• 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

This week’s deskscape: Trying to get back on the journaling horse.

Sunday Reading for September 26, 2021

September 26, 2021
  1. SCRIBO Piuma Impressione with EEF Nib (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony reviews the latest from SCRIBO, including their new needlepoint nib. While I do understand that some nibs need time to “break in,” I’m also wondering why nib are going out the door that won’t write at all?

  2. The TWSBI Swipe (via Left Hook Pens). A great review of a great little pen, whether you’re an experienced pen user or just looking to take the fountain pen plunge.

  3. Visconti Homo Sapiens Evolution with the Chromium Nib (via Dapprman). A really interesting and creative design from Visconti, though possibly hampered by production issues and functionality.

  4. Pilot Custom 823 and Custom 845 (Urushi) (via Scrively). This is an excellent video overview of two pens that are “grails” for many.

  5. Getting to Know the Nomi Notebook (via Penquisition). Evan reviews an interesting product that hopes to balance environmental sustainability with quality stationery.

  6. Ferris Wheel Press Brush Fountain Pen (via Macchiato Man). Yagan has a very thorough review of the Brush fountain pen from Canadian company Ferris Wheel Press, which has been cultivating a higher profile in the community over the past several months.

  7. Giants’ Pens Maple and Resin Fountain Pen (via Rants of the Archer). I’m discovering all sorts of pen companies that I never heard of before. This pen from Giants’ Pens in the Netherlands is beautiful.

  8. Ink Overview (Esterbrook Inks, Part I) (via Macchiato Man). Yagan takes a look at some of the new Esterbrook Inks, with multiple writing samples using different pens and papers.

  9. Private Reserve Old vs. New Part 2 (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana looks at the new Private Reserve inks, since their re-release, and how they compare to older formulations.

  10. Gravitas Skittle Fountain Pen Matte Finish (via Pen Addict). I need to get my hands on a Gravitas Pen soon. That design (and especially the finish) are calling to me.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published my thoughts on Stálogy Paper, after using one of their Half-Year notebooks for two months in my work planner. I also launched the first part of a HUGE project I’ve been working on for several months now: the first installment of an easily navigable content archive, which pulls together most of the fountain pen reviews on T.G.S. from over the past 7 years. Go get lost in the last decade’s worth of pen reviews!

Curated Shop Pen Show Specials

Since I couldn’t attend the Dallas Pen Show, I’m running a tiered gift promotion this week in the shop, with special add-ons for $50 and $100 orders. I’ll extend it through Sunday today. I’ve also had a ton of restocks on various product lines, including Traveler’s Company and Midori, and I’ve added the Maruman Mnemosyne line as a brand. All of these make great workhorse notebooks and paper!

Kokuyo Trip Books
Kokuyo Trip Books
TWSBI
TWSBI
Mnemosyne
Mnemosyne
Midori MD A4
Midori MD A4

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

In LInks Tags Links
3 Comments

A daily driver from this week: A Schon DSGN Ultem Fountain Pen with an Inverted Architect nib from The Nib Tailor.

Sunday Reading for September 19, 2021

September 19, 2021
  1. Treasures in the Attic: A Time Capsule Rediscovered (via Pelikan’s Perch). I love stories about “lost treasures” and “time-capsule” discoveries. These vintage Pelikans literally look brand new.

  2. Esterbrook JR Paradise Orange Sunset (via Rants of the Archer). I love the look of the cap on the JR Paradise series, with the bright acrylics and contrasting finial.

  3. Introducing Susan: The Penquisition Tornado Exclusive Retro 51 Rollerball (via Penquisition). Congratulations to the crew at Penquisition for launching this gorgeous Maryland-themed Tornado. For each pen sold, $3 will be donated to the Living Classrooms Foundation. Learn more over at Penquisition.

  4. Visconti Bronze Age with 18k Nib (via Dapprman). I have a Visconti Bronze Age that I picked up last year, and while I enjoy the new 18k nib much better than the palladium, I had the same issue with a nib with splayed tines. After Mark Bacas fixed it in D.C., it writes like a dream, but if you’re eyeing one of these I’d still budget for an adjustment.

  5. Esterbrook Estie Sea Glass Review (via Writing at Large). I agree that the standard Estie is an exceptional writer, and the new “Sea Glass” material is absolutely gorgeous. Esties also offer the opportunity to try out pre-ground specialty nibs such as the Journaler (a smooth cursive italic) and the Scribe (an architect).

  6. Fountain Pens from My Collection: Lamy AL-Star (via Fountain Pen Love). AL-Star or Safari? Which one would you choose? And how does the Vista fall into this category?

  7. Color Traveler Ninoshima Baumkuchen (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This looks like another great color from the Color Traveler Series, in a gold tone, but it looks like this may be another example of a color with an extremely long dry time.

  8. Waterman Serenity Blue (via Mountain of Ink). I just checked and realized that I’m out of Waterman Serenity Blue in my ink cabinet. What is wrong with me!?

  9. The Pen Addict Podcast - Fountain Pen Companion with Urban Hafner (via Pen Addict). This week’s Pen Addict Podcast is a must-listen, especially if you’re curious to learn more about the Fountain Pen Companion website and database.

  10. Ask the Desk: Sharpeners, Skripsert Converters, and Staples Legal Pads (via Well-Appointed Desk). I was featured in this week’s “Ask the Desk” post about legal pads. I probably should write a more thorough response at some point, but unless you can find the now-elusive Staples sugarcane/bagasse paper, I’ve had a terrible time finding decent legal pads that can handle fountain pen ink and allow you to write on both sides of the page. I’ve not been able to find a brand that writes consistently well, and have just gone the Rhodia/Write Notepads route (and sometimes just use a pencil or ballpoint).

  11. Ink Review: Private Reserve Old vs. New (via Well-Appointed Desk). In case you haven’t heard, Private Reserve Ink is now owned by Yafa, and there have been changes to the ink formulation. Ana has a comparison that looks at some favorite colors.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed two inks from Color Traveler: Shodoshima Olive Green and Mihara Daruma Red. I also wrote about two custom nib grinds from my friend J.C. Ament at The Nib Tailor, who recently launched his business full-time. We need more working nib grinders, as fountain pens (and especially custom nibs) only continue to increase in popularity!

Are you a fan of blue pens? You can’t miss the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue.

New in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

The big news was the launch of the TWSBI 580 ALR in Navy Blue, which I consider one of the better looking TWSBI ALR releases due to the fact that the color changes from navy to cobalt blue to … well, I see a bunch of different shades, depending on the lighting. You need to check this one out. We also now carry TWSBI nib units for the Diamond 580 series. This week’s Deals & Drops highlighted pencils and standard office supplies, a category we’re interested in building out.

Caran d'Ache
Caran d'Ache
Kokuyo
Kokuyo
TWSBI
TWSBI
Reading Accessories
Reading Accessories

Visit Us at the Dallas Pen Show This Coming Weekend!

The Dallas Pen Show takes place this coming Friday and Saturday, September 24-25. Dallas is a bit of a different experience because it’s a two-day show (which runs until 8pm on Friday!), and I’ve never been so I’m excited to meet some new folks. I will have a table next to Vanness Pens, and will be bringing goods from Traveler’s Company (including the full Traveler’s Notebook experience), Write Notepads, Caran d’Ache, Sunderland Machine Works and more!

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

In LInks Tags Links
Comment

Sunday Reading for September 12, 2021

September 12, 2021
  1. On Closing (via C.W. Pencils). In case you haven’t heard the news, C.W. Pencil Enterprise will be closing its doors after seven years. To say this is a huge loss for the community is the understatement of all understatements, and I wish Caroline & team all the best for the future. Be sure to support all of your local and independent stationery retailers. If you value their contributions and want them to stay around, it’s important that you act with your dollars.

  2. Nakaya: For Your Hand Only (via Tokyo Station Pens). If you’re a fan of Nakaya fountain pens and would like to understand more about the history behind this influential boutique brand, this is an excellent article.

  3. The Three-Pen Collection for £1,000 (via UK Fountain Pens). I love the Worn & Wound series that inspired this post, and my three picks would look very similar to Anthony’s. The fact that the Schon DSGN Pocket 6 breaks the top three shows just how good they are and how much traction the brand is getting.

  4. The Three-Pen Collection for $1000 (via FPQuest). Here’s the latest U.S. version! I definitely need to come up with my own rendition soon…. Stay tuned.

  5. San Francisco Pen Show Haul (via Pen Addict). Kimberly shows off her San Francisco Pen Show prizes, including that Pininfarina PF Two which is on my short list of pens to review.

  6. My Summer Vacation AKA the SF Pen Show 2021 (via Well-Appointed Desk). Julia shares her San Francisco Pen Show stories in this guest post over at the Well-Appointed Desk.

  7. Color Traveler Tomonoura Sunset Sepia (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Color Traveler is a Japanese ink brand out of Hiroshima, that I don’t have a lot of experience with although I do have a couple of their colors in for review. I have found that while I love the colors, the ink has longer dry times and can remain “sticky” for quite some time in wetter nibs.

  8. Aratrum Calamus (via Dapprman). I’ve not heard of this brand before, but I do like the design, especially the ink window.

  9. Composition Book Round Up, Part 2 and Part 3 (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Les has the remaining installments of her annual composition book round-ups, looking at this year’s offerings from both Staples and Wal-Mart.

  10. Odyssey Notebooks Tomoe River 68gsm - Milky Way (via Gourmet Pens). I have an Odyssey notebook that I picked up at the D.C. Show. Stay tuned for my own thoughts as I work it into the review queue, but needless to say 68gsm Tomoe River is one of my favorite papers.

This Week on the Blog: In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I was back to some original content, with the fifth installment of my Vintage Pen Primer series and a post about vintage nibs in modern pens. I also wrote a short piece discussing paper sizing and how various popular sizes compare to one another. I plan on making an effort to do more of these posts responding to frequently asked reader questions.

Curated Shop and Pen Show Updates - TWSBI Rose Gold Restock and Navy Blue 580 ALRs!

New arrivals this week include a restock on TWSBI 580 Rose Gold Fountain Pens (which I can’t restock fast enough, apparently), a restock of the new Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pen, and the new TWSBI 580 ALR in Navy Blue (which to me looks like more of an ultramarine or cobalt blue, but it’s absolutely gorgeous all the same). Check out this week’s Deals & Drops for some specials, including a price drop on 2021 second-half planner refills.

Pen Show Updates: I will be attending both the Dallas Pen Show (September 24 and 25) and the Chicago Pen Show (September 30-October 3). The best part? I will have my own table, so please stop by!

TWSBI Fountain Pens
TWSBI Fountain Pens
Caran d'Ache 849
Caran d'Ache 849
Platinum Preppy Wa
Platinum Preppy Wa
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Gentleman Stationer (@gentlemanstationer)

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

In LInks Tags Links
2 Comments

My San Francisco Pen Show Haul!

Sunday Reading for September 5, 2021

September 5, 2021
  1. San Francisco Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict). Kimberly, writing her first official show recap for the Pen Addict, has an epic post on what makes the SF Pen Show deserve its moniker, “The Fun Pen Show”. Read this one!

  2. Accounting for the ensso PIUMA Pocket Fountain Pen in Brass (via Penquisition). Julian reviews ensso’s latest entry in the PIUMA fountain pen series, a pocket fountain pen with an interesting design that keeps most of the shape of the larger PIUMA pen.

  3. Ferris Wheel Press Twilight Garden Ink Collection (via Macchiato Man). Ferris Wheel Press has received a lot of attention for their shimmer and paler-colored shading inks that still remain legible. I have these three in my queue for review.

  4. Multi Pen Review: Multi Madness, Part I (via Well-Appointed Desk). Tina has a review of three different multi-pens, including an Acroball with a highlighter component!? I need to get my hands on one of those.

  5. Pineider Metropolis (via Dapprman). Ouch! Pineider’s latest attempt at a “less expensive” pen perhaps falls a bit short?

  6. Tactile Turn Nautilus Quick Review (via Writing at Large). I keep eyeing the Nautilus, and I’m pretty sure I’ll cave, but I guess I still have until September 8 to order one?

  7. Snippets: Newcastle, Onion-skin, Machined Pens, and Pen Meets (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony has a lot of interesting things going on these days! I need to get my hands on one of those onionskin journals, though I worry I won’t be able to ignore the ghosting for everyday writing.

  8. Scribo Blu Cosmico (via Mountain of Ink). I love Scribo inks, including this very dark blue-black/midnight blue.

  9. Tales of a Vandal Pen Collector: Wrestling with a Writer’s Dozen (via Peaceable Writer). This post does an exceptional job of summarizing exactly why I love to write by hand, and why I love fountain pens.

  10. Classic Pens LB5 Kouseki with Sailor King Eagle Nib (via Gourmet Pens). Azizah has a review of a rare one. Serious nibbage, indeed!

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I first of all recapped my trip to San Francisco for the 2021 San Francisco Pen Show. Al things considered, it was a great show, and look forward to attending next year when hopefully the international vendors can return. I also finished Part VI of my “Mini-Collections” series, in which I swabbed all of the inks in my stash, completing the blacks, greys, browns, and oranges. Finally, I announced the release of the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball, and even posted a short video clip over on my Instagram “Reels” - yes, look at me getting all trendy - to demonstrate the size difference between the Rollerball and the ballpoint.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Gentleman Stationer (@gentlemanstationer)

This Week in the Curated Shop

As noted in this week’s Deals & Drops, there are a bunch of new arrivals in the Shop, including the limited edition Platinum Preppy Wa, which comes in six unique patterns inspired by traditional Japanese designs. The new Field Notes “Trailhead” edition also has arrived, along with the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball, new Kokuyo hardcover notebooks in the “Trip Book” and “Offset Book” formats, and a full restock on the TWSBI Swipe fountain pen.

CdA 849 Rollerball
CdA 849 Rollerball
Field Notes Trailhead
Field Notes Trailhead
Preppy Wa
Preppy Wa
Kokuyo
Kokuyo

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

In LInks Tags Links
Comment

One of my pen show prizes from this weekend - a 12-pen hardshell case from Galen Leather. It’s natural undid leather, so it will patina like my Gfeller Cover for my Nanami Paper Cafe Note.

Weekly Links for August 30, 2021 (Post San Francisco Pen Show Edition)

August 30, 2021
  1. Platinum Curidas Gran Red (via Rants of the Archer). The Curidas - Platinum’s entry point into the world of retractable nib fountain pens - started with a lot of hype, a cracked-feed scandal, and then a fair bit of quiet. Are you all still using your Curidas pens? This review has me wanting to break mine out again.

  2. Esterbrook JR Paradise with Scribe Architect Nib: The Feelgood Hit of the Summer? (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony reviews the latest Esterbrook JR release, as well as their latest specialty nib developed in collaboration with JJ Lax Pen Company. I’m torn between the yellow and the blue with the yellow finial.

  3. Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen (Paradise Set, Tuxedo, and Vintage Esterbrook J) (via Macchiato Man). Yagan has an extraordinarily comprehensive review of the new Esterbrook JR “Paradise”, which includes a write up of the standard JR and the vintage Esterbrook J itself.

  4. Pens in Daily Use August 2021 (via Dapprman). My fountain pen use has been fairly spotty this month, as I’ve been doing a bit of travel and I’m in the middle of rejiggering my work from home/office schedule. What pens I have been using have leaned very much towards the practical.

  5. D-Initial Impressions (via Penquisition). Evan takes a look at the S.T. Dupont D-Initial, a new “entry level” model from the luxury French brand, which is one of the very few remaining pen brands that I have no personal experience with.

  6. Lemome Notebook Review (via Fountain Pen Love). John reviews what appears to be a very nice inexpensive notebook that handles fountain pen ink quite well.

  7. How I Manage Meeting Agendas with a Notes App (via Bump). Streamlining meetings? I’m all for that.

  8. Pennonia Inks Part 6 (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli reviews several inks from Romanian company Pennonia, including several of their red inks that have caught my eye.

  9. Retro 51 Tornado Vintage Metalsmith Rollerball, Raw Brass Review (via Pen Addict). Sarah reviews a raw brass version of the classic Retro, and I’m interested to see how these patina.

  10. Musgrave Heritage Collection Pencil Set (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana reviews all the pencils contained in the new Musgrave pencil sampler. I will be contacting winners of our own giveaway when I return from the San Francisco pen show!

In Case You Missed It….

I’m a day late on my links post, but that’s because I’m currently getting ready to fly back from San Francisco this morning, where I’ve been attending the 2021 San Francisco Pen Show. I’ll be posting a full writeup and recap of this awesome experience later this week, but for now read my takeaways from Day One (Friday), and you can also follow my stories/reels/posts over on Instagram. Before I left, I posted an update on my own personal workflow and what I’ve been using since the office reopened, one of many topics I get a lot of questions about.

This Week in the Curated Shop

It’s been a week of restocking following a very busy summer! I now have TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pens in all colors and nib sizes, as well as Prussian Blue 580 fountain pens, and more of the Blue-Black and Midnight Blue inks. TWSBI pens remain as popular as ever, even at pen shows with large contingents of experienced users! Other restocks include Kokuyo Sketch hardcover pocket notebooks, Traveler’s Notebook Lightweight Paper (Tomoe River Paper) refills, and more.

View fullsize Sunderland MK1 Exclusive
Sunderland MK1 Exclusive
View fullsize Traveler's Company
Traveler's Company
View fullsize Caran d'Ache 849
Caran d'Ache 849
View fullsize TWSBI
TWSBI

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

In LInks Tags Links
Comment
← Newer Posts Older Posts →
Store Hours and 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
Iro-Utsushi-Fine-Dip-Pens.jpeg
Oct 1, 2025
The Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pen (and in General, Simple vs. Fancy Dip Pens)
Oct 1, 2025
Oct 1, 2025
Levenger-Annotation-Pad.jpeg
Sep 20, 2025
Five Boutique Paper Brands I'm Watching Closely and Why
Sep 20, 2025
Sep 20, 2025
Playing-ink-MD-Cotton-Glass-Pens.jpeg
Sep 17, 2025
What's On Your Desk? My Personal Favorite Papers for Fountain Pens, 2025
Sep 17, 2025
Sep 17, 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