Addressing envelopes by hand

When I do a lot of envelopes by hand I draw the outline of the envelope on a sheet of bond paper, and rule the lines with the correct spacing right across the paper. Then I stick the envelope onto the bond paper and using a ruler, align it against the red lines and draw lines lightly in pencil where the address will go. I centre the name of the person and stagger the rest.

To centre the names do it as follows: Write the name in your choice of nib size e.g. WmM#4. If it takes up say 10cm, type it in any font (maybe Times Roman Italic) so that the length measures 10cm. It will look over-large, but we are only concerned with length, not x-height.

• Type all the names in a list, one below the other, exactly as they will appear on the envelopes. Ask your client to give it to you like this in alphabetical order. This will make it easier for you and them to double check the envelopes especially if there are over a hundred.
• Centre them on the page.Convert them all to the point size that matched your WmM#4 nib.
• Print the page.
• Draw a vertical line through the middle of the list .
• Fold your list under itself, so that each name sits above where you have to write with the centre lines matching.
• Then match it in length with your Wm #4 nib.

You’ll notice in the example I did the address as a long line and centered both the name and the address. The envelope was big enough for this. You can always offer a scale of charges from one size nib and all in black ink, to this kind of version which makes it much more special.