Calling cards

[JSFMACLJR]

I most certainly do have--and use-- social calling cards!

I have two:
1. "Mr. John Sandford Fleming MacLean, junior"
2. "Mr. and Mrs. John Sandford Fleming MacLean, Jr."

Contrary to what my learned friend MacMillan of Rathdown wrote, I use the title "Mr." on my card, as this is the form dictated by Emily Post and Amy Vanderbilt in ages past! It is also an accepted British usage, as well (viz. Manners and Rules of Good Society, or Solecisms to be Avoided, written by "A Member of the Aristocracy" in 1913! I cannot locate my Debretts Correct Usage book at the moment to see a more current British opinion!

M o R is correct, though, from a purely Scottish point of view. Chiefs and lairds most certainly would NOT use Mr.! As an armiger, perhaps I should get a card engraved as simply "Sandford MacLean." Since good engraved cards are not cheap, I can hold off on this little extravagence.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I most certainly do have--and use-- social calling cards!

I have two:
1. "Mr. John Sandford Fleming MacLean, junior"
2. "Mr. and Mrs. John Sandford Fleming MacLean, Jr."

Contrary to what my learned friend MacMillan of Rathdown wrote, I use the title "Mr." on my card, as this is the form dictated by Emily Post and Amy Vanderbilt in ages past! It is also an accepted British usage, as well (viz. Manners and Rules of Good Society, or Solecisms to be Avoided, written by "A Member of the Aristocracy" in 1913! I cannot locate my Debretts Correct Usage book at the moment to see a more current British opinion!

M o R is correct, though, from a purely Scottish point of view. Chiefs and lairds most certainly would NOT use Mr.! As an armiger, perhaps I should get a card engraved as simply "Sandford MacLean." Since good engraved cards are not cheap, I can hold off on this little extravagence.

Generally speaking Mr. is usually avoided as it is used for the most junior ranks in the armed services of the United States. (One is Mister John Smith, not Second Lieutenant John Smith.)

And, since you are most definitely an armiger, Sandford MacLean, Esq. would be elegantly correct!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

What about if the buckle & strap includes the designation An Cìrean Ceann-cinnidh? [

T.

Technically this is the only way in which a clan member may display the buckle and strap on note paper or calling cards. However, I would advise against doing it.

By the time the buckle and strap are reduced to 10mm (about a third of an inch) An Cirean Ceann Cinnidh, which must be displayed immediately adjacent to the buckle and strap, becomes virtually unreadable. One also needs to add "member of clan X" in a second, smaller line, under the buckle and strap.

Now this is fine and dandy if, under one's name, there is a second, smaller, line that reads: "Convenor of Clan X" or "President, Baltimore Clan X Society" or some such. But in this instance the card has become a "business" card, promoting the activity of a clan society, and ceases to be a social card.

A social card needs to supply only three things-- one's name, one's address, and (if one so chooses) a private telephone number.

[RB51]

I'm curious MoR if convention, in the case of my first name, Laurie, could be bent a bit to allow the use of Mr. I often get mail adressed to me as if I am female, and while that is not the end of the earth it does add an explanatory step. On a social card it would be far easier to use Mr. than to introduce if not confusion, at least uncertainty.

Laurie

[Livingston]

I'm curious MoR if convention, in the case of my first name, Laurie, could be bent a bit to allow the use of Mr. I often get mail adressed to me as if I am female, and while that is not the end of the earth it does add an explanatory step. On a social card it would be far easier to use Mr. than to introduce if not confusion, at least uncertainty.

Laurie

I would think that you could use first initial and middle name instead.


And, I should mention that I use my card mainly as a quasi business card while discussing possible jobs during my job hunt.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'm curious MoR if convention, in the case of my first name, Laurie, could be bent a bit to allow the use of Mr. I often get mail adressed to me as if I am female, and while that is not the end of the earth it does add an explanatory step. On a social card it would be far easier to use Mr. than to introduce if not confusion, at least uncertainty.

Laurie

Sure, if you feel that, under the circumstances, it makes for better social interaction then go ahead and do it. My friend Leslie Arthur Johnstone side-stepped the issue by including his middle name on his cards for that exact reason.

[Leprechaun 91]

I have had "calling cards" since I began college. I too have "Business Cards" but I use my calling cards for personal contacts. I too find it better than finding a pen. It is also lee lokely to be misplaced by the recipient. Simply because it is not the norm to receive a professionally printed card from a personal contact.

[Galician]

Hmmm, how do I phrase this? What standing do these arms have for public display within the U.S.?

[macwilkin]

Hmmm, how do I phrase this? What standing do this arms have for public display within the U.S.?

There is nothing contradictory in being a citizen of the United States and being an armiger. You might want to read the primer on the American Heraldry Society's web site:

http://americanheraldry.org/pages/in...n=Primer.Page1

It clears up a number of myths and misconceptions about the use of heraldry in the United States.

While the US does not have a heraldic authority such as Scotland, England or Ireland, the arms granted to Americans via those bodies are legitimate arms.

T.

[RB51]

A very interesting link...thanks, Todd, for passing it along. And thanks to all for sharing your thoughts and info; I'm going to have to hie on over to Staples, get some card stock and start printing.

Laurie