Calling cards

[RB51]

In days of old gentlemen would often having calling cards that were used to announce themsleves, or to leave their name with various establishments and people. Today, the business card is ubiquitous and fills that role. Alas, being retired, I no longer have a business card and find myself patting down my pockets for a pen and looking for a scrap of paper if I want to leave my name and number.

Which leads to my question - are calling cards still appropriate/accepted in society today? I'd appreciate hearing if anyone still uses them.

Laurie

[Arlen]

I still use them simply because I prefer to have something for personal contacts.
My wife and I designed our own and are happy to give them to people. We've never had anyone even look twice.

But then, I still write letters bay hand and seal them with my personalised wax seal.

[Heming]

I don't have one myself, but they are at least quite common here, and can even be purchased from vending machines!

[Galician]

One of the main purposes for calling cards was that they would be left when one dropped by for a visit, only to learn that the party you intended to visit was not home or was unavailable. This was due to the fact that the (illiterate?) maids could not be counted on to pass the message properly.
Oh, I forgot that there was also the matter of the Victorian preference for extravagence, when given the chance.

[sydnie7]

I use a variety of cards including full business (with complete contact info), casual business (name and services or web site only), and personal (name without any business info). When I had three businesses running, that got complicated!

I either get them "free" from Vista Print (low cost) or make them myself using ink-jet printer and sheets of business card stock, available from any office supply store. Avery supplies free design templates if you need that level of help.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I have two kinds of cards. Those I use for business and those I use socially. My social cards (45mm x 75mm) are slightly smaller than my business cards (50mm x 90mm).

The social card is plain white, and has my name centered in the middle of the card. In the lower left hand corner is my address on three lines. In the lower right hand corner is my telephone number, and below that, my personal email address. (I detest this addition-- a concession to modernity-- but is saves having to write it out for the numpties who refuse to write a proper letter.)

"Mister" (Mr.) is never used on a social card:

Mr. Jock McDoodlesack is wrong;

Jock McDoodlesack is correct.

Esquire (Esq.) is only properly used by armigers:

Jock McDoodlesack, Esq.

Those with territorial designations use them in place of Esquire:

Jock McDoodlesack of Gracenote.

Clanfolk do not display the buckle and strap on their social cards as the cards are not the property of their Chief.

There are separate conventions for those in the military, or who are retired from the military, and a check with the appropriate source ("The Officer's Guide", or similar) will steer you in the right direction regarding the customs of your branch of service.

[Galician]

Since Esq. is the accepted designation for attorneys here, I would think that in this country it would be perfectly acceptable for them to use that.

[Raphael]

I would. When I was unemployed, I have cards printed out with my name and contact information for prospective employers.

[SFCRick]

I always carry cards

[macwilkin]

Clanfolk do not display the buckle and strap on their social cards as the cards are not the property of their Chief.

What about if the buckle & strap includes the designation An Cìrean Ceann-cinnidh?

T.