• Blog
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • FAQ (Ask TGS)
  • About
  • Archive
  • Contact
  • Sign In My Account
Menu

The Gentleman Stationer

Vintage Living in the Modern World.
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • FAQ (Ask TGS)
  • About
  • Archive
  • Contact
  • Sign In My Account
Shorthand-Press Standard Notebook Mustard Cover

Thursday Drops: Yamamoto Ro-Biki Notebooks, Shorthand Press, and Anecdote!

July 10, 2025

Paper, paper, and more paper! With the occasional waxed canvas cover thrown in! Those are the themes from this week, since we introduced the Yamamoto Paper Ro-Biki lineup, new notebooks and notepads from Shorthand Press, and a restock from Andecdote, among many other things! Of all the recent new arrivals, I’m probably most excited about the Ro-Biki and the new Lochby Voyager Journals, which are the latest addition to Lochby’s growing lineup of versatile cases.

At the end of my most recent YouTube Video (which was a demonstration on how to setup the Ro-Biki cover with multiple refills), I added a special announcement about our latest collaboration release that should drop next week. Patreon members will get first refusal, though there will be plenty left over for a subsequent launch.

Please keep in mind that we are out of town on vacation next week, so the brick-and-mortar store will be closed during our normal Thursday-Saturday Hours on July 17-19. If you want to come see us and pick something up in person, come this weekend! Most online orders will continue to ship next week, though there may be a slight delay in fulfillment times. Thanks so much for continuing to support us!

  1. Yamamoto Ro-Biki Note Notebooks. Known in some pen and planner circles as “the other” narrow format notebook, Yamamoto’s Ro-Biki notebook system features wonderfully fountain pen friendly cream-colored paper with a fairly wide variety of rulings and cover designs.

  2. Yamamoto Ro-Biki Canvas Notebook Covers. These soft cotton canvas covers combine the concepts of a stationery wrap with a notebook cover, allowing you to carry up to three Ro-Biki notebooks as well as small items in the zippered pouch, plus pens and other accessories in the outside pockets.

  3. Shorthand Press Standard Notebooks and Spiral Task Pads. These hand-assembled notebooks from Los Angeles based Shorthand Press are made in the U.S., and feature a range of vintage-style lined, grid, and dot grid rulings on cream paper. The fact that they have Mint and Mustard cover options won me over immediately. Standard Notebooks are side-bound and the Task Pads are top bound, both with double brass wire-o bindings.

  4. Lochby Voyager Journals. Lochby recently released their “A5 Slim” notebook cover, which will fit Lochby’s own Voyager refills as well as Traveler’s Company and Yamamoto Ro-Biki paper refills. Fans of Lochby’s waxed canvas construction should enjoy having this option.

  5. Shorthand Press Notepads. We always get requests to bring in more desk pads, and especially undated calendar pads like these from Shorthand, though I also like their task pads and simple lined notepads.

  6. Notsu Weekly Planning Pad. Along with the Shorthand Calendar Pad, the Notsu Weekly Planning Pad is a good replacement for the now-discontinued Write Notepads undated weekly planner. This letter-sized pad allows you to easily view your entire week at a glance.

  7. Anecdote Goods “The Journal” and “The Journal Pocket”. Anecdote notebooks feature a tactile buckram cover and either dot grid or lined paper. We recently added the "Mini” pocket journals as well.

  8. Anecdote Goods Correspondence Cards. One of the most requested items for the shop has been folded correspondence cards to use for thank-you notes and letters. This simple series from Anecdote features 300g cardstock and a series of tasteful motifs.

  9. Colorverse Nebula Note “Casual” Spiral Notebooks. Nebula note paper is both tactile and ink friendly, meaning it’s excellent for both ink and pencil. Perforated pages allow you to also remove individual sheets and file them away in your binder system or other means of storage/organization.

  10. Stálogy 365-Day and Half-Year Special Colors. Stálogy recently dropped their 2025 special release colors, which are a dark Cacao Brown, Lake Blue, and a lighter Cloud Grey. All of these feature the grey rulings which can be used as an undated planner or a standard notebook!

Oh, yes, and I forgot that we added the entire line of Kuru-Toga KS Mechanical Pencils, including some limited pastel releases!

In TGS Curated Shop Tags TGS Curated Shop, Thursday Drops, New Arrivals
Yamamoto Ro-Biki Note Covers and Refills Compared

TRAVELER's Notebook vs. Yamamoto Ro-Biki: What's the Difference?

July 9, 2025

Since I’m becoming something of a notebook system specialist (Check out our new resource here!), I sometimes get questions about how the different systems compare to one another. While the Traveler’s Notebook is the most widely known “tall narrow” notebook format, there’s another option out there: The “Ro-Biki Note” series of notebooks from Yamamoto Paper. Online photos can create the perception that these two systems are related and/or interchangeable, and that’s not necessarily the case. Here are a few key differences:

The Ro-Biki canvas cover is actually more of a wrap. It ships with a velcro strap that not only closes the cover but also allows you to secure pens and other accessories in the outside pocket.

  • Different Measurements. While both Traveler’s Notebook and Ro-Biki are the same height (8.25”), the Traveler’s refill notebooks are roughly 4.25” wide, and Ro-Biki notebooks are 3.75” wide. This means that Ro-Biki notebooks will fit in a standard-size Traveler’s Notebook cover but a Traveler’s refill will be too wide for the Ro-Biki canvas cover (unless you trim the Traveler’s refill down).

  • Different Paper. Both brands use excellent paper that works well with a wide range of writing instruments - including fountain pens. Traveler’s Company mostly uses Midori MD paper for its standard refills (both companies share the same corporate parent), while also offering a wider range of options including watercolor, sketch, and ultralight Tomoe River paper. For the Ro-Biki notebooks, Yamamoto has chosen a soft cream-colored paper that I’ve seen identified as either “Chiffon Cream” or “Soliste” (which is one of the select papers in Yamamoto’s latest round of A4 packs). Again, both brands use good paper and this will come down to personal preference.

  • Different Build/Aesthetics. Traveler’s Company uses a cord-based system to hold the refills inside a basic leather cover that closes with an elastic band. The Ro-Biki is a bit more unique, in that Yamamoto has commissioned a cotton canvas cover that incorporates a zippered case and pockets along the outside. If you enjoy the Ro-Biki paper and notebook dimensions, you might find that the Ro-Biki also offers more built-in functionality out of the box, though this comes at the expense of customization. Those looking to avoid leather might also prefer the Yamamoto option.

I might take a Ro-Biki to the beach next week, since I can take it to the pool and down to the water without worrying about water getting splashed on leather.

Sorry, some of my writing had to be blurred here, for personal reasons.

Ro-Biki notebooks attach to the canvas cover by sliding the back cover of one notebook into a pocket, and then attaching additional notebooks to the “anchor notebook” using two supplied rubber bands, which are very thin and unobtrusive. Oh, and can we also get a shout-out for reticle grid? It’s one of the more underutilized rulings, IMHO.

Regardless of which stationery pouch I’m carrying, I have post-it notes, stamps, and document flags with me.

Takeaways and My Personal Thoughts

Traveler’s Notebook and Yamamoto Ro-Biki Note are different products that I suspect will appeal to different users. Traveler’s Notebook is more of a truly customizable system/system techo, while I’d characterize Ro-Biki as a notebook with a bit of built-in functionality in the canvas cover (which may be perfectly adequate for many users). Update: I’ve published a YouTube demonstration of me setting up the Ro-Biki, plus a size comparison with the Traveler’s Notebook.

Personally, I love Yamamoto’s Soliste paper, and I’ve enjoyed using one of the Ro-Biki reticle-grid notebooks for testing. This was enough to make me grab one of the covers for myself, as I already have Soliste hole-punched in my Plotters for general writing and the Ro-Biki Note paper has the same soft feel to it. (I’d love to confirm whether these are indeed Soliste notebooks - stay tuned.) Whatever paper it is, it’s handled all my inks quite well, and it makes me want to keep writing with it.

As of today, we have Yamamoto Paper Robiki covers and Robiki-Note notebooks in stock, and of course we continue to offer the full Traveler’s Notebook lineup and the new similarly sized Lochby Voyager Journals. Come see us in-store this week, starting tomorrow and Friday from 1-6, and Saturday from 10-6. Next week (July 13-20) we will be on vacation so get your shopping in before then!

In Notebook Review Tags Traveler's Notebook, Yamamoto Paper, Yamamoto Ro-Biki, Ro-Biki Note, Notebook Systems, Notebook Review
1 Comment

New Arrivals: Notebooks and Classic Stationery from Shorthand Press and Anecdote!

July 8, 2025

Write Notepads’ decision to exit the retail market earlier this year left a gap in our lineup for quality U.S.-made stationery, which might become especially important in the immediate future given global trade conditions. I’m happy to announce that we’ve added items from Los Angeles-based Shorthand Press to our lineup, including their gorgeous “Standard Notebook” featuring letterpress covers, as well as printed notepads featuring weekly undated calendar layouts, task lists, and standard line formats.

The Shorthand Calendar Pad comes with 26 sheets, each of which contains 5 undated weeks.

We’ve also restocked on the Anecdote Hardcover A5 Journals in dot grid, while adding the “Pocket Journal” Mini format, which is a 3.5” x 5.5” hardcover lined notebook that’s perfect for writing on the go. Finally, we’ve introduced an item that’s been requested by both our online and in-store customers: correspondence cards, featuring some simple designs that keep the emphasis on the writing. Be sure to check out these and more as we will be busy adding new items over the next several weeks!

Come see these and more in-shop! We are open regular hours this week, 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday, before we take some time off for vacation July 13-20. Online orders will continue to be processed during this time.

The Anecdote Pocket Mini Hardcover Journals are available in all the same colors, in Anecdote’s signature buckram cover.

In TGS Curated Shop Tags New Arrivals, TGS Curated Shop, Anecdote, Shorthand Press

I love it when people bring their stuff by to show me how they use it!

Sunday Reading for July 6, 2025

July 6, 2025
  1. 2025 St. Louis Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). The St. Louis Pen Show is one of those shows that is difficult for me to attend due to timing, as June either conflicts with family vacation or the very busy tourist season here in our Nashville store. Based on this and all the other write-ups, however, it looks like this show is starting to hit its stride.

  2. St. Louis Pen Show 2025 (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I love reading recaps from first-time pen show attendees. The classes in St. Louis sounded great…. Also, as I further note below, there’s something to be said for getting nibs tuned in person at a show vs. by mail.

  3. Unboxing the Pen Tray I Didn’t Know I Needed: Stationery Stack Alfie (via dwrdnet). I plan to do a review of my own Alfie soon - I love this tray and have been using it in my own home office.

  4. Maybe It’s Not Coming Back (via Line Variation). I’m generally advising people these days to take pens to shows for nib grinds and modifications, especially for first grinds, mainly because I’m seeing reports such as this one of businesses going incommunicado. (No names are mentioned in this post, but I understand the issue is not limited to any one business and very much needs to improve.)

  5. Everyday Carry: Lochby Sidekick and Fisher Vortex Space Pen (via Urban Adventure League). Fisher and Rite in the Rain both make some excellent slim pens perfect for EDC and pocket carry.

  6. One of My Favorite Blues: The Wet Pen’s Rainier Blue (via Inkdependence). I picked up some of the new Wet Pen Inks during their most recent release. I didn’t snag Ranier Blue, but this one looks nice.

  7. The Pen of King Charles III (via Figboot on Pens). I didn’t watch the coronation or follow the festivities with any degree of attention, but the fact that they were willing to send David this pen for review is amazing.

  8. Lamy’s Song Dynasty Safari (via Bleistift). I love the yellow clip and the jade white finish. I wish Lamy did more special editions in these more muted colors for the U.S. market.

  9. Tool Review: Dominant Industry Rubber Stamps (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’ve been enjoying archiving inks in my Dominant Industry Ink Archiving Book (more on that later), and these stamps seem to be along the same lines.

  10. Save the Date… (via Pelikan’s Perch). I’m actually surprised to see this because given we are only a few months out, I had assumed Pelikan Hubs 2025 would not be going forward. But October 24th it is….

In Case You Missed It…

This week saw me finish a personal journal and pick a new one, going with the Maruman Mnemosyne A5 Hardcover in mint green! I also continued my revamp of the site resource pages and published a Notebook Systems landing page, which collects informational resources on different notebook systems that I’ve written over the years. Keep an eye out for more resources, especially as we head towards the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows next month!

Finally, over on the YouTube Channel I posted a video with swatches of all the Lamy Crystal inks. These are great inks which should be getting more attention!

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: Last Call for 4th of July Weekend Specials

Our 4th of July Promotion on Planners and some Notebook Systems ends today at 11:59pm U.S. Central Time. We’re at the midpoint of 2025, and now is a great time to grab slight discount, including on the special Stálogy releases and the latest additions to the Lochby lineup, including the new Voyager Journals and Mini Field Journals! We also have some new inks, including two new-to-us lines such as the Lamy Crystal and Private Reserve lines.

Lochby
Lochby
Planner Stickers
Planner Stickers
Multi Pens
Multi Pens
Desk Accessories
Desk Accessories

PAtreon curated stationery boxes are available!

If you’re a Patreon supporter, be sure to check the Patreon feed because the second round of quarterly curated stationery boxes are available, with plans to start shipping by the end of the month. 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 like this one, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive shop releases (including the Taschenstift “Violet Tendencies”), the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. As noted above, we’ve recently started a Discord community for all paid Patreon supporters.

In LInks Tags Links

Plotter is only one of the various notebook systems I discuss.

Ask TGS: New Notebook Systems Informational Resource Page

July 5, 2025

As part of the ongoing site refresh of the various T.G.S. informational resources, I’ve created a page specifically dedicated to notebook systems and select blog posts and YouTube videos from over the years. I regularly receive questions from readers and customers who are considering investing in a notebook system and want to be sure they are choosing the best one for their specific needs, so a resource such as this one is probably long overdue. I plan on updating it as I work on new content, some of which is specifically designed to fill the gaps in what already exists here. I hope you find it helpful.

Don’t forget that all weekend, we are running a special on planners and some notebook systems in the shop! Take an extra 10% off your order with the coupon code “FIREFLY” at checkout, and come see us in-store. We are here Saturday until 6pm.

In Ask TGS, Editorial Tags Resources, Ask TGS, Site Update
Older Posts →
Store Location
Visit the T.G.S. Curated SHOP
*New* Updated "Best Pens" Guide (2025)
TGS x Hinze Pens Violet Tendencies Taschenstift Fountain Pen
Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper
Allex Scissors arrayed on a desk showing link to desk accessories

Join Our Patreon!
Subscribe to the TGS E-mail List

Featured Posts

Featured
Joe's-Journals-New-Old.jpeg
Jul 2, 2025
Time to Pick a New Personal Journal: Maruman Mnemosyne Hardcover A5 Journal
Jul 2, 2025
Jul 2, 2025
Desk-Accessoris-Unstaged.jpeg
Jun 25, 2025
Getting Personal: Five "Stationery Adjacent" Items I Can't Live Without
Jun 25, 2025
Jun 25, 2025
Pilot-Iroshizuku-Yama-Budo-Writing-Sample.jpeg
May 24, 2025
Joe's Picks: Five Favorite Inks From Pilot's Iroshizuku Lineup
May 24, 2025
May 24, 2025
The Gentleman Stationer RSS

© Digital Divide Media, LLC, 2014-present.

All content is the exclusive property of Digital Divide Media, LLC, d/b/a The Gentleman Stationer, including “The Gentleman Stationer” website and trademark, and should not be reproduced without express written permission.  All rights reserved.

All content containing paid advertising, affiliate links, or sponsored content will be plainly disclosed by a disclaimer when/if featured.

Contact Information

Store Shipping Policy and Return Policy

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Terms and Conditions

Powered by Squarespace