So…who bought Mrs. Strong?

To everyone’s relief, the venerable Mrs. John L. Strong has been purchased out of bankruptcy. Long seen as the creme de la creme of social stationers, the Manhattan institution has provided bespoke papers to everyone from royals to rascals over the decades. When filing chapter 11 in August, a collective gasp could be heard from coast to coast in the paper industry; after all, if Mrs. Strong could stumble, well…no one was safe.

The winning bid came from a Houston private equity firm on behalf of their client “The 1929 Paper Company,” clocking in at just below one million dollars. Needless to say, creditors like Barney’s, Elite Engraving Ltd., and public relations firm Harriet Weintraub & Partners will see some relief as a result.

So who’s behind 1929? Hard to say, since the name is an obvious nod to the year Mrs. Strong’s was established. Google searches turn up nada-—not unusual if someone’s making a purchase before they’re ready to go public. Both Dempsey & Carroll and Kate’s Paperie showed interest early on under their own names, so they’re off the list of possibilities. My fear? That 1929 could be Taylor Corp (Carlson Craft, et al)….which really isn’t that far flung a possibility. Hear me out:

Given Glen’s propensity for gobbling up print competitors (then unraveling things in ways that make retailers cringe), combined with his deep pockets and sheer number of custom stationery brands he owns under various names, the possibility certainly exists. True, Mrs. Strong’s was a retail outlet, not a printing company, but the name is synonymous with the finest of fine engraving; as someone who already owns a whole lotta presses, whip stitching her brand and his equipment together isn’t physically impossible.

Mrs. Strong’s would fill a niche Taylor hasn’t conquered yet-—high end engraved. His foray into upscale branding was tapped by the Carlson Craft/Crane’s partnership via the Chloe B wedding album nearly two years ago. Snagging Mrs. Strong’s would give him not only the autonomy of production and fulfillment Chloe B did, but would also add the last piece of the puzzle-—complete and absolute control, from soup to nuts, not to mention a long-established label that could roll out nationally without much introduction.

Arguing the flip side, Taylor has no depth of experience when it comes to truly fine stationery. None. Zero. Zip. Trying to take on something as lofty as Mrs. Strong’s would equate to…well…Carlson Craft taking on fine stationery. Taylor Corp just doesn’t know the category or have the quality control to support it.

But then most of us still find it astonishing Crane’s partnered with Carlson on anything, so who knows? Maybe pigs really do fly, and this one’s warming up for (another) lap around the stratosphere.

I hope not.