Not all paper is created equally; stationery being no exception. As societal norms in America continue to include many celebrations, rites of passage and milestones, we have reinvented the way we announce, congratulate and offer consolation. While many of us still buy conventional birthday cards and invitations, the Internet has made the process even easier for us.

Stationery has always been a creative and fun way to send a letter or memo to someone else. Many stationery sites offer custom prints letter-writers can design themselves. Giving a gift? Many sites even let you personalize gift stationery in their recipient's name, hobby or favorite color. Some even offer digital photo technology to offer that special uniqueness, allowing customers to create prints with personal photographs embedded.

We are all vaguely aware of the origins of paper, its roots tied somewhere in Egypt. However, paper and stationery have had a deeper and more meaningful past than some people are conscious of.

See if you knew some of these paper history tidbits below:

?A Chinese courtier actually came up with the notion of ?paper.?

?In Egypt 3000 b.c., the word ?paper? originated with slices of the papyrus plant, which were dried.

?During the Middle Ages, paper was commonly traded by merchants.

?In the 16th century, paper mills were the primary production method of paper.

?In the 17th century, smoothing hammers and other technological advances were used to create and smooth paper.

?In the 18th century, ?manufactories? were formed with skilled labor to increase output.

?The 19th and 20th centuries saw advances in printing technology, with machines performing tasks like rag preparation, pulp beating and drying.

?The 20th century saw sheet-forming technology, which formed paper as we know it today.

?Paper announcements, invitations and the earliest forms of stationery were commonly traded by European aristocracy in the late 17th century.

?Many aristocrats sent mass-scale announcements and stationery to prove their affluence.

It still remains the social norm to send thank-you's after a great party, receiving fabulous wedding presents or even when you complete a rigorous interview. You can even find fancy thank-you notes and some of the best stationery right at your own computer. This makes personalization that much simpler.

6StarReviews.com reported sites like Fine Stationery offer products like business letterheads, notepads and memos among their extensive stationery collection. Customers can even receive printer's proofs by mail to ensure their order's accuracy! Paper certainly has come a long way and it's reinventing the way we relate to others in the 21st century.