The History of Monograms
You love monograms, I love monograms, I think we can all agree they are beautiful and a personal touch to all personalized stationery.
So, where did the monogram come from? When was the first monogram created? Here is a little history for those of you who were wondering where they all began.
Monograms actually first appeared on coins, as early as 350BC. The earliest known examples are of the names of Greek cities who issued the coins, often the first two letters of the city’s name. For example, the monogram of Achaea consisted of the letters alpha (Α) and chi (Χ) joined together.
Monograms have been used as signatures by artists and craftsmen on paintings, sculptures and pieces of furniture, especially when guilds enforced measures against unauthorized participation in the trade. A famous example of a monogram serving as an artist’s signature is the “AD” used by Albrecht Dürer.
An individual’s monogram is often a very fancy piece of art used in heraldry, for stationery, for adorning luggage, for embroidery on clothing, and so forth. These monograms may have two or three letters.
This information was taken from Wikipedia, I hope you enjoyed the History of monograms as much as I did.
Now that you have a new found interest in monograms and custom stationery it’s time to create your own personalized monogrammed note cards.
Shop Giftsin24.com for the largest selection of monogrammed and embossed Notes and Greeting Cards.
Monogrammed Note Cards make wonderful party gifts for friends or family!
Create your custom stationery today
Here are a couple great examples:
Stitched Monogram Agenda Set with Holder
Classing Monogram Bordered Note
RSS Feeds
Jenine Placer -AZ
I bought monogram cards for my sons graduation. They worked out great!
21 February 2012, 10:32 amHeather - Virginia Beach, VA
Try Embossing a Monogram, it’s a really modern and stylish look for stationery, I have seen it in a lot of magazines recently.
21 February 2012, 10:53 amAnne Blanton -- Dallas, TX
I got a set of cards for my birthday. What a fun surprise.
21 February 2012, 12:07 pmDonna Richwine – York, PA
I never quite understood the beauty of a monogram until I finally gave them a shot. I ordered monogrammed stationery a few years ago and originally was unsure that I’d be happy with them. However the more I used them the more I began to appreciate the elegant way it displayed my initials. This was a very interesting blog to read. Keep up the good work and keep informing more people of these types of subjects.
21 February 2012, 1:09 pmGina Taylor - Virginia Beach, VA
The Monograms are very classy. They look nice on wedding reception napkins too, My friend ordered them last year for her big day.
21 February 2012, 2:20 pmPaulette Leto
Learning the history of monograms was quite interesting! Thanks for posting that!
I like monogrammed stationery and napkins as well. My favorite of the designs available here is the Firenze monogram note, which I think is fancy but quite beautiful.
21 February 2012, 2:54 pmMic Schweik -- Columbus, OH
Not so much into these, I think they are feminine looking. I prefer the printed stationery with the full name customized on them.
21 February 2012, 3:40 pmRachel Marie -- Boston, MA
Mic,
21 February 2012, 4:25 pmhave you seen the Metro party napkins? Those are really manly.. if that’s what you are looking for.
Hilma Conger
The monogram history lesson was a fun read. I didn’t realize people made monograms thousands of years ago.
When it comes to monogrammed stationery, I like the less flashy designs a bit better. The more intricate monogram designs seem s bit gaudy and overblown to me. I prefer simpler designs like the Circle Monogram note over the ones with the fancier script.
I would still give the fancier kind of monogrammed stationery as a gift though, depending on who I was buying it for. If I thought they might enjoy the fancy, curved lettering of the monogram over something a bit easier to read and (dare I say it) more practical, then that’s what I would get for them.
21 February 2012, 4:55 pmHenry B. Springs
Monograms make a bold personal statement. There are very bold ways of building an identity, a brand image that goes all the way back to ancient Greece, around 350 B.C. They were first used as abbreviations for city’s names. Then they were embossed on towels garments, furniture, stationery and other personal belongings to signify ownership and origin. As monograms have evolved they have become more of a way of identifying a personality, an image, an identity. They say if you surround yourself with beautiful things then your world becomes the extent of that beauty, that much more beautiful. Creating an identity an identity becomes that much more real when you select a bright bold Monogram, any form that makes a personal statement. We offer 124 Best Selling Cards and Notes. Make an original statement with Flourish Notes, Classic Frame Monograms, Classic Monogram Bordered, Sienna Monogram and Monogram Cards and Notes. Create your own custom monogram today, create one for someone else. Make over the world in wonderfully, printed, embossed or scripted monograms, one special card at a time.
Delight in Classic Bordered Monograms, Banner, Caprice, Notable Notes, Paris Monogram Notes, Constance Cards and Three Initial Monogram Notes to light up your days and fill your nights with great reflections, memories that you know so well. Monogrammed Pads and Agendas can say so many meaningful things in so few or so many, many ways. When you aren’t sure of the words or the bars of the song choose our stationery and let it lead you to your own musical accompaniment, your own original verse to accompany the Monogram Note or Card that really makes your message clear. Monograms can light up the moment, light up the night and create a feeling of allure around any message you’ve reached out with.
” Personality is essential. It is in every work of art. When someone walks on stage for a performance and has charisma, everyone is convinced that he has personality. I find that charisma is merely a form of showmanship. Movie stars usually have it. A politician has to have it. ” Personalized Stationery always has it.”
Writer: Lukas Foss
21 February 2012, 5:45 pmJenna Allen
When I browsed the napkins section, I was amazed to see the variety. Personalized napkins can be virtually used for any event. My cousin just finished his Quran recitation, a ceremony that is highly celebrated for a Muslim. We got him the Metro Foiled Napkins with his initials embossed. The guests loved it.
21 February 2012, 6:38 pmChloe Sullivan
The Metro Foiled Stamped Napkins are a thing of beauty. Rich in color and texture, brightens up the whole event.
21 February 2012, 6:39 pmAshley Evans
Those napkins also great for graduation gift sets. I also liked the Graduation Bundle Set that comes with an elegant pen, stationery set. Great investment.
21 February 2012, 6:42 pmSamantha Joans
Great article, monograms really give a beautiful impression in any sort of stationery and napkins.
21 February 2012, 7:28 pmWriter4life
I really liked the Tribute Napkins. It is very creative and adds a personal touch at your wedding reception
21 February 2012, 7:52 pmAmanda Jones
Coins in 350BC, so this was around for a while. Fascinating article to say the least.
21 February 2012, 8:01 pmHenry B. Springs
Monograms made a big comeback last year. Yeah, you know the world couldn’t resist another royal wedding, the wedding of the millennium, a fairy tale come true. As the ceremony drew near royal monograms abounded. Believe it or not the wedding prompted a monogram design contest. Of course monograms showed up in every aspect of the stationery and a number of variations sold to the boundless of newlywed imitators: Personalized Napkins, Invitations, Place cards and Programs. The anticipation, pomp and circumstance translated into monogrammed wedding cake plates, candle holders, wedding bells, commemorative magnates and gold plated coins, key rings, pennants and fluted champagne glasses as well as Prince William & Catherine Barbie Dolls. I don’t think the dolls were monogrammed but everything else surely fit into place. Their eight tier wedding cake was covered with cream and white icing their monogram and 900 sugar paste flowers.
Monograms are symbolic of bold, distinctive personal statements that carry over from your business to personal agenda. Whether you use one of our traditional or more modern styles of monograms the emphasis on the distinctive, the regal and perhaps the importance of the message and the occasion rings through. I’m sure there was no debate over whether to use Classic Frame Monogram or Monogram Bordered Cards at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding but the use of the monogram sparked a fuse that will carry over to this year’s spring weddings as well. You certainly will have your Personalized Napkins and Guest Towels as well as programs. Will you try Sienna Monogram Notes to remind everyone on your list of your annual wine and cheese tasting party in April or do you think you’ll need something more formal? Remember the style statement you make in the beginning will be the bouquet that guests flock to find out if the occasion does indeed meet the invitations expectations.
“Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do.” If a monogram can do the trick then that is indeed the ticket.
Writer: Oq Mandino
21 February 2012, 8:05 pmGiftsin24Staff
Another interesting thing about monogramming is the fact that during the 19th and Early 20th Centuries, when the rules for three-letter monograms were created, it would have been fairly easy to decide which letters represented which parts of an individual’s name. This tradition continues to be in style today.
21 February 2012, 8:55 pmAshley Evans
Just curious, did any of you guys purchase the monogrammed note pads. I wanted some feedback on that product. I am trying to add a little variety to my office stationery and feel that I should be unique in what I order.
22 February 2012, 12:12 amLinda Mills
Rest assure those are awesome as well. I find that with so much selection, a girl must add a little sass in her stationery. The paper quality is amazing quality and the design was even better. 5 out of 5 stars.
22 February 2012, 12:14 amJennifer Allen
Monogrammed napkins are awesome too. I just browsed through the category and loved all the items.
22 February 2012, 12:50 amJeff Harvey
I never knew monograms were as old as that! It’s funny to imagine the ancient Greeks and Romans putting monograms on things.
I definitely think monogrammed stationery is making a comeback. It’s just too stylish not to use. And I know from my own experience that monogrammed napkins are a great way to make a statement.
22 February 2012, 1:07 am