The oldest surviving document on paper is found in ITALY

From the Dukes of Savoy to the young aristocrats on the Grand Tour, those with a taste for the finer things in life have always admired Italy’s handmade paper. Today, the country’s stationery still enjoys an acclaimed reputation. Much of it is manufactured using the finest traditional components, incorporating techniques that have remained almost unchanged since the early 18th century. From leather-bound journals and personalised, embossed writing paper to visiting cards and covered storage boxes, the range available is extensive and of the highest quality.

Paper trail
In Europe, the oldest known surviving document on paper (as opposed to parchment) is a housed in the state archive in Palermo. With text in Arabic and Greek, it dates back to 1109. Yet it is widely believed that it wasn’t until the 13th century that Italian stationers took the ancient method of papermaking and transformed it into a major commercial product, becoming internationally renowned for paper production in the process.