In addition to promoting the art of calligraphy, the Graceful Envelope Contest celebrates the role of letters in binding people together. The contest was created in 1995 by the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum, which administered it until delegating responsibility to the Washington Calligraphers Guild in 2001. We are proud to sponsor the contest.
Themes & Winning Envelopes
2024
Mapping the World's Cities
With the theme Mapping the World's Cities, the 2024 Graceful Envelope Contest challenged artists to select a location and convey its unique attributes that put it “on the map.” Then—using artistry, lettering and the integration of postage stamps—capture the spirit of the special place.
Judging the 2024 contest were US State Department calligrapher Samantha Singson, professional calligrapher and art educator Nahid Tootoonchi and professional calligrapher/illustrator Lubna Zahid.
2023
Fan Mail
The 2023 theme, Fan Mail, resonated with artists of all ages anxious to capture the visual attention of their heroes and heroines, living or dead. Winners were selected based on hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
Entries were juried by Suzanne Cunningham, a professional calligrapher with over 27 years of experience; Lindsey Bugbee, the calligrapher behind The Postman’s Knock, a resource for pointed pen; and Patrick Dea of Edelweiss Post, celebrating and promoting "real mail."
People’s Choice winner, chosen by Penny Post patrons: Karen Burgess
2022
Greetings & Salutations
Artists were challenged to capture on an envelope Greetings & Salutations -- the magic of beginning to read (or write) a personal letter. Winners were selected based on hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
Entries were juried by Becky Larimer, White House calligrapher, and Jennifer Nicholson, State Department Presidential Commissions.
People’s Choice winner, chosen by Penny Post patrons: Christy Robb.
2020-2021
Double Vision
The theme Double Vision was inspired by the year 2020, because only once a century does the year double up. But the Covid-19 pandemic halted WCG's normal contest schedule and the deadline was extended to March 2021. Artists were challenged to capture on an envelope whatever they see in their personal Double Vision.
Adult entries were juried by current and retired White House Chief Calligraphers Lee Ann Clark and Pat Blair and professional calligrapher/illustrator Lubna Zahid. The three Student divisions were judged by professional calligraphers and art educators Susan Easton, Nahid Tootoonchi and Rebecca Solow.
People’s Choice winner, selected by Penny Post patrons: Dorota Dylska.
2019
Put Your Stamp On It
View Honorable Mentions
Grades 9-12 Winners
Grades 5-8 Winners
Grades 1-4 Winners
The 2019 theme, Put Your Stamp On It, celebrates 25 years of the Graceful Envelope Contest and 125 years of US commemorative stamps.
Artists were challenged to create an envelope commemorating anything of their choosing--to Put Their Stamp On It. Winners were selected based on hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
Adult entries were juried by retired White House Chief Calligrapher Pat Blair and professional calligraphers Sammy Little and Erin Cassidy. The three Student divisions were judged by professional calligraphers and art educators Kacie-Linn Engle, Susan Easton and Nahid Tootoonchi.
2018
Whatever the Weather
The 2018 theme, "Whatever the Weather," challenged artists to summon a brainstorm to capture what’s outside their window—or outside the box—to design a winning envelope and address it artistically. Winners were chosen based on hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
The 24th annual Graceful Envelope Contest was juried by professional calligraphers Gilda Penn and Felecia McBride, and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic artist Michael Shea.
2017
Pushing the Envelope
The 2017 theme, "Pushing the Envelope," challenged artists to create an envelope that promotes the exchange of letters and/or "pushes the envelope" artistically. Winners were chosen based on hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
The 23rd annual Graceful Envelope Contest was juried by professional calligraphers Sammy Little, whose clients include the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court, Mary Lou O'Brian, owner of Special Awards calligraphy studio, and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic artist Michael Shea.
2016
Communication
The 2016 theme, "Communication," challenged artists to create an envelope to illustrate any mode of communication and address it artistically. Winners were chosen based on hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
The 22nd annual Graceful Envelope Contest was juried by professional calligraphers Sammy Little, whose clients include the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court, Mary Lou O'Brian, owner of Special Awards calligraphy studio, and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic artist Michael Shea.
2015
There's No Place Like Home
The 2015 theme, "There's No Place Like Home," challenged artists to create an envelope to illustrate what home means to them and address it artistically. Winners were chosen based on hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
The 21st annual Graceful Envelope Contest was juried by professional calligraphers Maureen Squires and Marta Legeckis and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic artist Michael Shea.
2014
The Superlative Letter S
The 2014 theme, "The Superlative Letter S," challenged artists to find the Essence of S by symbolizing some sentiment starting with the letter S. Winners were chosen based on artistic hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
The 20th annual Graceful Envelope Contest was juried by White House Chief Calligrapher Pat Blair, former Letter Arts Review editor Rose Folsom and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic designer Michael Shea.
2013
A World of Change
The 2013 theme, "A World of Change," challenged artists to ponder a change from the past or look into the future to the kind of change they would like to see in the world. Winners were chosen based on artistic hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).
The 19th annual Graceful Envelope Contest was juried by professional calligraphers Christine Tischer and Gilda Penn and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic designer Michael Shea.
2012
D-liver D-letter
D-sooner D-better
The 2012 theme, "D-liver D-letter D-sooner D-better," saluted the nation's letter carriers, who D-liver 170 billion pieces of mail each year. Entrants were urged to design an envelope around anything that begins with the letter "D" and address it artistically. Judges looked for skill in lettering, effective use of color and design, and creative interpretation of the theme.
The 18th annual Graceful Envelope Contest was juried by a trio of professional artists: designer and calligrapher Lee Ann Clark; calligrapher and illustrator Tamara Stoneburner; and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic designer Michael Shea.
2011
Time Flies
Junior Winners
Children's Winners
This year's theme, TIME FLIES, was inspired by the 35th anniversary of the Washington Calligraphers Guild. Entrants were urged to design an envelope that "explores good times, quality time, the times of our lives, time travel, or any other idea you have time to develop" and address it artistically. A trio of judges looked for skill in lettering, effective use of color and design, and creative interpretation of the theme: professional calligrapher Peggy Schiefelbein, whose clients include the National Gallery of Art, Freer and Sackler Galleries of the Smithsonian and the Folger Shakespeare Library; Shane Perry, calligraphy faculty member at the Smithsonian Institution and 2006 Graceful Envelope Contest best-in-show winner; and Alfredo Ratinoff, an internationally acclaimed ceramicist.
2010
A Stream of Letters
Junior Winners
Children's Winners
Entrants were urged to design an envelope that "celebrates letters or lakes, books or brooks, alphabets or aqua, words or water conservation, the mailstream or a mountain spring -- or any idea that flows from our theme and your creativity" and address it artistically. A trio of judges looked for skill in lettering, effective use of color and design, and creative interpretation of the theme.
The 2010 contest was juried by: Washington Calligraphers Guild President Theresa Daly; professional calligrapher and illustrator Tamara Stoneburner; and National Association of Letter Carriers graphic designer Michael Shea.
2009
Address the Environment
Junior Winners
Children's Winners
Entrants to the contest's 15th year were urged to design an envelope that promotes the preservation of our natural world and address it artistically. A trio of judges looked for skill in lettering, effective use of color and design, and creative interpretation of the theme.
The 2009 contest was juried by: professional calligrapher Sammy Little, whose clients include the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court and the National Gallery of Art; Marta Legeckis, professional calligrapher and illustrator whose clients include the Department of State, the White House and the Department of the Interior; and Jane Broendel, secretary-treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
2008
C's the Day!
View Honorable Mentions
Junior Winners
Children's Winners
This year marks the 14th year of the contest, and the theme--C's the Day!--invited lettering artists to design an envelope around anything beginning with the letter C. The judges looked for skill in lettering, effective use of color and design, and creative interpretation of the theme.
The 2008 entries were judged by three professionals in the fields of lettering and graphic design: Sheila Waters, internationally known master calligrapher, illuminator, teacher and author of Foundations of Calligraphy; professional designer and calligrapher Lee Ann Clark whose clients include the Washington Ballet and the Prince of Wales Foundation; and Michael Shea, graphic designer for the National Association of Letter Carriers.
2007
A Mailable Feast
View Honorable Mentions
Junior Winners
Children's Winners
This year marks the 13th year of the contest, and the theme--A Mailable Feast--invited lettering artists to design an envelope with a culinary theme. The judges looked for creative interpretation of the theme, skill in lettering and illustration, and effective use of color and design, among other criteria.
The entries were judged by three professionals in the graphic design and lettering fields: Patricia Blair, head calligrapher at the White House; Caroline Gillin, calligraphy instructor at the Smithsonian Institution; and Michael Shea, graphic designer for the National Association of Letter Carriers.
2006
A Fine Line
View Honorable Mentions
Student Winners
This year marks the 12th year of the contest, and the theme--A Fine Line--inspired many original and beautiful entries. The judges looked for creative interpretation of the theme, skill in lettering and illustration, and effective use of color and design, among other criteria.
The entries were judged by three professionals in the graphic design and lettering fields: Sammy Little, a professional calligrapher whose clients include the White House and presidential inaugurals; Ann Czapiewski, calligrapher, photographer and graphic designer for the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Michael Shea, designer/web editor for the National Association of Letter Carriers.
2005
Anything Beginning with P
View Honorable Mentions
Student Winners
This year marks the 11th year of the contest, and the theme--anything beginning with P--inspired many original and beautiful entries. The judges looked for creative interpretation of the theme, skill in lettering and illustration, and effective use of color and design, among other criteria.
The entries were judged by three professionals in the graphic design and lettering fields: Ann Pope, a Washington-area calligraphy instructor and watercolor artist; Mary Lou O'Brian, owner of Special Awards calligraphy studio in Gaithersburg, MD; and Lorraine Portner Swerdloff, Director of Communications of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
2004
The Weather
View Honorable Mentions
Student Winners
This year's theme was “The Weather,” inspired by the unofficial motto of the Postal Service: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Those words represent just part of the vast array of climates, seasons and elements that our letters and cards encounter on their way to their destination.
The entries were judged by three professionals in the graphic design and lettering fields: Debra Sohasky Brown, White House staff calligrapher; Louise Megginson, former staff calligrapher for the Washington National Cathedral; and Lorraine Swerdloff, Director of Communications of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
2003
The Written Word
Winners, K-P
Winners, S-Z
This year's theme was “The Written Word,” a tribute to the essential role of written communication, including cards and letters (and the mail carriers who deliver them), books and manuscripts (and the tools that produce them), and alphabets and symbols (and the process of learning them).
The entries to the 9th annual contest were judged by three professionals in the graphic, design and lettering fields: Rose Folsom, Editor of Letter Arts Review; Ann Pope, teacher and past faculty member of Letterforum; and Lorraine Swerdloff, Director of Communications of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
2002
Greetings from America
Winners, H-R
Winners, S-Z
This year's theme was based on the set of 50 postage stamps, "Greetings from America." Contestants were encouraged to incorporate the theme in a creative and artistic way.
The entries were judged by three professionals in the graphic, design and lettering fields: Terry McCaffrey, Manager of Stamp Development for the U.S. Postal Service; Rick Paulus, Chief Calligrapher at The White House; and Mary Lou O'Brian of Inkwell Studios, Washington, DC.
2001
25th Anniversary of the Washington Calligraphers Guild -or-
200 years of Washington as the Nation's Capital
Judges selected 45 winners from 139 entries in the 2001 Graceful Envelope Contest, originated by the Smithsonian Institution National Postal Museum and administered this year by the Washington Calligraphers Guild.
Participants were asked to create hand-lettered envelopes that illustrate either of the themes.
Winners K-M
Winners N-Z