The Gift: My favorite gift isn’t a gift

May 7, 2026

Tonight: we’ve got cards that looks like art and more for the epistolary arts. Plus …

Rifle Paper Co., Little King, Paper Source, Omoi; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter

The case for a handwritten card — and 13 gifts that celebrate pen and paper

By Mari Uyehara

Mari is a writer on the gifts team. She has been writing about food, drinks, and culture for more than 15 years.

The most treasured things I get every year aren’t gifts at all.

Of course, I’ve received plenty of prized objects over the years: a red-light face mask last Christmas, a massive mixed-fiber tapestry from my dad, a rabbit-fur vest my mom picked up at a Parisian market. But recently, it’s the card that my partner slides along with whatever he’s bought that I most looked forward to.

In his family, exchanging cards is part of the gift-giving ritual at every holiday. Admittedly, I often huff and puff while he examines Target’s card aisle at the speed of a three-toed sloth, searching for the right one for each and every family member. But theirs is a sweet tradition of pausing to read the words of a loved one before ripping back even a corner of wrapping paper.

I keep all the cards my partner has given me in a cracked navy shoe box. Each marks a point on the jagged line of our relationship: the early giddy days, one hard Christmas, the coalescing of our lives into a family. And when I’m really mad at him, I’ll pull out the box and read his collected works. It’s hard to think ugly things about someone when they’ve written so many beautiful things to you.

Despite our collective embrace of texts and emojis, we, as humans, seem to have decided that digital convenience can’t replace real pen and paper.

Over the past several months of testing for our brand-new stationery guide, I found a vast expanse of artful, stately, and cheeky notecards. My personal favorites include these artfully rendered florals and these exquisitely engraved butterfly cards, but our picks include styles for plenty more tastes and occasions.

Giving a card can become a lifelong keepsake for your loved one, and the act of penning one can be a small gift to yourself, too. Writing by hand requires slowing down to consider what matters — without alerts, pings, or insufferable AI prompts.

In keeping with that enduringly tactile tradition, below are some sweet extras for stationery lovers of all kinds and to bring a little more gusto to writing a card by hand:

When I first spotted this gorgeous, minimalist brass-sheathed knife in the glass case of a local stationery store, I thought it would make for an excellent letter opener — and be much more expensive than it is. Turns out, it’s only $13. But I was right on one account: its carbon-steel blade slices through envelopes with absolute ease.
Don’t overlook one of the most wonderfully prosaic vehicles for American art and design: USPS postage. I’m still judiciously doling out my stamps honoring the wire sculptor Ruth Asawa that my mother gave me years ago. You, too, can help a loved one add a little personality to their mail with a sheet of stamps that match their vibe, be it baby wildlife graphics, Harriet Powers’ quilting masterpieces, or Betty White’s slyly smiling visage.
The world of notebooks is ever-expanding. An artsy friend may marvel at one of these embroidered sketchbooks, while a bookish one (or someone trying to Brick their smartphone addiction) might appreciate the stylish prodding of this reading journal intended to keep track of books and wish lists.
For corralling pens and other desk knickknacks, these 8-inch-long stackable steel storage cases come in a range of eye-catching colors that are sure to brighten a workspace. Or for something more portable, this orange-and-pink striped pencil case is light and compact. I also really love the handiness of these banded mesh cases for keeping pens and more attached to a notebook.
I’m a huge sucker for Japanese stickers and washi tape, especially as a gift for kids. These teensy boxes filled with themed stickers, like baked goods or office supplies, are outrageously adorable. In the same vein, you don’t have to be young to be charmed by these matchbox memo notes.
And finally, if you have a favorite note writer, why not return the thoughtfulness they put into your cards with a handsomely wrought pen. In my reporting, Robert Buhler — the CEO of the company behind our new pick for luxe, heritage stationery — told me he favors the American-made Esterbrook Estie fountain pens, which write more smoothly and comfortably than your average rollerball and come in stunning terrazzo-like patterns. (JFK signed the bill for putting a man on the moon with an Esterbrook.) For those looking for a more affordable leap into fountain pens, this iridescent, lunar-inspired Kaweco makes a great entry point.

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More for correspondence

A Montblack pen with an illustrated little character on top of it.

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter

“I barely use this fancy pen. Yet it’s the most meaningful gift I’ve ever received”

This very (very) nice pen would make a lovely graduation, or any next chapter, gift→

Several gifts wrapped in different wrapping papers and gift bags.

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter, prop assistance by Abby Balter

The best wrapping paper and gift bags

Like a great card, the right wrapping paper can be magical. A great roll offers a hint of whimsy and a dash of beauty→

Note books and note pads we tested to find the best notebook and note pads side by side.

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

11 notebooks and notepads we love

For turning an ordinary, everyday task — note-taking, journaling, task-planning, brainstorming, or doodling — into a sublime experience→

A bunch of Zebra Mildliner highlighter pens on top of an open journal in which someone has written a packing list and highlighted each section using a different highlighter.

NYT Wirecutter

“The stars of my paper planner are these lovely highlighters”

These muted highlighters have a chisel tip and a fine point, and they come in pretty pastels, faded fluorescents, and sophisticated grays and browns→


What to give: A 75-year-old outdoorsy dad?

My dad, Scott, is a stylish 75-year-old who loves the outdoors, home and garden, biking, coffee, and wearing something a little femme once in a while! —M.L.

From gifting expert Samantha Schoech:

Scott is giving us a lot to work with here! For the stylish outdoorsman in him, I thought immediately of this handsome pullover, which is not cheap but proves very popular in our guide to gifts for dads. In the same vein are these classic and much less expensive socks that I give my husband and my son every Christmas. Or, to move away from wearables, what about this excellent outdoor blanket? Keep it in the car for impromptu picnics and outdoor hang sessions.

The gardener in him might appreciate this very utilitarian handsaw or maybe even a snazzy pair of Italian gardening clogs in a bold color.

And speaking of Italian things, how great would he look stirring his morning joe with one of these coffee spoons while decked out in a pink cotton sweater or timeless linen shirt? Answer: really great.

Have someone who’s impossible to shop for? Submit your question here.

Inside Joke

Gift of the week: A sassy chef’s hat

This embroidered, one-size-fits-most baseball hat is a perfect topper for any cook in repose. Perhaps give it alongside the gift of a night (or two) off from dinner duty?

One last gift (for you): Our favorite flower delivery service is 30% off right now, should you need an 11th hour Mother’s Day gift or just a lovely spring treat for self.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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Handpicked hidden gems. Great deals on lovely things. Your biggest gifting conundrums, answered. A gift guide from Wirecutter.

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