The stapler is one of the most common and useful paper-related devices available; with little effort, staplers allow for papers to be attached together by a thin metal strip. Today, there are few offices, classrooms and homes without at least one stapler, but in the mid-late 19th century, the stapler was a revolutionary invention.

On this day, March 5th, in 1868, the stapler is patented in England by C.H. Gould.  It is known that the history of the stapler actually dates back to France’s King Louis XV, subsequently, Gould’s patent can not be considered the birth of the stapler. While Gould’s patented stapler has its place in stapler history, several other inventors created similar devices in the late 1860s. George McGill and Henry R. Heylalso patented paper fastening devices in the United States.

Other devices attempted to replace the stapler in the early 20th century. The Clipless Stand Machine and Bump’s New Model Paper Fastener were patented to attach paper without a metal staple.  These products were available until the 1920s, but ultimately failed in attempting to replace the stapler.