HMSO

His or Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) was founded in 1786 and from 1823 all UK government departments were required to buy stationery through HMSO. HMSO continued to operate even after its publishing functions were privatised in 1996 as publisher of most government material.

Apart from official publications, HMSO provided all kinds of office supplies to the civil service. These supplies are marked with the initials S.O. and a crown.