Connor NYC

Superlative hand-engraved stationery

I recently stumbled upon a sleek, elegant stationery brand whose classic yet contemporary designs I have completely fallen for. All Connor NYC’s offerings – including its correspondence paper, cards, place cards and even drinks coasters – are produced at its atelier in France, using custom dies, intricate hand-engraved designs and the world’s finest paper, and then hand-stamped in the US. The results take note writing to a whole other, very opulent level.

I was immediately struck by the exquisitely simple Jupiter cards ($85 for a set of 12) – uniquely oversized in creamy paper and hand-stamped with a raised, tactile copper planet motif. The Celestial cards ($95 for 12) were equally arresting, decorated with a bold gold and green sun/moon icon (which also features on a calendar, $135, complete with a tiny brass easel). Both sets of cards come with tissue-lined envelopes – the former in bright orange, the latter in a delicate nude – and are packaged in Connor’s signature dove-grey boxes and tied with understated grosgrain ribbons. I quickly settled on a box of each; they would make perfect Christmas presents as well as festive missives.

Other lust-worthy designs include Medallion ($85 for 12, pictured) – pearl-coloured cards with copper embellishment, and either contrasting turquoise or complementary green and gold tissue-lined envelopes – and the limited-edition Hand of Fatima cards ($125 for 12). This collaboration with textile designer Madeline Weinrib features a gold icon and hand edging, juxtaposed with a cerise envelope lining. And if you don’t see a design to your liking, Connor also creates bespoke orders.