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Gift GuidesIssue — DIY Holiday

Holiday Gift Guide 2025: 11 Old-School Office Goods that Are Useful and Delightful

December 5, 2025

Beautifully made paper goods and desk tools are having a renaissance, and the timing is perfect for the holidays. Who doesn’t love a fresh pen and pad? As poet-singer Patti Smith says, “Every notebook is a possibility. You open it up, it’s a new adventure.” Here, 11 finds offered by favorite shops, from stocking stuffers to big surprises.

from karst of australia, a certified b corp dedicated to sustainability, a stee 17
Above: From Karst of Australia, a certified B-Corp dedicated to sustainability, a steel tape dispenser, $65 USD; scissors, $70 USD;  and hardcover notebook, $28.95, containing the brand’s signature Stone Paper composed of 80-90 percent crushed calcium carbonate and 10-20 percent non-t0xic resin binder. In the US, find more Karst desk goods from Ameico of New Milford, CT.
studio carta sun card 18
studio carta assorted ribbon bundles 19
Above: A foil-printed Wanderlust card is $6 from Studio Carta of Chestnut Hill, MA, also a great source for ribbon; $24 for an assorted ribbon bundle.
for the appreciator of the analog, there’s vestaboard note, a petite take on 20
Above: For the appreciator of the analog, there’s Vestaboard Note, a petite take on Vestaboard’s award-winning messaging display. Inspired by the iconic departures board at the Gare du Nord in Paris, it brings quotes, timely to-dos, and messages from loved ones to life with the mesmerizing movement of thousands of spinning flaps—effortlessly controlled from your phone, from anywhere.
postalco&#8\2\17;s made in japan pingraph notebooks have chlorine free grap 21
Above: Postalco’s made-in-Japan Pingraph Notebooks have chlorine-free graph paper and hand-dyed pressed-cotton covers that gain character over time. The brand’s tiny logo is a carrier pigeon.  They start at $18 at General Store in Venice, CA.
john derian&#8\2\17;s trio of shops on east second street in nyc&#8\2\1 22
Above: John Derian’s trio of shops on East Second Street in NYC’s East Village are a year-round wonderland. Among the desk goods: Elam handmade sketchbooks, starting at $18; Dux solid brass pencil sharpers, starting at $24 (leather case included); and Black Robusto mechanical pencils by Astier de Villatte, $18.
the owners of wms & co., the standout online desk tools shop, introduced us 23
Above: The owners of Wms & Co., the standout online desk tools shop, introduced us to these Paper Planners and Diaries with a Cult Following. Made annually by Rotterdam graphic designer Marjolein Delhaas, they come in an inspired palette. This is the Marjolein Delhaas 2026 Planner with a lay-flat binding and a burgundy cover; $40. (For 12 more standouts from Wms & Co., head to Easing Back to Work.)
cambridge imprint of cambridge, england, describes itself as &#8\2\20;a sma 24
Above: Cambridge Imprint of Cambridge, England, describes itself as “a small paper-making business known for beautiful colors, joyful illustration, and meticulous attention to detail.” Its work is available in boutiques all over, including The Social Type in Atwater Village, LA, where Patterned Wrapping Paper Sheets are $6 each. We’d like to use them as book covers and drawer liners.
and cambridge imprint hardback notebooks in 35 similar patterns are \$\24 from 25
Above: And Cambridge Imprint Hardback Notebooks in 35 similar patterns are $24 from The Social Type. Shown is an image of the notebooks from Berylune of Leamington Spa in the UK, which offers an array of Cambridge Imprint designs.
vintage looking cast iron rabbit bookends with a distressed finish are \$57 a s 26
Above: Vintage-looking Cast-Iron Rabbit Bookends with a distressed finish are $57 a set at the Rabbit Hole of Macon, GA.
a curated selection of everyday writing tools, the five pen bundle black no. \1 27
Above: A curated selection of everyday writing tools, the five Pen Bundle-Black No. 1, $18, from Rock Paper Scissors of Wiscasset, Maine, is hand-picked by owner Erika Soule. “Can you ever have too many black pens?,” she asks. “This bundle covers everything from basic thick and thin line-makers to the delight of a fountain pen’s painterly mark.”

Go to Desk Accessories to see more of our finds, including the perfect Eyeglass Holders.

And for more of this year’s gift guides, see:

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