Smythson

Frank Smythson Limited
Company typePrivate
IndustryLuxury goods
Founded1887; 137 years ago (1887)
FounderFrank John Smythson[1]
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jacques Bahbout (Chairman)[2]
Stefano Giacomelli (Deputy Chairman)
Luc Goidadin (Creative Director)
ProductsStationery and accessories
OwnerGreenwill SA
Websitesmythson.com
An example of Smythson's work: an engraved, monogrammed calling card
A Smythson store located at the Royal Exchange, London

Frank Smythson Limited, commonly known as Smythson (/smθsən/), is a British manufacturer and retailer of luxury stationery, leather goods, diaries, and fashion products based in London, England. The company's founder, Frank John Smythson, was born in 1847 at Holborn and was a son of Marcus Alfred Smythson, a professor of music.[3] He opened his first store on 29 September 1887 at 133 New Bond Street in London. Smythson's flagship store is located nearby at 131-132 New Bond Street.

Smythson's clients have included the current British royal family, Queen Victoria, many UK politicians and prime ministers, Sir Edmund Hillary, Madonna, and Grace Kelly. In 1908, the company created the first 'Featherweight' diary,[4] enabling diaries to be carried about.[5] Most of the company's leather goods are now made in Italy.[6]

  1. ^ "Frank John Smythson, Deceased." The London Gazette, 13 August 1926, Issue 33191, p.5416. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  2. ^ Jones, Nina (29 January 2014). "New Role for Jacques Bahbout at Smythson". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Frank J Smythson in household of Marcus A Smythson. Registration District: Holborn. Page No.1. Piece: 218. Folio: 109.Reg No: RG12." From England and Wales Census, 1891, database with images, FamilySearch. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Corporate Diaries". Archived from the original on 13 May 2011.
  5. ^ p.181 Moss, Victoria The Archivists In Style October 2012
  6. ^ Choudhry, Talib (13 April 2017). "House of card: Smythson unveils a new exhibition to mark 130 years of elegant accessories". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 January 2019.