e merchant's initials mingled
with a private device and almost invariably a cross, as a protection
against disaster or to distinguish their wares from those of Mohammedan
eastern traders. Early printers used monograms, and they serve to
identify early printed books.

A famous monogram is the interlaced "H.D." of Henry II and Diane de
Poitiers. It appeared lavishly upon every building which Henry II
erected. It was also stamped on the bindings in the royal library, with
the bow, the quiver, and the crescent of Diana.

Monograms and crests on stationery, after a period of disuse, seem to be
coming into favor again. The monograms in the best taste are the small
round ones, though very pleasing designs may be had in the diamond,
square, and oblong shapes. They should not be elaborate, and no
brilliant colors should be used. The stamping is best done in black,
white, dark green, dark blue, gold, or silver. The crest or monogram may
be placed in the centre of the sheet or on the left-hand side about
three quarters of an inch from the top. The address may be in the centre
or at the right-hand side. But, as noted above, to use both addressed
and monogrammed or crested paper is not good taste. The best stationery
seems to run simply to addressed paper.

Crests and monograms should not be used on the envelope. In the matter
of crests and heraldic emblems on stationery and announcements, many
families with authentic crests discontinued their use during the war in
an effort to reduce everything to the last word in simplicity. However,
there are many who still use them. The best engravers will not design
crests for families without the right to use them. But the extreme in
"crests" is the crest which does not mean family at all, but is a device
supposed to give an idea of the art or taste of the individual. For
example, a quill or a scroll may be the basis for such a "crest."

Really no good reason exists why, in default of a family with a crest,
one should not decide to be a crest founder. The only point is that the
crest should not pretend to be something it is not--a hereditary affair.

[Illustration: Specimens of monogrammed stationery]

[Illustration: Specimens of business letterheads]

On the use of crests in stationery one authority says:

As to the important question of crests and heraldic emblems in
our present-day stationery, these are being widely used, but no
crests are made to order where the fam