Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1885 — HERALDRY AT HOME. [ARTICLE]

HERALDRY AT HOME.

Insignia Emblazoned on Republican Stationery —Chat with an Engraver. “What are heraldic devices?” was the question repeated by one of Boston’s most fashionable engtavers. “They are,” he continued, “simply badges of honor granted by a king to bis subjects. They are granted to warriors, statesmen, doctors, artists, scientists, etc., for eminence or public service. There is at present a great rage among the upper crust for seals in the form of autographs, initials, crests, and odd ideas such as dogs, cats, owls, horseshoes, etc. One who wishes to be quite com me ilfaut as regards stationery must have his residence engraved on a steel die and stamped in colors on the upper right hand corner of the sheet, and in the centre of the flaps of the envelope; one and one-fourth inches from the point —using a seal to close the envelope.” “What is now' the most fashionable paper?” “Among the ultra fashionable light shades are the thing—as pinks, grays and creams—having the appearance of being hammered (like silver), or with a grain imitating woven linen. Hotpressed and hand-made papers are still in vogue, and largely used by the best people. A large proportion of this paper is stamped in colors from dies that have been in use from five to ten years. There is a craze among yacht owners to have their paper illuminated iu gold and colors lrom designs combining their own flags with flags of the different yacht clubs they, belong to. Some of tlie paper illuminated jn this way costs as high as 30 cents a sheet, and envelopes to match the same. Among the Boston gentlemen who haye dies of this description are William F. Weld, Georgs Warren, and George W. Weld. Speaking of odd devices in seals, here is ene I made recently for a gentleman named Hatton. It is, you see, a tall hat, with ‘ton’ beneath it. Here is a cat coiled up on the letter T. I made that for a gentleman named Tekat. In monograms the rage is for heraldic tigers, wyverns, snakes, etc., designed to form initials. Many designs, too, are engraved from ideas originating with skiKed penmen, who design ladies’ Christian names without taking pen from paper. They are usually so difficult for an ordinary observer to read that they are known as cipher monograms.- Look at this.” The one referred to read Caroline, and both commenced and ended with the initial letter. It required the most careful study to decipher it, but when once read appeared comparatively plain. “How about coats-of-arms?” “They are becoming very popular all over the United States, and deservedly so. Is it not the most natural thing in the world for a young man to take pleasure in thus recalling a long line of creditable ancestry? As far as the present heraldic artists are able to trace, there are the scions of many illustrious families now residing in Boston.”—Boston Globe.