Editor's Letters
April 27, 2026 •
Here Comes the Sun(flower)
One of the many, many reasons I love trade shows and stationery fests is that I get to interact with my fellow paper nerds. Whether they own a store, are a maker or just a paper devotee, it’s always a treat to be in the same physical space, as opposed to the usual digital one.
This past Pi Day, AKA March 14, I had another chance to interact with an ancillary category of paper lovers: stamp lovers! This year, the Garfield-Perry March Stamp Party was also a First Day of Issue Ceremony for the Sunflowers new Forever Stamp. I was even asked to say a few words!
While there is a huge overlap between lovers of stamps and lovers of stationery, the aim of my two minutes 30 seconds was to underscore the importance of these “jewels of the envelope” as they deliver cards and letters. A portion of my script is excerpted below:
“During the COVID-19 lockdown, I realized that the first viewing of every mailed missive is what I call ‘a red carpet moment,’ in which, of course, the stamp plays a starring role.
“There, peeking out from between a bill and a direct mail catalog, is a precious handassembled beauty. Someone who loves you took the time to pick out just that card, write just that message, dig up your address, affix a special stamp upon it and send it on a journey direct to your doorstep. However, that card did not just require a sender, an artist, a printer and a retail store to come to you, it also required the coordination and cooperation of our mighty postal service. All this, just so a humble card could appear on your doorstep at the exact right time to wish you, say, a most happy birthday.
“So cheers to this beautiful design officially coming into the world today and the countless heartfelt messages of love that it will quietly shepherd. Both will never wither.”
As much as I typically focus on what goes in the envelope, what’s outside is clearly valuable as well. Deep thanks to the Greeting Card Association and United States Postal Service for letting me be part of this incredible Stamp Party!
Until next issue,
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