In the 20^th Century, before the internet became ubiquitous, an organization’s written correspondence was one of its primary points of contact with its partners, suppliers, and the public.  Accordingly, stationery became an important medium for graphic design.  The Wildlife Conservation Society Archives contains numerous pieces of correspondence with striking, beautiful, or amusing examples of letterhead design.

This post is the first in an ongoing series showcasing some of the more interesting examples; it features letterhead from international zoos from 1951 to 1971.   Future posts in the series will include letterhead from U.S. zoos and aquaria, letterhead from the Wildlife Conservation Society / New York Zoological Society and its affiliated institutions (1930s-present), and letterhead from non-zoo organizations and companies.

Edit: Also see the second (and future) posts in this series by visiting the ‘letterhead’ tag.

1. Assiniboine Park Zoo 
   

   Assiniboine Park Zoo [Winnipeg, Canada] – 1963

2. The Birdland Zoo Gardens 
   

   The Birdland Zoo Gardens [Bourton-on-the-Water, Great Britain] – 1970

3. Zoological Gardens of Ceylon 
   

   Zoological Gardens of Ceylon [Colombo, Modern day Sri Lanka] – 1961

4. Flamingo Park  
   

   Flamingo Park [“Near Malton,” Great Britain] – 1964

5. International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens [now renamed WAZA, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums]
   

   International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens – 1962

6. Taronga Zoological Park Trust  
   

   Taronga Zoological Park Trust [Sydney, Australia] – 1951

7. Zoo Zurich 
   

   Zoo Zürich [Zürich, Switzerland] – 1971