Sunday Reading for March 27, 2022 (Plus, Introducing a New Feature!)

1. Reading Journal (via KraftyKats). If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed with notebooks and looking for new and varied ways in which to use your pens and stationery, a reading notebook (or a commonplace book), is an excellent way to work through your backlog.

2. On Keeping a Commonplace Book (via Notebook Stories). Commonplacing has been receiving a lot of attention recently, huh? Even from the New York Times?

3. How I End a Journaling Notebook (via mnmlscholar). Do you review and index your completed notebooks? I don’t, but probably should.

4. Onoto Scholar (via Dapprman). People are raving about the Onoto Scholar, a lower-cost version of the well-reviewed British fountain pens that are slowly making an impact here in the U.S. and into the broader pen community at large.

5. My Personal Pens: Leonardo Momento Magico (via S.B.R.E. Brown). Despite exceptional reviews, I can’t get my head around the Momento Magico enough to add one to my personal collection. I think I’m too sold on the standard-size Momento Zero.

6. Icon, Maker, or Luxe? (via UK Fountain Pens). Why do we keep certain pens in our personal collection, yet pass on others even if we agree that the pens themselves are excellent? I’ve not examined my own behavior in this regard, but as always, Anthony has some astute observations.

7. Take Me Out Tonight: Pelikan M205 Petrol (via A Fleeting Ripple). I never found myself getting into seriously collecting the Pelikan M205 series, but they have a devoted following (especially if you love color-matching pens to inks).

8. TWSBI Emerald Green (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). TWSBI’s inks don’t get the attention they deserve, IMHO, because they’re somewhat basic colors yet behave quite well and are extremely inexpensive. You can check them out here.

9. Today I Got To: ______ (via From the Pen Cup). As always, I enjoy Mary’s periodic posts. I absolutely need to find a way to make sure I’m able to write for just a little bit each day.

10. Monarca Inks Part 3 (via Well-Appointed Desk). Monarca Inks are now in stock at a range of stationery stores including Amarillo Ink, Vanness, and Dromgoole’s. Jesi has the last installment of a three-part review featuring my personal favorite, Mar Caribe (a bright Turquoise).

In Case You Missed It…

This week was my first full week back from pen show + family vacation + extended work trip + daylight savings time, and it was a bear. In the intervening two years of more or less not leaving the house or traveling to locations where I stayed put for an extended period, I apparently forgot how exhausting travel truly can be. That said, I did manage to get back on a regular posting schedule. Hopefully you all enjoyed my post “Join the Dark Side: Grades of Pencil Graphite from HB to 4B” in which I discussed my preference for the “B Side” of the graphite spectrum, as well as my re-review of the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age fountain pen, which has drawn a lot of commentary on Visconti’s seemingly inexplicable inability to resolve quality and consistency issues with their nibs. Finally, early on this week I wrote a short post on different types of paper I use for letter writing, and why I’ve chosen to stock them in the Curated Shop.

View fullsize

Midori MD Cotton is a favorite paper for pencils.

This Week in the Curated Shop

We’re still sorting and posting a huge restock of Midori, including a huge lot of MD and MD Cotton writing pads, as well as Clairefontaine A5 Clothbound notebooks and Triomphe paper. We’ve substantially built out our stock of high-quality graphite pencils and erasers over the past several weeks, and of course have restocked on the ever-popular Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoints, rollerballs, and Fixpencils!

Caran d'Ache

Soumkine Planners

Midori MD

Pencils

Introducing T.G.S. “From the Archives”!

There’s a wealth of back content here at The Gentlemen Stationer (I have been writing this blog/website/whatever it is for eight years now, and much of it belies categorization in something like the Fountain Pen Review archive. I thought it might be fun - for me as much as you all - to dive into the back catalogue and pull out some of my favorite deep cuts. One per week, perhaps with a little bit of updated commentary as applicable. This week’s somewhat randomly selected choice is Travel Tips: Packing a Writing Kit for the Road, published in January 2020 before, well, “things happened.” Reading back through this brought up a lot of feelings, because I remember this extended trip well, and also because when I hit the road this past month I used a similar travel setup due to my recently purchased travel gear being essentially like new.

Sunday Reading for March 20, 2022

1. 2022 Baltimore Pen Show Recap and Report Card (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has her own incredibly thorough Baltimore recap. I still can’t get over the number of nib workers available, and the fact that all of them stayed busy!

2. The Onoto Scholar Was Worth The Wait (via UK Fountain Pens). Onoto moves in to a lower price point, while keeping the major design touches that people love.

3. Sunday Shorts #1: Journaling (A Fleeting Ripple). If you aren’t reading this blog, give it a glance. I love these sorts of “origin story” posts.

4. Deciding What I Want in a New Gel or Ballpoint Pen (via mnmlscholar). I’ve also moved on from the Schmidt 8127, due to bleed-through issues on some paper I use. I’ve really grown to appreciate needle-tip ballpoints or hybrid gel-ballpoint pens like the Jetstream.

5. Ink Review: Monarca Part II (via Well-Appointed Desk). Arena Blanca needs to be inked up as soon as possible. I understand it was a huge seller at the Baltimore Pen Show.

6. Endless Explorer Refillable Leather Journal (via Rants of the Archer). So Endless is getting in to the Traveler’s-Style notebook game as well, sized to fit their “Storyboard” notebooks.

7. Asvine v169 (via Dapprman). For those looking to try out a “Skeleton-style” pen without breaking the bank, if you’re willing to make concessions on quality control.

8. Rhodia Goalbook Ivory and White Paper Comparison and Review (via Fountain Pen Love). The Rhodia “Goalbook” is an interesting take on their classic Webbie, featuring upgraded Rhodia “R” paper, which I’ve never tried. Put this on the experiment list!

In Case You Missed It… This Week on the Blog

My travels didn’t end at the Baltimore Pen Show. I continued on to meet my family in Washington, D.C. for a few days of Spring Break, followed by a three-day work conference in New Orleans. (No, I didn’t get a chance to visit Papier Plume, unfortunately.) I did manage to post my recap of the 2022 Baltimore Pen Show, as well as a short piece on my Travel Carry, in which I discuss my latest bag addition, which I had to pick up in D.C. since my checked luggage was overweight. (Hey, if I’m on the hook for multiple flights’ worth of overweight bag charges, I might as well have a new bag.) Upon my return, I rounded out my Baltimore Show posts with some pictures of my latest Franklin-Christoph additions, including a full shot of my Franklin-Christoph collection and the models I tend to enjoy.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is Shipping and Back to Normal!

I’m absolutely floored by the level of support you all showed when we were away, despite the delay in receiving your orders. We’re busy shipping all of your orders and I hope to be completely caught up by tomorrow morning with everything in the mail. All orders placed while I was away will include extra stickers, pencils, pins, and possibly more if you were kind enough to place a really big order! In the meantime, we received a large Midori restock that includes favorites such as the Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads in both A4 and A5, along with additional Dot Grid versions of both the A5 Notebook Journal and the A5 Codex!

Midori Pencils

Midori Paper

Caran d'Ache

Fountain Pen Friendly Paper

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, before whatever is left becomes available to the general readership.

Sunday Reading for March 13, 2022

1. Spring 2022 London Pen Show (via Dapprman). Pen Show season is in full swing, and I really, really want to attend the second London Pen Show in the Fall if I can.

2. Four and a Half Hours at a Pen Show Goes Alarmingly Quickly (via UK Fountain Pens). I can certainly vouch for that! It’s like no time at all!

3. It’s a New Day: Esterbrook Nouveau Blue (via A Fleeting Ripple). Coincidentally, I picked up an Estie Nouveau Blue at the Baltimore Pen Show and I think it might be my favorite material they’ve released.

4. The Color-Matched and the Complimentary (via mnmlscholar). I actually tend to go for a more “complimentary” approach when I match pens and inks, though many people I know color match as well.

5. Wearingeul Lost (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). South Korean ink company Wearingeul has taken off, especially since you can get many of their inks delivered same-day via Amazon Prime in the U.S. The inks are literature-themed, and in addition to double-shaders they have color-changing ink sets.

6. Vinta Inks Fairytale Collection (via Rants of the Archer). I’ve enjoyed discovering Vinta inks over the past couple of years, and some of their colors were among my favorite discoveries of 2021. This new set is based on fairytales and children's stories of the Philippines.

7. My Take on the Gravitas Pocket Pen (via UK Fountain Pens). I was able to handle some Gravitas pens for the first time this weekend, and they are now firmly on my list, especially the “Sentry.” I’m intrigued by the Pocket Pen as well.

8. Plotter Notebook Mini Size Now Available in the USA (via Notebook Stories). Plotter continues to expand their lineup, bringing a classic “mini” planner size to the U.S.

9. Wancher Sand Matte Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). Wancher’s latest matte black collaboration with Sailor (though it’s not co-branded) is an excellent option for those wishing Sailor released more matte black finishes.

10. Visconti Van Gogh Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict). The (relatively) lower priced option in Visconti’s lineup is one of my favorite releases from them, but again, you will likely need to get the nib tuned.

11. New Sailor Inks (via Well-Appointed Desk). These inks from the new “Yurameku” line are fascinating, and I had the chance to try a couple of them (“Seki” and “Yoi”) after-hours in Baltimore. They’re all “chromatic shaders” that have variations in tone and shading so that the color you see on the box may be quite different from what you see on the page - in a good way.

In Case You Missed It…

It’s Pen Show Week, specifically Baltimore, so this week’s posts have focused mainly on things to see at this year’s Baltimore Pen Show, as well as a post on flying with fountain pens and how to avoid leaks and a big mess when traveling. I’ll have a full show recap on the blog this week, but you can follow along in real-time via my Instagram account.

This Week in the Shop - Travel Week, a Special Promotion, and a “Gently Used” Update

Since I’m traveling, I’m running a small promotion with no coupon codes needed - all orders placed this week receive a complimentary gift that will ship with your orders starting Friday, upon my return. We’ve recently added all sorts of interesting things, ranging from desk pads to Japanese pencils to restocks on Write Notepads and Clairefontaine Paper. I also did a short shop feature on travel stationery and pocket pens as I was packing for Baltimore - be sure to check it out. Finally, don’t miss the recent update to the “Gently Used” stationery page, which I periodically unload old review samples, items from my personal collection, and otherwise things I can’t justify keeping around, all at significantly reduced prices.

TRC Brass

Pencils

WMS & Co

Book Darts

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, before whatever is left becomes available to the general readership.

Sunday Reading for March 6, 2022

1. Responsibility for Nibs (via Dapprman). Personally, I believe that responsibility for nib quality control must rest with the manufacturer. While I am perfectly happy to test fountain pens for customers before I ship them on, I’ll only do this upon request and usually limit myself to a visual inspection - there is a sizable number of people who do not want their new pens inked (or even the seal on the box broken) even if this is the only way for a retailer to really know whether a pen writes correctly.

2. How Does Nib Size Affect the Look of Your Handwriting (via Fountain Pen Love). Personally, I find that my own handwriting looks best in a fine/medium nib, with a soft cursive italic grind.

3. Staying Organized: Midori 1 Day 1 Page (via A Fleeting Ripple). The Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Planner and undated Codex notebooks are exceptionally fountain pen friendly and an excellent option for a daily planner. (We sell the undated version in our own Curated Shop.)

4. Ink Review #657: Sheaffer Red (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I haven’t inked this one up in a while (and probably actually need to pick up a fresh bottle in Baltimore next week), but Sheaffer Skrip Red is one of the all-time great red inks out there.

5. The Many Faces of Shading Inks, or My Love Affair with Dry Inks (via mnmlscholar). This article does a great job of breaking down the variations in different shading inks, and it’s also a great reminder that drier-writing inks have their place too.

6. A Fine Entry Indeed: the Gravitas Entry (via UK Fountain Pens). Chalk up another win for Gravitas - again, I need to get my hands on one of these, although I’m thinking I might opt for the larger “Sentry” fountain pen.

7. Kobe 45 Silhouette Green (via Mountain of Ink). I love these dark grey-green inks from Sailor. There are many good ones out there.

8. My Plan for the London Pen Show this Weekend (via UK Fountain Pens). Things didn’t settle down enough for me to attend the London Show this Spring, but it’s still on my radar. Just looking at Anthony’s plans makes me envious!

9. Esterbrook Needle Point Nib Launch (via Esterbrook). A new custom grind from Esterbrook is available, offered in collaboration with Kirk Speer of Pen Realm.

10. Ink Review: Monarca Part 1 (via Well-Appointed Desk). I continue to be impressed with Monarca’s inks, and Jesi reviews three great colors here.

In Case You Missed It…

I had a busy week, between getting ready for the upcoming Baltimore Pen Show, the day job, and completing a long awaited review of the Schon DSGN PEEK-a-Boo fountain pen! I also wrote a piece revisiting some of my favorite desk pads, in conjunction with the launch of some new WMS + Co products (discussed more below).

Check Out New Offerings From the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and Be Sure to Sign Up for the Monthly Newsletter

I spent most of last weekend listing the newly arrived series of desk pads from WMS + Co, which are available in several different shapes, sizes, and colors, and all of which feature a massive number of pages made from heavy paper stock. (The white handles fountain pen ink quite well, the color-slicked paper is definitely more for pencils and gel/roller/ballpoints, though some fountain pen inks might have success.) We also received a full restock of Clairefontaine paper, including French-ruled notebooks, Triomphe writing pads, and the 1951 Series A5 Notebooks!

On Friday I also sent out the first monthly shop newsletter, which will send you shop news on new releases, pre-sales, and special offers directly to your inbox no more than once per month. (I hate daily/weekly spam just as much as you do.) You can check it out here, along with the first offer, 10% off dated and undated planners using the coupon code PLANNER10 at checkout. After this month, the newsletter and any included offers will be available to subscribers only.

Life Paper

Clairefontaine Paper

Tomoe River 68 gsm

Book Darts

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 a bunch of new gently used products just hit the Patreon store page this past week!

Sunday Reading for February 27, 2022

1. Collecting Pens as a Practice in Happiness (via mnmlscholar). A key aspect of this hobby for me that keeps me coming back is, indeed, that it simply makes me happy to write by hand.

2. State of the Art: Getting to It (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Where do you get your art done, whether that’s writing or visual arts? I also have a nook in my house that I’m about to lose for a few weeks as we have some work done.

3. LA Pen Show: Recap and Report Card (via Pen Addict). Kimberly offers her take on this year’s LA Pen Show, and she echoes the “mixed” reviews I’ve heard about this show. I was there for the 2019 chaos when the show was in a different location and relegated to a single downstairs ballroom. To say it’s been plagued by logistical issues for years is an understatement.

4. Journaling Reflections (via Well-Appointed Desk). Use your good stuff! That’s what it’s for.

5. Lamy Safari (Do I Need to Say More?) (via A Fleeting Ripple). It’s always fun to discover new blogs, and especially to read blogs written by those relatively new to the hobby. The Safari - the gateway pen to so many of us!

6. Stipula Calamo Saffron Yellow (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’m almost, but not quite, at the point where I’m ready to explore a yellow ink. Stipula Saffron has been on my list of inks to try for years, and I’ve generally found Stipula inks to be excellent!

7. Scribe x Troublemaker Inks Tarsier (via Rants of the Archer). Uh oh, another store-exclusive series of limited edition inks from the Philippines.

8. Built to Mark: The Soul Built Marksmith (via Penquisition). Looking for a high-quality pen body to house your retractable Sharpie refill? Or do you simply write with Sharpies a lot? You won’t want to miss this one.

9. Karas Kustoms Machined Pens Grip Section Review (via Writing at Large). One of the hardest things about selecting a machined pen is the grip section. Do you go with knurling? No texture? Slight texture? Karas Kustoms has been at this game for quite some time and as you will see from this post, has experimented over the years.

10. Leuchtturm 1917 120gsm Notebook Review (via Fountain Pen Love). After years of inconsistent performance with their standard paper, Leuchtturm has released a 120gsm version of its classic black notebook, with all rulings available and a few different color options.

11. Ink Review #1754: Vinta La Union (via Mountain of Ink). I love this color. Vinta does an excellent job of getting special properties (i.e., shimmer and sheen) into their inks without sacrificing performance.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I previewed the entire lineup of Monarca Inks inspired by the colors of the Mexican landscape. These are beautiful inks and from what I’ve seen so far, quite well-behaved. I’ve also offered my thoughts on the Theme System Journal from Cortex Brand, which is what I’ve been using for most of my personal and professional development journaling this year.

Been waiting for a Book Darts restock? Come and get them!

This Week in The Curated Shop

We’ve continued to see more goods arriving, including a huge shipment of Book Darts in all colors and quantities that just arrived yesterday! Also a heads up that certain Lochby cases are now in short quantities (namely the Quattro four-pen case and the Tool Roll), so if you’re looking for one of these in the short term get your orders in over the next couple of days. Also, the Soumkine Universal Planners have been selling well, but Soumkine recently released a statement about suspending production as they rethink their business model, so if you enjoy these notebooks, get them while they’re still readily available.

Lochby

Soumkine

Tombow

Erasers

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.