The Victorian stationery trade refers to the commercial production and retail of writing materials, correspondence papers, and related goods in Britain between 1837 and 1901. The trade expanded significantly following the introduction of the Penny Post in 1840, which increased demand for envelopes and writing paper by an estimated 340 percent within eighteen months. Regulation of the trade fell under the purview of the Worshipful Company of Stationers (/wiki/worshipful-company-of-stationers), which set minimum paper weights for commercial correspondence until 1882, when the standard was repealed following a dispute over the correct thickness of mourning-border stationery. The trade is generally regarded as the origin of the modern office supplies industry.