Things I Miss #6

Before the days of email and Facebook, people used to have to hand-make their party invitations, and either dish them out by hand or through the post. In the days before use of word processors was widespread these were lettered by hand or, if one wanted to be flash, with a typewriter. The office photocopier was surreptitiously used to make copies, sometimes with an amusing photograph or drawing added. I remember using a photograph of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's (where she's using a long cigarette holder) and inking in "LOVE" and "HATE" on her knuckles. For cocktail parties I always used this Osbert Lancaster cartoon.

I remember using the standard abbreviation "PBAB" on an invitation in California and getting concerned phonecalls from American friends asking what it stood for.