A new, digital age is upon us–but not all of civilization’s leisurely arts have disappeared. While our days are full of emails, tweets and Facebook posts, there are still some people putting pen to paper, whether to invite guests to a party, share news with friends or thank last night’s hostess for a lovely time.

Justin Felber (chief operating officer) and Henri Richter-Werner (creative director) co-founded Connor just over a year ago. Because they’d both worked at Mrs. John L. Strong– grande dame of Manhattan stationers–they knew from long experience that a small-but-demanding insider’s group of connoisseurs would always require distinctive notecards and writing paper.

What makes this stationer unique is the ability to indulge a client’s wilder flights of fancy–like a maison de couture or Savile Row tailor, Connor offers true bespoke service. The company owns an extensive archive of early-to-mid-20th century copperplate designs (including gorgeous examples of Art Deco initials), and Henri is a talented artist, calligrapher and idea man. If your family already has its own crest, he and his engraving team will render it exquisitely; or, if you prefer to create a brand-new symbol or monogram, he’s prepared to wow you with page after page of original sketches.

Connor stationery is produced by a traditional American printing house, but like so many beautiful–and fashionable–things, the engraving is handled in Paris. Bien sûr! This type of detailed, miniature work is a vanishing art; and it was only in France that Henri and Justin found the craftsmen who could render a rhino’s armored skin or a snake’s tiny scales, in vibrant images the size of cocktail olives. It’s no wonder Connor’s client list reads like a Who’s Who in the realms of society, fashion, publishing and decorating.

You can visit Connor boutiques in Boston, Beverly Hills or New York’s Plaza Shops (in the lower level of The Plaza hotel)–you can also browse bespoke options (which require an approximate turnaround time of 30 days) and ready-made writing sets on the company’s website. But beware! As one of Connor’s clients said upon placing an order for spectacular note cards, “You may have to change the way you live once you own this stationery.”

––Mark Grischke

Photographs courtesy of Connor