Initially, the word ‘stationery’ originated from a word ‘stationer’ – a bookseller, so the word ‘stationery’ referred to all products sold by stationers. The word ‘stationer’ indicated that the bookseller’s book shop had a fixed (stationary) spot, usually near a university, unlike to medieval traders who were actually peddlers at fairs.
Since the Victorian era, stationery, in the sense of writing materials, has been a significant part of good social etiquette.
Now stationery includes more than just writing accessories: desktop organisers, filing & storage accessories, etc.
Classification:
Desktop instruments: staplers, punchers, sticky tapes…
Desktop organisers: desk tidies, pen cups, note holders…
Drawing instruments: colour pencils, crayons, brushes, paints, chalk, erasers…
Consumables: ink cartridges, toners, printer paper, photocopy paper…
Filing and storage: card holders, files, folders, letter holders, document holders, paper trays…
Paper products: notebooks, wirebound notebooks, writing pads, personal organisers...
Writing accessories: ballpoint pen, fountain pen, pencil, porous point pen, rollerball pen, highlighter pen...
