Deals & Drops: PEEK-a-Boo! New Release from Schon DSGN, Favorite Stealth Pens, and More!

While we will have one more set of links and a week’s worth of posts before both Halloween and Fountain Pen Day 2021, I couldn’t resist headlining this week’s edition of Deals and Drops with the release of the Schon DSGN “Peek” fountain pen, Ian’s latest creation that uses the ultra-lightweight plastic peek. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, I thought I’d also feature a few of my favorite matte-black pens, including our exclusive collaboration with Sunderland Machine Works, and the Caran d’Ache “Black Code” 849. Finally, there’s a new Inktober-themed ink from Joey Feldman and Vanness Pens, and this one’s an orange!

I’ll also go ahead and link to last week’s Deals & Drops post, which focused on planners and planner pens, since it will be “planner season” through the end of the year.

Happy Shopping!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links, and unless otherwise noted, all links are to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

1. Schon DSGN “Engineered Plastics” Fountain Pens (via SchonDSGN). Ian recently released his “Peek” fountain pen, with a Halloween-themed surprise engraved on the cap. Don’t forget to check out the “Ultem” pens as well, which are also made from uitra-lightweight engineered plastic.

2. T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 Rollerball. This year we launched our first T.G.S. pen collaboration, a Sunderland mk1 rollerball featuring a stealthy bead-blasted matte black anodized finish, a matte burgundy section, and a DLC-coated stainless steel clip (also with matching bead-blasted finish) for maximum durability. Just a handful left in stock leading up to the holidays!

3. Caran d’Ache 849 “Black Code” Edition. We’re fully restocked on Caran d’Ache’s all-matte-black version of the classic 849 ballpoint (which includes a matching clip and knock). And if matte black isn’t your thing, we carry the full range of 849 pens and pencils.

4. Esterbrook Estie Nouveau Blue (via Vanness Pens). The latest Esterbrook Estie is an art nouveau-inspired beauty, featuring vintage-style material reminiscent of early celluloid pens. I’m still trying to decide between silver or gold trim.

5. Joey Feldman “October Drawing Challenge” 2021 Limited Edition Ink (via Vanness Pens). Vanness and Joey Feldman collaborate annually on an limited edition ink for the “Inktober” drawing challenge, and this year they chose an orange!

6. Platinum Preppy Wa Limited Edition Fountain Pens. This year Platinum launched this limited run of Preppy fountain pens inspired by traditional Japanese culture. There are six different designs, and you can have them all for less than $50? Preppies are also easily eyedroppered with a bit of silicon grease or an o-ring, and these bright designs make them perfect for color-matching with your favorite ink.

7. Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Diary Refills. Now is the perfect time to purchase your 2022 planner for your Traveler’s Notebook or other Traveler’s-size planner. We have dated refills in a variety of monthly and weekly layouts.

8. Midori MD Diary Stickers. Do you ever wish you could turn your everyday notebook into a planner without having to draw in a calendar yourself? These Midori MD Diary Stickers, available in two different sizes, let you do just that. Stickers are made from Midori MD Paper so they work great with all sorts of ink.

9. Traveler’s Notebook B-Sides and Rarities. This year Traveler’s Company released a new set of refills into their standard lineup, dubbed the “B-Sides & Rarities” collection, which features unique papers and accessories such as the popular Cotton Zipper Cases and an MD Cotton Letter Pad (a notebook that can be used in or out of a Traveler’s Notebook).

10. New Arrivals from Kokuyo. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is stocked with all sorts of new arrivals from Japanese stationery Kokuyo, including the textured, fountain pen friendly PERPANEP paper, as well as new colors of the hardback “Sketch Book” and “Trip Book” pocket notebooks.

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Midori MD Diary Stickers (Dated and Undated) allow you to turn any notebook into a planner, using these stickers made from MD Paper. Available in two sizes.

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We still have Platinum Preppy Wa fountain pens in stock! What’s your favorite?

Sunday Reading for October 10, 2021

1. Another Pen Show? Yes, Another Pen Show (via UK Fountain Pens). Those readers “across the pond” should be aware that the London Pen Show is happening today (though it may be over by the time you read this post). To those of you going, have fun, as it sounds like quite a show with a long list of attendees.

2. 2021 Chicago Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has a great recap of the Chicago Pen Show, including lots of vendor photos.

3. A Well-Appointed Celebration (via Well-Appointed Desk). Congratulations to Jaclyn!

4. Drillog Dip Nib Pens Review (via SBRE Brown). I did back the Drillog on Kickstarter, and it’s definitely a “for science” purchase. I’ll have my own thoughts on Drillog once I get my rewards in hand. Let’s just say that the reviews have been quite mixed, with some having an exceptional experience, and others having difficulty getting their very expensive steel nib pen to work properly.

5. Forget the “Grail” Pen… What’s Your “Exit” Pen? (via UK Fountain Pens). Is there one pen that you could obtain, then walk away from further acquisitions/collecting entirely?

6. Ink Review: La Couronne du Compte (Diamine) Pain d’Epices (via Macchiato Man). An interesting red ink that sheens green/gold. I wasn’t aware of the “Les Couleurs du Compte” ink series.

7. How I Use My Notebooks: Daily Planner Update (via Writing at Large). Again, I always love reading about how people use their notebooks, especially in different life circumstances.

8. Venvstas Magna C/C Filler (via Pencilcase Blog). Dries posts a follow-up review of the Venvstas Magna, which has continued to evolve (and apparently improve) since its initial iterations.

9. Yoseka x Ink Institute No. 1 Origin Ink (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’m working on some reviews of Ink Institute inks, and I have not yet gotten my hands on this gorgeous green developed with Yoseka Stationery.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I posted my recap of the 2021 Chicago Pen Show, as well as a brief look at some super/double shading inks from Pennonia, courtesy of Vanness Pens. I thought I was going on vacation, so there wasn’t a whole lot of in-depth content, but I’m back at it this week!

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

We restocked the shop on a ton of stuff this past week, described in detail I this week’s Deals & Drops post. The big news was the arrival of a huge shipment of M+R brass pencil sharpeners, which had been out of stock for a while.

TWSBI Pens

Kokuyo PERPANEP

CdA Fixpencils

Traveler's Company

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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales, and I’m currently working on a fresh batch of pens, inks, and notebooks that should hit the Patreon shop in the next couple of weeks.

Sunday Reading for October 3, 2021

1. Papier Plume Cloud Gate (Chicago Pen Show Exclusive 2021) (via Well-Appointed Desk). I think I need to hit the show this morning before I head out to see if I can grab a bottle of this one. I hope I didn’t miss it!

2. Fountain Pens for a Fiver Revisited (via Dapprman). I love it when people go looking for the best fountain pen writing experience on a budget. If you’re a student or simply not looking to spend a lot of money, check out this article (especially if you’re in the UK).

3. Draw Your Tools … Tober (via The Looped Square). Cool idea for Inktober, which I didn’t realize already has started.

4. Why I Bought an Otto Hutt designC (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony has a spectacular curated pen collection, and this latest addition rounds things out nicely!

5. Kaweco AL Sport Vibrant Violet (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has quite the collection of purple Kaweco’s, and the latest release is a stunner.

6. What’s the Fountain Pen Equivalent of a Quartz Watch? (via UK Fountain Pens). Another excellent article from Anthony, touching on snobbery and why certain things can (and should) be appreciated for exactly what they are.

7. Ink Review #1637: Waterman Audacious Red (via Mountain of Ink). Waterman’s red is a washable red ink that still appears relatively bright, though personally I always find my self looking for just a touch more saturation.

8. A Social Media Upgrade (via From the Pen Cup). Mary’s note about being more intentional with social media really struck home, especially when I started thinking about all the things I could accomplish with just a little less mindless scrolling.

In Case You Missed It….

I spent this past weekend at the 2021 Chicago Pen Show, and you can see my pictures from Friday as well as initial impressions here. Stay tuned for my full impressions of this show later this week. I also did two write ups: One of the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball (or XL Ballpoint), as well as Kokuyo’s new “PERPANEP” textured paper.

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I MIGHT be going back to pick up a Randomthinks pen stand this morning….

New T.G.S. Curated Shop Arrivals (and a Pen Show Weekend Sale!)

There were a ton of new arrivals this past week, and I didn’t have a chance to spotlight them all as much as I wished. Kicking things off is a full restock of Clairefontaine French/Seyes-Ruled Paper, which is the product that got me into high-end stationery in the first place, and therefore has a special place in my rotation. I also received a shipment of Kokuyo’s PERPANEP “Zara Zara” paper, which I’ve spent some time testing and reviewed on Thursday, as well as more Kokuyo Harcover Pocket Notebooks. Finally, I continue to restock as much of the full range of TWSBI fountain pens as I can keep in stock, including the best selling Diamond 580 Rose Gold, the Diamond 580 Navy Blue and Prussian Blue, and the TWSBI Swipe, which might be the best entry-level/low cost pen to have been introduced in the past couple of years.

Remember that you can take 10% off all orders over $50 (excluding TWSBI and Sunderland) using the coupon code “CHICAGO21”!

TWSBI

New Washi!

Enamel Pins

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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales, and I’m currently working on a fresh batch of pens, inks, and notebooks that should hit the Patreon shop in the next couple of weeks.

Sunday Reading for 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

TWSBI

Mnemosyne

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.

Sunday Reading for 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!

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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

Kokuyo

TWSBI

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.