Finally checked out the Hester Street Fair in the LES on Saturday after hearing a lot of buzz about the food vendors, and one vendor in particular who makes affordable letterpress business cards while you wait. Richard Meneely has been in the printing business since 1986 and is at Hester Street Fair every Saturday and Sunday this summer. He has a binder where you can choose your card stock, typeface and any other details you’d like on your card.  Then, you write out what goes on the card and how you’d like it laid out on an index card. After he spends some time setting up the plates, and then printing a couple to make sure there are no typos or other errors, he begins the stack of 100 or 200, whichever quantity you would like. And voila, letterpress business cards in about 30 mins!

Coincidentally, last spring I picked up a card at one of my favorite florists, Nicolette Camille, and loved her card. After visiting Richard’s booth, I realized she prints her cards with him as well, so I ended up with something quite similar to the above style.