My Galen Leather writing box, set up per my actual everyday use. Ok, so I cleaned it up a bit, but all of this stuff lives in the box and it will close. It holds a bunch.

My Personal Journaling Setup

July 23, 2020

Instead of a traditional Deals & Drops setup this week, I wanted to give you all a glimpse behind the camera into my everyday “writing life,” including a product that I’ve had for a while but have never featured here: the Galen Leather Writing Box. I’ve kitted this out as my “journaling station,” which sits beside the armchair in my office and holds most of the stationery supplies I use frequently. Over the past several months, this setup has received a lot of use. I’ve long been a fan of antique writing boxes, and Galen Leather’s version apparently was inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s own design. As a bonus, at the bottom of this post I’ve included shots of my own antique writing box that I’ve owned for 20+ years. Enjoy!

Galen Leather Writing Box (via Vanness Pens). I finally picked one of these pieces up at last year’s D.C. Pen Show, and once the pandemic hit I outfitted it with everything I needed for my daily writing sessions. I might not use it in “briefcase mode” with the included leather straps, but it makes a great lap desk with interior storage and organization. I’ve had no issues with warping - I’ve owned the box for nearly a year and I can say that problem appears to have been fixed. They are out of stock on the main Galen website but Vanness has some available.
Nanami Paper Cafe Note (via Nanami Paper). For most of my journaling and personal writing, I use either the B6 Cafe Note or the Hobonichi Techo A6, the latter of which you will have to wait a couple of months to buy when the 2021 editions are released. (Honestly, buying anything “2020” right now just seems like it would be asking for bad karma.) Go ahead and get a Cafe Note in B6 or A6 instead.
Field Notes Pocket Notebooks (via TGS Curated Shop). I’ve gone back to Field Notes as my mobile repository for reading notes. I tend to take notes in the margins with pencil as I read (especially nonfiction), and Field Notes pocket notebooks work well because they are slim and tuck well inside a book. I’m falling back in love with these things as I use them more, and will end up stocking most of the line shortly.
TWSBI ECO Fountain Pens in Yellow and White/Rose Gold (via Pen Chalet). When I’m journaling, I tend not to want to be distracted by the pen I’m using at any given time. Rather, I want a simple pen that holds a lot of ink (typically something versatile and reliable). The TWSBI ECO fits the bill here.
Book Darts (via TGS Curated Shop). I always read with a tin of Book Darts nearby, especially if I’m reading nonfiction or a book that I plan on re-reading or perusing again in the future. Book Darts are archivally safe (meaning they won’t cause the page to deteriorate) and can be removed and reused, though they’re relatively inexpensive so I tend to leave them in place long-term.
Duncan Shotton Sticky Page Markers (via Duncan Shotton Design Studios/Etsy). Book Darts are great, but sometimes you just need a temporary sticky note-type page marker. I went with the “Mars” version, because if aliens is an option, I’m definitely going with aliens.
Washi Tape (via TGS Curated Shop). Washi tape is useful for sticking things into your journal, such as pictures or old sticky notes/scraps of paper you end up wanting to keep. You can also take a small piece and fold it over the edge of a page in a notebook, to make a permanent place marker or to mark off sections if you index your notebooks.
NJK Long Point Pencil Sharpener (via C.W. Pencils). NJK makes an exceptional long-point pencil sharpener for the money, especially if you want one that’s portable enough to carry around in your pocket.
Caran D’Ache Graphicolor Highlighter/Graphite Pencil (via T.G.S. Curated Shop). My pencil of choice for reading, so I keep several stashed in my writing box. I love highlighter pencils, and Caran D’Ache graphite is firm enough to let you annotate and take notes while reading without having to worry about sharpening excessively.
Pokka Pens Ballpoints (via TGS Curated Shop). Honestly, I never leave the house without these things. I have clear cap Pokkas in stock, even though they are now sold out on the main Pokka site.

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Clockwise from top: Blackfeet Indian Pencil, Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Arlecchino, Platinum Procyon, Matthew Martin OG1, and CW&T Pen Type-B.

2020 Mid-Year Recap: Five Favorite Products from the Year So Far

July 18, 2020

Notwithstanding the fact that 2020 has turned out to be a general s&*^show, resulting in the cancellation of all pen shows since March and for the foreseeable future, the past six months have not been entirely without bright spots. Actually, being stuck at home working remotely has provided me with much more time with my stationery and the products I review, and I’ve enjoyed having this opportunity to do more in-depth dives. Each of the following products that appear on this year’s July recap list is something that I’ve ended up using extensively at various times throughout the first half of 2020. If I had to pick the two that get the most regular use, I would say the Platinum Procyon (an excellent inexpensive daily writer that sits in the Penwell on my desk at home), and the CW&T Pen Type-B, which has been my non-fountain pen of choice. My favorite, however, is easily my Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Arlecchino, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next three I have on order.

Here’s to hoping that the second half of 2020 is better than the first, and that we can all see a return to normalcy, including visiting and sharing pens in person once again! Enjoy my five favorite reviews of 2020 to date:

Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Arlecchino Fountain Pen. I’ve enjoyed watching Leonardo grow their brand over the past few years, and I’ve long been a fan of the standard Momento Zero. The Momento Zero Grande takes it to a new level with gorgeous custom materials (including the much-hyped, forthcoming “Primary Manipulation” collaboration with Jonathon Brooks) and a larger body size. The “Arlecchino” was Leonardo’s re-creation of a beloved OMAS celluloid that unfortunately had a tendency to deteriorate over time. This version is resin, so hopefully I expect to enjoy this pen for years to come.
Matthew C. Martin OG1 Fountain Pen. I discovered Matt’s work at the 2019 Atlanta Pen Show, but didn’t pick up one of his pens until Philadelphia in January. This pen didn’t leave my pen case for four months, and will be going back into rotation soon. Combining superb machining with a comfortable design and indestructible materials, the OG1 has become one of my favorite EDC fountain pens.
Platinum Procyon Fountain Pen. Platinum continues to dominate the low-cost and lower mid-range pen market, with the Procyon making a strong showing in the $50-60 price bracket. The Procyon has definitely grown on me throughout the year, and features Platinum’s signature “Slip & Seal” technology that reduces ink evaporation and prevents the nib from drying out. While Slip & Seal might not be a critical feature for everyone, it can come in handy if you like to keep an inexpensive pen permanently inked up on your desk or another location for infrequent use.
Blackfeet Indian Pencil. My “blast from the past” review of the pencil I recall fondly from my childhood. I went on a bit of an eBay stockpiling spree and now have several dozen of these in my discontinued stationery archive. And yes, they’re as good as I remember.
CW&T Pen Type-B. I resisted the call of the Pen Type-B for years, but I have to agree with Brad. It’s good. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re a die-hard fan of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C, there’s no better pen body out there, in my humble opinion. Here’s another pen that’s found its way onto my “quarantine desk,” and isn’t leaving anytime soon.

My Top 10 Blackwing Volumes Pencils

June 27, 2020

Most stationery subscription services haven’t stuck with me. Around this same time last year, I wrote an article titled “Are Stationery Subscription Services Worth It?” in which I looked at the pros and cons of having a steady stream of new releases automatically coming to your mailbox. Personally, nothing much has changed since then in terms of my own situation. I still subscribe to both Blackwing Volumes and C.W. Pencil Enterprise’s “Pencil Box” subscription service. Though I considered resubscribing to Field Notes in light of the great releases they’ve put out over the past year, I don’t use enough pocket notebooks to justify it. (Anyway, now that I’m both a Field Notes and Write Notepads retailer, this isn’t such a big deal, as I have an endless supply of notebooks if I see an edition I like or I somehow run out. In many ways, the problem is worse, because I have this constant temptation to raid the store inventory for my personal stash, but that’s a story for a different time.)

So what keeps me coming back to Blackwing Volumes? It’s not as though I’m using up a dozen of each release on a monthly, or even an annual, basis. Honestly, it’s more about supporting the brand’s creativity and guaranteeing that I’m able to enjoy each of the releases, which can sell out quickly. If there’s one I don’t particularly like, or if the pencils pile up to the point where I can’t use them all, pencils are easy to give away, and I have a school-age child.

It’s easy to see which Volumes get the most use.

What I realized while waiting for Blackwing Volume 3 (Ravi Shankar) to arrive, is that I’ve never done a deep dive and talked about my favorite Blackwings, and with so many special editions having been released over the past few years there are some exceptional pencils to choose from. As a relatively long-term subscriber, I have most of the editions in my personal stash, with the exception of the very early ones. Here are my favorites:

Blackwing Volume 344: Dorothea Lange. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that I have a half gross of these tucked away. The combination of the deep red burgundy barrel, red imprint, and bright red ferrule - well, other than maybe the upcoming Volume 3, I’m not sure there’s a pencil that’s a better fit for my personal taste.
Blackwing Volume 211: John Muir. I don’t have many 211s left, but I honestly prefer the standard release Blackwing Natural, with it’s grey eraser and extra-firm graphite. (I actually think I only have a single 211 left, and I couldn’t find it, which is why the Natural appears in the photo at the top.)
Blackwing Volume 10: Nellie Bly. An underrated release that doesn’t get enough love. The simplicity of the matte grey finish, inspired by newsprint, makes this a pencil I could use everyday.
Blackwing Volume 73: Lake Tahoe. The raised texture on this pencil gets me. Plus, this one features Blackwing’s softest graphite found in the original Blackwing MMX (now the “Blackwing Matte”).
Blackwing Volume 24: John Steinbeck. I love this pencil not only for the blacked-out color scheme, but because it’s the first Blackwing pencil to feature their “extra-firm” graphite, which is an excellent choice for drafting and long-form writing. I sometimes swap out the black eraser for a pink one, just to add a little contrast.
Blackwing Volume 16.2: Ada Lovelace. I’m not a computer programmer, or even that technologically adept, but I love the combination of the white barrel and black ferrule.
Blackwing Volume 1: Guy Clark. The first (and to date, only) Blackwing Volumes editions to feature a round barrel. While I’m a Nashville native, and maintain some familiarity with country music, I’ve never been a huge Guy Clark fan, but I certainly appreciate how they pulled this one together.
Blackwing Volume 155: Bauhaus. Of course this one was going to make the list. My collection of Bauhaus-inspired writing instruments increases yet again.
Blackwing Volume 530: California Gold Rush. The second Blackwing pencil to feature the extra-firm graphite, this model was a tribute to California Historical Site No. 530, where gold was first discovered. The banded ferrule added another unique touch to a pencil that’s a favorite for many.
Blackwing Volume 4: Mars. Volume 4 was somewhat controversial due to the gritty texture of the paint, but the combination of the dark orange barrel, gunmetal ferrule, and the soft MMX graphite keeps this one in my rotation.

All pencils pictured here are from my own personal collection. As of 2024, The Gentleman Stationer is now an authorized retailer of Blackwing, so you can purchase directly from us and show your support!

The Sad, Strange Saga of Crane Stationery

June 20, 2020

Amidst the turmoil that has enveloped the country since March, it’s understandable that the travails of stationery companies wouldn’t receive much attention in the mainstream national press. Still, Crane & Co.’s decision to drastically reduce their workforce by 200+ individuals and close their North Adams, Massachusetts manufacturing facility is notable not only because it’s a cautionary tale for those stationery companies that fail to adapt to modern realities, but also because it marks yet another end of an iconic American stationery manufacturer with more than 200 years of history behind it.

Based on the limited media coverage and my own discussions with knowledgeable sources, the January bankruptcy and closure of retailer Papyrus - Crane’s largest distributor and retail footprint - threw the Company into a precarious financial situation from which it simply couldn’t recover once COVID-19 forced the shutdown of the North Adams facility in March. What followed was a series of apparently ham-handed efforts to manage the fallout, which saw the company get embroiled in a dispute with the local officials over their attempt to re-open as an “essential business” in alleged violation of local COVID-19 guidelines, followed by an announcement that the “reopening” would be temporary, and that 200+ Crane employees would be laid off on June 19, and the North Adams manufacturing facility closed.

Indeed. #feelingrightnow #dowagercountess #penaddict #fpgeeks #crane #cranestationery #stationery #finewriting #downtonabbey

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It’s unclear whether this is the end of Crane as a brand. Parent company Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. has stated that they plan to relocate an unspecified (i.e., small) number of employees to their main facility in Cohoes, New York. Other sources say that all remaining employees will be laid off by September. As of now, the Crane website is still live, and their COVID-19 statement still emphasizes that “Crane products are exclusively produced in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and have been for 2019 years. We are inextricably connected to the wellbeing of our community, and its wellbeing will always be our top priority.” In my opinion, not the best look given everything that’s occurred, and one would think that clearer messaging might be in order. Then again, I’m not sure whether Crane’s “core consumer” cares as much about the history behind the company and American stationery traditions in the same way readers of this blog might.

Regardless of whether “Crane” stationery continues to technically exist, the end of a storied 200-year run of making stationery in the Berkshires will be sad to see. I have the Crane engraving plates for the personal stationery for three generations of my family, as do, I suspect, many in this community. I’ve not paid much attention to Crane outside their (well received) efforts a couple of years ago to expand their business beyond wedding invitations and formal stationery, but when I visited their setup at the National Stationery Show in January, the company seemed poised to branch out further with some new licensing deals and collaborations designed to appeal to a more modern consumer. I presume that going forward, Mohawk will continue to fulfill orders for wedding invitations and personal stationery via Crane’s existing retail footprint, but it will be interesting to see whether any effort is made to grow the brand further. They could continue to build on 200 years of tradition, or Crane could simply go the way of Eberhard-Faber and other former stationery “greats” and become just another label. This will likely be a story I continue to follow, so stay tuned….

How To Choose The Best Pen For You

June 13, 2020

By far, the most common question I receive through the website and via social media DMs is "I want to buy my first nice pen. What kind of pen should I buy?" It's also one of the most difficult question to answer, because it depends on so many variables: personal aesthetic preferences, how you plan to use the pen, and of course, your budget. I firmly believe that if you're going to buy a pen that you will use everyday, it's worth it to take some time, carefully consider the purchase, and spend what you need (and can comfortably afford) to get the right tool that actually works for you. Don't set your heart on an expensive fountain pen simply because other people think fountain pens are the only option for "real" pen enthusiasts. For many people, ballpoints, rollerballs, and gel pens are infinitely more practical solutions, and you can find great pens of all types at every price point.

When considering a purchase, I'd encourage you to ask yourself the following questions. If you choose wisely, you'll get years of enjoyment from your new companion.

What Type of Writing Do You Do?

Are you writing mostly at a desk, where ink can take time to dry and things like water resistance are less important? If so, you probably have a lot of flexibility. Or do you spend your days "in the field," jotting down notes in a pocket notebooks or otherwise writing while standing up? Then it might be hard for you to use a fountain pen, especially one that you have to cap/uncap one-handed while simultaneously holding a notebook or a clipboard. When I'm away from my desk, I find myself reaching more and more for a ballpoint pen, gel pen, or a woodcase pencil, which are not only easier to deploy but also withstand things like rain and coffee rings.

Are You Right or Left Handed?

For lefties, choosing the proper pen can be tricky, depending on how you hold the pen and whether you tend to smudge ink that doesn't dry quickly enough. Many fountain pen inks can take as long as a minute to dry, and even more if you use slick paper. I'm right-handed, but the other two members of my household are southpaws. One is an "underwriter" who can use pretty much any pen comfortably, including fountain pens. The other can't, and sticks to ballpoints and quick-drying gel pens. For lefty-related questions, I would refer you to Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk, who has published a wealth of helpful information on considerations for left-handed writers.

Do You Have a Favorite Type of Paper?

Some people absolutely love Field Notes, Moleskines, composition books, and yellow legal pads, or want the flexibility of being able to use whatever their office stocks in the supply closet or printer. The problem is, most fountain pens and many rollerballs tend to feather and bleed through most thin or inexpensive paper, leaving you with ballpoint, gel pens, or even pencil as your most plausible "cheap paper" options.

Writing with a fountain pen or rollerball will likely force you to more carefully consider your paper choices. Clairefontaine, Rhodia, Leuchtturm, and house favorite Write Notepads all make excellent and more widely available paper that handles water-based ink quite well, but the paper may be more expensive than what you are used to. If you churn through lots of notebooks or legal pads, this is something to keep in mind.

For additional guidance on all things paper, check out my recent five part series, "The Best Paper for Everyday Writing," in which I discuss Hardcover Notebooks (Part I), Softcover Notebooks (Part II), Spiral Notebooks (Part III), Pocket Notebooks (Part IV), and other things like pads, notecards, and looseleaf paper (Part V).

A fountain pen requires more cleaning and maintenance than a rollerball, ballpoint, or gel pen, but would you really miss out on the hundreds of colors offered by brands like Diamine?

Is "Low Maintenance" Important to You? How Do You Feel About Filling a Pen from an Ink Bottle?

It doesn't get much easier than popping a new refill into a ballpoint, rollerball, or gel pen once the old one runs out of ink. If you value convenience and refill availability above all else, these are obvious choices. The downside is that you miss out on the range of colors available to fountain pen users, especially those willing to fill from an ink bottle! Sure, ink can make a mess, and I've stained my share of clothes, carpet, and desktops, but there's something timeless and almost meditative about taking the time to clean and re-ink a fountain pen that I would never give up.

Are You Prone to Losing Things?

If so, consider a nicer "disposable" pen, or, if you want to keep pens out of the landfill, an inexpensive pen that still gives you the option of refilling. Platinum's "Preppy" fountain pen is a serviceable writer that costs less than $5 and uses Platinum ink cartridges. Similarly, the Pokka Pen ballpoint was conceived after the owner tired of losing expensive Fisher Space Pen "bullet" pens. You get the same compact functionality in a disposable pen that can still be refilled if you wish. Personally, I don't worry too much about losing my nicer pens. I've always found that if I spend at least a little more money I'm more conscientious about the purchase and less likely to misplace or damage it. I've been in the pen hobby for nearly 10 years, using a LOT of pens, and I think the value of pens I've lost over that time is well under $100.

The Lamy Safari ballpoint offers an excellent (and versatile) writing experience that you can find for less than $20.

What’s Your Budget?

Of all the considerations on this list, price is the least important. Excellent pens exist at every price point, and just because you might have less than $20 to spend doesn't preclude you from getting a good pen that meets your needs, especially if you're willing to consider a ballpoint. I recently reviewed the Lamy Safari ballpoint, and Fisher Space Pen makes a wide range of products to hold their excellent pressurized refills. What I would encourage, however, is to spend as much as you can comfortably afford to get a pen that actually meets your needs. Chances are, you'll be happier with the purchase and won't be as tempted to "try more pens" to find something better.

I maintain a list of "Best Pen" recommendations that I update annually, with pen recommendations at a variety of price points. Also, TGS has more than four years of archived content, including reviews, lists, and guides focused pens and stationery for all budgets.

I hope you've enjoyed this article. If you have further questions about a pen you're considering, please don't hesitate to drop a question in the comments, using the "Contact Me" link, or directly emailing me at joe(at)gentlemanstationer.com. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: Please be advised that many of the links to purchasing options here and elsewhere on the site are to paid sponsors and affiliates, and in certain cases my own Curated Shop, which is how I support the site and keep things running.