Sunday Reading for August 2, 2026 (Stationery Store Day Edition)

1. Wanna Go to a Show? Pen Show Calendar Updated! (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana and here team maintain one of the most comprehensive pen show calendars available. Guess what was added for mid-October?

2. 10 Pens, But Inks (via Dime Novel Raven). I’ve also wondered about the ink counterpart to the 10 pens challenge. What 10 inks would I keep?

3. Maruman Mnemosyne Journal A6 Slim Notebook Review (via Pen Addict). I’ve been using a Maruman Mnemosyne A5 Journal - the larger version of what’s being reviewed - and have been impressed with the quality.

4. New Crena Papers from Soe and Soe (via dwrdnet). I’ve yet to try these Crena papers out of China, but have heard good things in terms of how they respond to ink.

5. Sheaffer Legacy Review: They Did The Brand Justice (via Doodlebud). I’ve been seeing reviews of the new Sheaffer Legacy - an old favorite - and find myself somewhat intrigued about the re-released version.

6. Pen Show Prep, Differently (via Rachel’s Reflections). Are you getting ready for the D.C. Pen Show? It’s upon us, starting Thursday!

7. Conway Stewart Detection Club (via Figboot on Pens). Special editions from Conway Stewart often have a great story behind them, this one is no exception. Don’t overlook this brand.

In Case You Missed It…

This week, we released Episode 13 of On The Paper Trail, in which Lisa Vanness and I discuss fountain pen inks in our first dedicated ink episode. This one focuses on permanent fountain pen inks, which seem to be having a bit of a moment judging from the volume of questions we are getting about this topic. I also published a short piece on choosing a notebook system, as well as friendly reminder of our site resources and our upcoming class/seminar at next week’s D.C. Pen Show.

I’ve been super impressed with the Nahvalur Nautilus: Ti version.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Stationery Store Day Promotion Through The Weekend!

Yesterday was Stationery Store Day, and it was a joy to see so many people come through our doors to celebrate brick-and-mortar stationery businesses! Anyone who purchased a fountain pen in-store received a complimentary ink sample, and we’re extending this promotion to any online fountain pen orders placed on Saturday and Sunday. No coupon code is necessary - a complimentary sample will be automatically added to your order. (Limit one sample per person.)

This week was a big one for new arrivals, with new Kaweco Sports from both the Kaweco Collection and standard lineups, as well as the return of Nahvalur fountain pens! We also have Lochby Mini Pocket Journals, and new Rhodia “Colors” writing pads. Be sure to check each week’s Thursday Drops e-mail for new arrivals and restocks.

Starting Wednesday (8/5), hours and shipping schedule will be slightly modified due to the D.C. Pen Show. All online orders placed between Weds-Friday (8/5-8/7) will ship in a 3-5 business day time frame. The Nashville Shop will remain open, but hours may be slightly reduced and updates posted this week.

Roterfaden

Kaweco

Nahvalur

Rhodia

How YOu Can Support us further: Visit Us on Patreon

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. In addition to exclusive content, Discord access, and online meetups, Patreon supporters have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released.

5 Considerations When Choosing a Notebook System (2026 Edition)

Next week is the D.C. Pen Show, and while I’ll be sharing table space with our friends at Vanness Pens, as we do every year, I’ll also be downstairs in the pen lounge hanging out and teaching, including my usual class on notebook systems. By “notebook system”, I’m referring to an organizational system that uses a cover to hold multiple notebooks, refills, and/or other accessories designed to work in combination. Brands that most people are familiar with include TRAVELER’S Company, Plotter, Roterfaden, Lochby, and others.

Typically when I teach this class I walk through the major types of systems and how each one works, along with some personal examples about how I’ve used different options over the years. Discussions can range from cover materials to bindings to refill sizes. I bring samples to pass around the room, and if you’ve been considering a specific brand, it’s a good way to get some hands-on experience before you make what can be an expensive purchase.

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A few different brands that I may have on hand in D.C.

For those who can’t attend the class/seminar in person, please do check out the informational resources on Notebook Systems that we maintain on the site. As my own understanding of these systems evolves, and my own use changes, I also like to periodically offer my own thoughts and recommendations on how to get started. For 2026, here’s what I typically advise when people come to see me at a show or in the shop:

1. Practicality over aesthetics. Choose a system based on your actual needs, not what you think your needs should be (or what social media tells you your needs should be). For me, there are lots of systems out there that I think look really cool, but which don’t align with how I work and organize information. The best notebook system is the one you will use, and that you won’t struggle with incorporating into your everyday life.

2. Start slowly. Pick the one system you think will work best for you, and use it for a while to see if there are any holes in your workflow or organization. Add accessories as you need them, which helps to control costs. Try to avoid buying multiple new systems at once and testing them at the same time, as this prevents you from diving deep enough to understand how each system works.

3. That said, don’t be afraid to eventually use more than one system. I personally use a combination of different notebook systems, because I’ve found that each fits better in a different area of my life. The key is to be intentional about how you add things.

4. Universal sizing is almost always better than proprietary. Beware of companies that try to sell you an expensive cover where the only refill that fits is the notebook that company sells. If that company goes out of business, or you discover you don’t like the paper, you end up having to make your own refills or start over. Check measurements carefully and if at all possible choose standard A5 or B6 sizes or the slim equivalents of the same. Height is more important than width, especially with bound refills, because a notebook can usually be trimmed down to a narrower width, but cutting a notebook across the binding to make it shorter can cause it to fall apart.

5. It doesn’t have to “look pretty.” My notebooks are not Instagram or Tiktok-ready, which is why you don’t see me post pictures of them all that often. If you enjoy doodling or decorating the margins and headers, by all means do that, but don’t feel intimidated into not trying a specific system because “I could never make look like so-and-so.” (Take it from someone who has followed the stationery influencer world behind the scenes for a very long time - many of those notebooks you see displayed on social media accounts never actually get used beyond layouts for social media posts.)

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

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You aren’t going to find any stamps and stickers in my notebooks, which don’t make great content. :)

Thursday Drops: Kaweco Sport Marble Ocean and Lunar Blue, Nahvalur Fountain Pens, and More!

At long last, our shipment of the latest Kaweco Sport fountain pens has arrived! We have the new Kaweco “Collection” Marble Ocean, as well as the Lunar Shadow Blue and Lunar Light Blue - two new variations on the current Lunar Green pens. The Kaweco distributor has communicated that these pens will be in short supply for the next few months, so apologies to everyone if we run low quickly.

The Nahvalur Eclipse is available in a wide range of color and trim combinations. (Black and Burgundy, anyone?)

We also have a fun announcement, in that we’ve brought Nahvalur (still pronounced Narwhal) back into the store! We have additional Nahvalur Nautilus fountain pens in both ebonite and titanium (!!) with their redesigned silhouette, as well as the retractable Nahvalur Eclipse fountain pen with its recently upgraded mechanism.

You can come see these and more in our Nashville shop, which is open from 1pm-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. For our Tennessee customers, Friday-Sunday is tax-free weekend in Tennessee, where certain items $100 and under are exempt from sales tax. Finally, Saturday (8/1) is Stationery Store Day, and we will be running in-store promotions with freebies!

1. Kaweco Collection Sport Marble Ocean Fountain Pen. The latest Kaweco Sport has landed, and yes, they nailed the “Earth-from-Space” look. The marbled acrylic is translucent in places, maybe making this one a candidate for Sport eyedroppering?

2. Kaweco Sport Lunar Shadow Blue and Lunar Light Blue Fountain Pens. To accompany the “Lunar Green” pens released earlier this year, Kaweco has released two new colors in the Lunar series that feature blue-tinged takes on the Lunar “Shadow” and “Light” looks. What’s your favorite?

3. Kaweco Perkeo Iridescent Pearl. We have additional Iridescent Pearl Perkeo fountain pens, available now! By far the most popular take on the Perkeo series Kaweco has released to date, Iridescent Pearl has been difficult to keep in stock.

4. Nahvalur Nautilus Ebonite Fountain Pens. Completely redesigned since we last carried this distinctive ebonite piston filler, the Nahvalur (pronounced “Narwhal”) Nautilus still features it’s signature “porthole” ink windows but now is paired with a more streamlined trim. Bronze and Black trim versions available, as well as a limited number of silver trim pens in the older design.

5. Nahvalur Nautilus: Ti Fountain Pens. In addition to the classic Ebonite, Nahvalur has released the Nautilus in a Titanium body in both black and toffee finishes. For this specific model, the nibs have been paired with ebonite feeds for an exceptionally good writing experience.

6. Nahvalur Eclipse Fountain Pen. The redesigned version of Nahvalur’s “Eclipse” retractable fountain pen has arrived, and it may be the pen that does what Platinum attempted with the now-discontinued Curidas.

7. Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog Fountain Pen. We have received more of Pilot’s recent North American exclusive - the Custom 74 Lavender Fog, which features nibs from Pilot’s “Soft” series along with a double broad (BB) option that is perfect if you’re looking for a nib to customize at one of the upcoming pen shows!

8. Pilot Custom 912 Fountain Pen. We have newly arrived stock of the Pilot Custom 912, including Falcon (FA) nib and Soft Fine-Medium (SFM) nibs. The Custom 912 essentially serves as a vehicle for Pilot’s specialty nib lineup - once available only in Japan, Pilot has made them available in the U.S.

9. Teranishi Guitar Fountain Pen Inks. The entire line of Teranishi inks is back in stock, all at one time! One of our most popular series, these inks flow exceptionally well and feature a broad range of deep colors.

10. Kakimori Pigment Inks. If you listen to our latest podcast episode, you can learn more about pigment inks, how permanent they are, and how they can be mixed with one another (within brands) to create your own custom specific colors.

On The Paper Trail Episode 13: Permanent Inks for Our First Ink Episode!

Our first fountain pen ink episode, where we discuss permanent inks! In this episode you'll learn about document inks, pigment inks, and iron gall inks, including relative waterproofness and lightfastness, pen care, and more. Fountain pen ink is a huge topic, so expect more ink-related episodes as we break things down into manageable chunks.

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

Get caught up on previous episodes, and find more information about our first On The Paper Trail Live Event, which will be held in Nashville from October 16-18, 2026! Tickets are now on sale! ⁠⁠Check out the main podcast informational page for additional details. ⁠

Show Notes and Links

1. ⁠Sunderland MK1⁠

2. ⁠Roterfaden TGS_25⁠

3. ⁠Lochby Mini Pocket Journal⁠

4. ⁠Joe's 10 Fountain Pen Post⁠

5. ⁠Custom Nib Studio⁠

6. ⁠Pilot Grance Fountain Pen⁠

7. ⁠Kaweco Pearlescent Green Perkeo⁠

8. ⁠Galen Leather A4 Folio⁠

9. ⁠Document Inks⁠

10. ⁠Kakimori Pigmented Inks⁠

11. ⁠Diamine Forever Inks⁠

12. ⁠Platinum Pigment Inks⁠

13. ⁠Platinum Iron Gall Inks⁠

14. ⁠KWZ Iron Gall Ink⁠

15. ⁠Diamine Registrar's Ink (Iron Gall)⁠

16. ⁠Results of Our Water Test⁠

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

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We even did some water tests!

New Arrivals: Lochby Mini Pocket Journals and Lochby A7 Notebooks

One category that’s been trending over the past few months is the mini pocket notebook (alternatively referred to as “card-sized,” or mini-A7). Smaller than a standard A7 notebook, these business card-sized notebooks are designed to be even more pocketable, and Lochby has now released a compatible canvas pocket folio, the “Mini Pocket Journal.” Pocket Journals feature a zippered closure with multiple card slots on the inside, allowing you to use it as a wallet.

The Mini Pocket Journal arguably improves on the larger, standard Pocket Journal by including a more flexible pen slot on the outside, adding versatility to what you can carry. (I chose an olive version for myself.) If you do prefer a larger format, we have standard Pocket Journals in multiple colors as well, which will hold up to a 3.5” x 5.5” (Field Notes-size) pocket notebook, including the Lochby version.

Come see these and more in our Nashville shop, open this week from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday. The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all Lochby products, including Lochby Field Journals and Folios, 6-Ring Binders, Tomoe River Notebooks, as well as pen and accessory cases.