Michael C. Kalman Email and Phone Number

Stillman & Birn, LLC manufactures premium, mixed media sketchbooks bound in the United States. The company offers archival-grade hardbound and wirebound sketchbooks in six series (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Zeta). This unique sketchbook system provides artists with a choice of paper weight, shade and surface. Artists in the field and educators have repeatedly demonstrated that Stillman & Birn papers are not only suitable for dry and wet media but, moreover, support drawing and painting techniques on the same surface. Stillman & Birn is a brand associated with an earlier era of the art materials industry in the United States. The original company, Stillman and Birn, Inc., was founded in 1958 by Philip Birn (1911 – 2004). Birn was a highly admired Viennese bookbinder, who brought his Old World craftsmanship to a small plant in the SoHo section of Manhattan. SoHo is now filled with trendy shops, restaurants and residential lofts. But in the 1950’s SoHo was a center of light industry and from his plant at 270 Lafayette Street, Philip Birn pioneered the concept of the black hardbound sketchbook, which he marketed throughout North America, Europe and Australia.

Worked on a personal project to invent, develop and license stationery products. Spent time in Asia for engineering and sourcing of components. Filed patent applications which remain under review of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Daler-Rowney is a major manufacturer of products for the crafts and artists materials industry and is based in England. Joined Daler-Rowney as part of the acquisition of Cachet Products in 2005 with the mandate to lead the process to facilitate the smooth integration of the two companies’ product lines.

Cachet Products was a manufacturer of upscale paper products for the crafts, art and stationery markets. The Company was known as a compelling innovator and was a market niche leader with international distribution. Cachet was acquired by Daler-Rowney in December, 2005.