Sunday Reading for July 12, 2026

1. Sailor Que Será Erasable Gel Ink Pen Review (via Pen Addict). I find Sailor’s efforts to get into the erasable pen game fascinating, even if I don’t really have any great desire to use this product.

2. Enjoy Collection 2026: Q2 (via Dime Novel Raven). Sometimes I get asked whether owning a pen store diminishes my enjoyment of stationery as a “hobby”, but I honestly think it’s the opposite. It tends to expand the the number of products you are exposed to, which I have also enjoyed immensely because they’re things I’ve never tried before.

3. Finding Joy in Cheap to Moderate-Priced Nice Things (via Urban Adventure League). I wholeheartedly agree that often the moderate price bracket brings the most overall satisfaction - fun without the financial stress.

4. This Common Fountain Pen Habit May Be Doing More Harm Than Good (via Doodlebud). Repeat after me: You do not need to take your pen completely apart to clean it.

5. Meet the Family Living Like It’s the 1990’s (via Cal Newport). Bye. I’ll send y’all my landline number.

6. Fountain Pen Types (via Inky.Rocks). Ok, I now have at least five more pens on my list to add to my collection. :)

7. If I Could Only Keep Ten (via Rachel’s Reflections). Is it time for another fountain pen thought experiment?

8. If I Could Only Keep 10 Fountain Pens (via Well-Appointed Desk). Here’s Laura’s take on the latest challenge.

9. Three Art Supply Stores Worth Visiting in Central Paris (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). It’s been way too long since I’ve been to Paris, but I have fond memories of visits to 2/3.

10. Clairefontaine Pocket Squared Notebook (via Notebook Stories). Clairefontaine is one of the unsung workhorses of the stationery world, and I do my bit to keep it from falling by the wayside in favor of “trendier” paper.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed a category of pens that has played a larger role in my rotation recently: The refillable rollerball that takes fountain pen ink (often called the “inkball”). Recent iterations of these pens work much better than the ones that first hit the market several years ago, and I talk about two that I’ve enjoyed using. I also reviewed a relatively new-to-me paper that has made its way into my rotation: Graphilo, a Japanese paper from Kobeha.

IPaintBirbs Holographic Stickers!

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We spent most of this week rebuilding our stock of Kakimori notebooks, only to see them fly off the shelves and out the door to their new homes! We still have a handful, along with a fairly healthy stock of the Kakimori metal dip nibs, holders, and other accessories. Many favorite Taccia inks have been restocked, along with OnionBrand Notebook Covers, and best of all, a bunch of new stickers from iLootPaperie and local Nashville maker IPaintBirbs!

This week our Nashville store will be open normal hours, from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday! Online shopping is available 24/7!

OnionBrand

Notsu

Maruman Basics

iPaintBirbs

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Paper Review: Graphilo by Kobeha

Earlier this summer I revamped the "Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper" site resource, and one major change I made was to add Graphilo paper as a top-tier option. Graphilo has assumed something of a cult-favorite status due to how difficult it was to obtain in the United States (and when you could find it, how expensive it could be). As it becomes more easily available outside of Japan, I strongly recommend Graphilo as an option for anyone looking for ink friendly paper with exceptionally good color reproduction.

I’ve been using an A5 Slim Graphilo Notebook in my Roterfaden TGS_25 to log all of my currently inked pens.

Graphilo is made by Kobeha, a paper company located in Kobe, Japan. Specifically formulated for fountain pens, Graphilo has survived several different iterations, with each new release fine-tuning the paper formulation. In my opinion, all of them have been excellent, with the last two batches qualifying as superb.

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The Herbin shimmer inks combine shading, sheen, and shimmer, so they offer an excellent example of what Graphilo is capable of.

Even with growing distribution, Graphilo is still relatively expensive, so why splurge? It’s a combination of factors: Most people enjoy this paper not just for its ability to handle any ink you throw at it, but also for its superior color reproduction. You will always get sharp lines without feathering and bleedthrough, but many feel that no paper showcases fountain pen ink properties better than Graphilo, particularly shading and multi-chromatic inks. Color is very subjective - I personally prefer how my fountain pen inks look on MD Cotton Paper and Graphilo, so I tend to use notebooks containing one of these two papers whenever I'm experimenting with new inks or writing out my "currently inked" lists to keep track of what inks I have in which pens.

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Herbin’s Opale Nocturne is one of my favorite shading inks with subtle shimmer. I love how it looks on Graphilo paper.

Another reason that I love Graphilo is that you get the ink friendly performance of Tomoe River in a heavier paper (81.4g) with slight texture for those who dislike the onionskin-like feel of Tomoe River. That said, the biggest downside to Graphilo is the dry time - like most paper intended to showcase fountain pen ink, it's not absorbent, so it may take some time for the ink to dry when writing with especially wet nibs. If you plan to use Graphilo in a context where you are having to turn pages quickly, you may want to use blotting paper.

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Extreme shaders like the Sailor Ancora Rainy Day Ink (Sorry, it’s a Japanese store exclusive) really show off their properties on Graphilo!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Personally, I find Graphilo paper among the most fountain pen friendly paper I have ever used. For those who dislike the ultra thin feel of Tomoe River and similar paper, and prefer a heavier weight with greater durability, Graphilo is high on my list of personal recommendations. I have yet to find a fountain pen ink that bleeds or feathers, and I even know people who have pushed this paper with sharpies and alcohol markers and had decent results.

Though Graphilo is not an inexpensive paper option, the price has gradually aligned over time with other high-end Japanese writing papers. Kobeha has increased production while also making the paper available in a wider range of formats, including A5 Slim, A5 Square, and standard A5, as well as looseleaf, memo blocks, and letter pads. We currently stock all of them in our own shop.

The Graphilo A5 Slim (right) which will be coming back in stock in the hopefully near future.

The Gentleman Stationer carries most varieties of Graphilo paper, though because this paper is imported directly from Japan, specific items may not be in stock at the same time. We regularly order so if the particular paper you are looking for is not showing as available, keep checking back.

Thursday Drops: Notebooks from Kakimori, OnionBrand Covers, Inkstand Colours, and Dip Nibs

Boxes of new notebooks showed up this week from Kakimori, as well as a fresh batch of our leather OnionBrand covers in the coveted Green Dragon and Tanner’s Claret finishes. We also have more Kakimori conical metal dip nibs and holders, all of the base Inkstand Colour inks, and Taccia Hokusai inks including Sabimidori! Many of these products are imported directly and have been out of stock for a while, so thank you for your patience.

We are also down to our last handful of TWSBI ECO “Horse Year” fountain pens, which are the special Year of the Horse release that will only be made available in a single run. We also have more of the ECO Rootbeer, which has been one of the more popular pens of 2026.

Come see these and more in person this week in our Nashville shop, where we are open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm and on Saturday from 10am-5pm.

1. Kakimori A5 Notebooks. We’ve recently received a fresh shipment of notebooks from Kakimori, including several new fabrics from the Bishu and Enshu lines.

2. OnionBrand A5 Notebook Covers. Our current top seller that will fit most A5 notebooks. We recently received a fresh restock of the “Green Dragon” finish, as well as the deep burgundy “Tanner’s Claret”.

3. TWSBI ECO “Horse Year” Fountain Pens. TWSBI has released it’s Year of the Horse themed ECO. This white pen features stylized Horse Year inspired artwork. This pen will be a single run so get yours while they are here!

4. Kakimori Metal Dip Nibs. Beloved for many different uses ranging from ink swatching to calligraphy, Kakimori’s conical metal dip nibs are a cult favorite. Currently available in brass, stainless steel, and copper.

5. Kakimori Dip Nib Holders. We have additional stock of Kakimori Nib Holders in full and mini size. The mini size comes in an array of fun colors, while the full-size nib holder is now available in a beautiful black urushi finish.

6. Kakimori Inkstand Colour Inks. When we were in Tokyo, we had the opportunity to visit Kakimori and mix our own unique ink color using the base inks from their “Inkstand Colour” line. You can pick and choose from more than a dozen colors of mixable inks that can be combined or used individually!

7. Taccia Hokusai Fountain Pen Inks. We recently received a fresh shipment of Taccia fountain pen inks, including 8 new Hokusai inks AND Sabimidori, the beautiful color-shifting blue-green.

8. Pilot Iroshizuku Fountain Pen Inks. Nearly all colors of Pilot Iroshizuku are back in stock, with just a few additional colors on the way. Both bottle sizes are available.

9. Toyo Japanese Steel Boxes. By popular request, we have new colors of Toyo Steel Boxes in the stackable sizes. Toyo boxes with identical footprints will stack, even if they are not the same height.

10. Life Noble Note 6-Ring Refills. We have more of the Life 6-ring refills in Lined and Grid formats! This excellent fountain pen friendly paper is pre-punched for A5, Bible, and Mini 6-ring binders.

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Refillable Rollerball and "Inkball" Pens: Do They Work?

One product category that we are seeing more and more is the refillable rollerball (sometimes referred to as the "inkball") pen. These first went mainstream several years ago with an inexpensive version released by ink maker Herbin, followed by TRAVELER'S Company releasing a version of their Brass Fountain Pen with a refillable rollerball tip. Recently, another pen garnering a lot of attention is Kakimori's "Frost" pen, which is available in both a fountain pen and rollerball format. We've had a lot of questions recently about the rollerball/inkball functionality, so I thought I'd take the opportunity and do a bit of an overview of how these work and how they perform.

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The Kakimori Frost pen ships with a twist converter, while the TRAVELER’S Company brass pen is advertised as cartridge only. However, it will take the Kaweco Mini Converter if you absolutely insist on using bottled ink.

How they work: This one's pretty easy. These refillable rollerballs all use a fountain pen-style nib unit that accepts standard international ink cartridges and Schmidt-style converters. You fill the pen as you would any standard cartridge/converter fountain pen, using fountain pen ink. (While not every manufacturer announces the maker of the rollerball nib/tip unit, Kakimori has specified that it is Schmidt, so if you see "made in Germany" you can probably assume that's who it is.)

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Predictably, early iterations of these products weren't as reliable as the versions now available. Performance has improved - particularly the consistency of the ink flow - and I've found the pens themselves easier to clean. But why would you opt for one of these "inkball" refillable rollerballs as opposed to a fountain pen? Here are a few considerations:

• Office Use. Despite their growing popularity, fountain pens continue to draw a lot of attention in the workplace. If you prefer to remain inconspicuous while still being able to write with your fountain pen ink, these pens are a good alternative.

• Permanent or Pigmented Inks. Kakimori makes an extensive line of pigment inks, which are both lightfast and water-resistant. While I've not had a bad experience using Kakimori inks in standard fountain pens, those who are concerned about cleaning and clogging might feel better using a Kakimori-branded pen or a non-fountain pen altogether. I currently have a Frost rollerball loaded with the special ink I mixed in Tokyo at the Kakimori store, and I have had no issues.

• Consistent Line Width. While fountain pens are known for line variation depending on the angle of your handwriting and the grind of the nib, ballpoints and rollerballs typically produce a single consistent line width while writing. Note that the one variable here is ink and paper. Since these "inkball" pens use fountain pen ink, the wetness of the ink and absorbency of the paper you are using can cause a wider line than the stated .5mm tip size.

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A writing sample of the .5mm rollerballs, on Rhodia Premium paper. Note the consistent line width across both brands, with two very different inks.

A Few Downside Considerations

• Cleaning and Clogging. I would be more conscientious about cleaning these rollerball tips than a standard fountain pen nib, since any sort of roller tip does have extra moving parts (the metal ball) that can get gummed up. The good news is that refillable rollerballs using the Schmidt nib unit clean identically to standard fountain pen nib units, though sometimes you have to flush them a few more times to remove stubborn clogs and residual ink. I typically take a bulb syringe and flush these pens in the same way you would flush a fountain pen. Ultrasonic cleaners can also be helpful.

• Leakage. Especially wet, free-flowing fountain pen inks may leak out the front of the nib and/or cause the pen to "blob" on the page while writing. I've only had this happen with a couple of inks, one of which was the ultra-lubricated Tom's Studio Fineliner-specific Midnight Blue ink that probably wasn't intended to be used with this pen in the first place. Most standard inks work perfectly fine.

In the event the tip does become irreparably clogged or damaged - which I personally have yet to experience in either of the models shown here - these nib units are replaceable. Both TRAVELER'S Company and Kakimori use a standard rollerball unit manufactured in Germany by Schmidt, and sell replacements to fit their respective pens. You are also not locked into one writing "mode." Note that these rollerball units are threaded identically to each brand’s fountain pen nib units, so you can use them interchangeably in your Kakimori Frost Pens and TRAVELER'S Brass Fountain Pen. (I do not believe these nib units are interchangeable between brands, since they use slightly different housings.)

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Both pens are compact, but I would only call the TRAVELER’S Brass Pen a true “pocket pen”.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I've enjoyed using the "inkball" option fairly regularly, and overall I'm pleased with how these pens perform. While I might not reach for them as my primary writing option (I still prefer the softer feel of fountain pens and refillable fineliners), those looking for a reliable second option for using their fountain pen ink should give these a try. I am consistently impressed with how clean a line this current generation of refillable rollerballs can write.

The two pens featured in this post are the Kakimori Frost and the TRAVELER'S Company Brass Ballpoint, and are priced at $54 and $75, respectively. Additional nibs can be purchase for around $16. As noted above, both pens are compatible with their brand's fountain pen nibs, so there's no need to purchase a second pen - just the nib - unless you'd like to have both inked up at once.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of both Kakimori and TRAVELER'S Company products. You can view these both in our physical Nashville Shop or our online store.

New Arrivals: Kakimori Notebooks and Nibs, Plus TWSBI ECO "Horse Year" Fountain Pens!

A long-awaited shipment of Kakimori products arrived from Japan last week, including gorgeous new fabric-covered notebooks, Kakimori metal dip nibs and nib holders, additional Kakimori Frost pens, and the line of mixable Kakimori Inkstand Colour pigment inks. We had the opportunity to visit the Kakimori flagship store during our trip to Tokyo earlier this year, where we had the opportunity to create our own ink colors using the Inkstand inks, and test them using all the different variations of Kakimori nibs. Kakimori makes some of the most unique stationery products available, and it’s always fun to open these shipments and see all the new designs in person!

Also, TWSBI ECO “Horse Year” Fountain Pens are now shipping! This limited run TWSBI won’t be around long, so if you’re looking to pick up one of these “Year of the Horse” exclusive releases, get one now. We currently have at least some stock of all nib sizes remaining.

We will be open this week normal hours, from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday in our Nashville shop. Please stop by and see us if you are in the area.