed. This article was pointed out to me in January, because the mention of our company is neither bad nor entirely good, and it peaked my interest, as did the entire premise of this site.

Since then, not only have I read a great deal more of the posts and comments on this site and others that are linking to it, I asked around and got our designers to come up with a few more calling card designs for men.

Similar to a few of the previous commentors, I'm someone who handed out business cards to everyone, regardless of the situation, and since it now occurs to me that a personal calling card would be much more appropriate on many occasions... I submit myself, convinced...and I have our new Suit of Armor cards in a card case in my coat pocket at all times. ;)

Congrats on the great article and thanks for pointing out a hole we could fill. More designs coming soon!

Joshua Winkler
American Stationery

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Giftsin24 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:03:52 -0000

What a wonderful piece this is indeed!! Personally, it is lovely to see some of the time honored and traditional formalities of civiliaztion returning.
As manufacturers of < personalized stationery, calling cards, like actual letter writing are newly appreciated and special becasue of their rariety.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

Bruce Williamson — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:55:20 -0000

I use calling cards all of the time. Not for calling but for providing contact information to people that I've met. Using my business card always seemed incorrect when I was not in a business setting. So I make my own with different information on them. Some have my full address and all contact infomation. Another version has my cell and e-mail and the last version has just my e-mail. They're kept in order so that I don't have to fumble for the correct version. Macy's and JC Penny both sell card cases but only online. They are small metal boxes which keep the cards in better condition than the plastic or leather credit card wallets.

Re: The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card

melina — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:59:02 -0000

I would love for calling cards to become popular again. I do like the old Victorian ones :-)