Epistolary Style

On Saturday, September 29, there is a book signing at Rural Residence that will appeal to anyone has who ever felt nostalgia for the civility of a time when visitors were judged by the quality of their calling cards and correspondents by the elegance of their hand and the quality of their writing paper--a time known to most of us only from reading 19th-century novels. Nancy Sharon Collins, noted designer and stationer to such prestigious clients as the Metropolitan Opera Shop and the Museum of Modern Art, will be signing copies of her book The Complete Engraver, which recounts the history and etiquette of engraved social stationery in America, explores the promise of new visual possibilities, and includes instructional sections that offer tips on letter writing and social stationery etiquette. The book signing takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Rural Residence is located at 316 Warren Street.