A Lexicon of Paper and Post
Terms we use often on Letterfold, gathered in one place — for folds, seals, papers, and the etiquette of the reply.
Bifold
A letter folded once, in half — the simplest fold, common for short notes that fit an A2 or C6 envelope without further creasing.
Deckle edge
The irregular, feathered border left on paper made by hand, where pulp meets the frame of the mold. Machine-made "deckle" paper imitates the look with a water jet.
Foolscap fold
An older term for a letter folded into quarters lengthwise, once common for legal-size correspondence before standard envelopes existed.
Gsm
Grams per square meter — the standard measure of paper weight. Most letter stock sits between 90 and 120 gsm; card stock starts around 250.
Laid paper
Paper with a faint ribbed texture, visible when held to light, left by the wires of a traditional papermaking mold. Common in formal stationery.
Letterhead
Paper pre-printed with a name, address, or mark at the top, historically used to signal that correspondence came from a known sender before the envelope was opened.
Marbling
A decorative technique where pigment floated on a liquid surface is transferred to paper, producing swirled patterns once popular for endpapers and envelope linings.
Nib
The metal tip of a dip or fountain pen that meets the paper. Nib width and flex change how a hand's writing looks on the page.
Postscript (P.S.)
A line added after the signature, originally used for an afterthought too late to fit in the body — now often used deliberately for the letter's real point.
Ream
A standard unit of paper, typically 500 sheets, used when ordering or measuring stationery stock in bulk.
Salutation
The opening greeting of a letter — "Dear," a name, or a more formal address — that sets the register for everything that follows.
Sealing wax
A hardening compound, historically shellac-based, melted and pressed with a stamp to close a letter and reveal if it had been opened.
Signet
A small engraved seal, often set in a ring, used to stamp a personal or family mark into warm wax.
Tri-fold
A letter folded into three roughly equal panels, the standard fold for a full sheet going into a long business-style envelope.
Valediction
The closing phrase before a signature — "Sincerely," "Warmly," "Yours" — chosen to match the tone set by the salutation.
Vellum
Originally a writing surface made from calfskin; today the word more often describes a smooth, slightly translucent paper used for overlays and formal envelopes.
Wafer seal
A thin, pre-formed disc of dried gum or wax used to close a letter without melting anything — a faster, lower-mess alternative to sealing wax.
Watermark
A faint design pressed into paper during manufacture, visible mainly when held to light, historically used to identify a mill or grade of stock.
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