Stamped with Love: My Obsession with Ink Stamps and Smooshing Them on Paper

There’s something undeniably satisfying about stamping a page. That crisp thunk as rubber meets paper, the slight smudge of ink that makes every mark unique—it transforms the act of writing into something tactile, almost ceremonial. Whether it’s a simple date stamp, an ornate design, or a ridiculous phrase that makes me laugh, I can’t resist embellishing my notes, letters, and even the most mundane to-do lists. It’s part nostalgia, part rebellion against the digital world, and entirely me. A blank page begs for words, but it also begs for a flourish, a finishing touch that makes it personal. And if everything I write bears my stamp—then maybe, in some small way, I’ve left a mark that won’t fade.

Top right: date provided by the Trodat 5030 Professional Date Stamp, used all the time by the awesome Austin Kleon.