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Traditionally, wedding stationery items
are mailed in double envelopes. The inner envelope may be
lined, is not gummed, and fits into the outer envelope.
The outer envelope is gummed for sealing and addressing.
Tissues are often provided by manufacturers to place over
the engraved text, originally this tissue protected the
engraving against smudging or blotting, but improved printing
techniques mean they are now simply decorative. More recently,
the inner envelope is often left out in the interest of
saving money and postage. In some cases, a pocketfold takes
the place of an inner envelope. Traditionally, the mother
of the bride addresses the wedding stationery items. However,
if she chooses not to, the mother of the bride may outsource
this responsibility to a professional calligrapher or a
friend with good penmanship. With computer technology, some
are able to print directly on envelopes from a guest list
using a mail merge with word processing and spreadsheet
software.
Originally the term "stationery"
referred to all products sold by a stationer, whose name
indicates that his book shop was on a fixed spot, usually
near a university, and permanent, while medieval trading
was mainly ambulant, by peddlers and others at non-permanent
markets such as fairs. It was a special term used between
the 13th and 15th centuries in the manuscript culture. The
Stationers' Company formerly held a monopoly over the publishing
industry in England and was responsible for copyright regulations.
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