Sunday Reading for June 5, 2022

1. How’s That Fancy Planner Going? (via mnmlscholar). My own fancy planning might not be going as well as I’d hoped, but you know what, it still serves a core purpose for me. Time to rededicate myself to both planning and journaling once things slow down a bit after a hectic first five months to the year.

2. Fountain Pen Ink Bottle Design (via Fountain Pen Love). Few things can be more satisfying - or more frustrating - than the design of a fountain pen ink bottle. ScriBo and Iroshizuku might be my favorites.

3. 1800 Inks! (via Mountain of Ink). Congratulations on a huge milestone, Kelli!

4. 5 Years in the Making (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Happy five year penversary to Kimberly!

5. Kunisawa Notebook (via KraftyKats). I’ve reviewed Kunisawa notebooks in the past and have heard that they changed (improved) their paper. Based on Chloe’s review, it looks like the new paper is quite fountain pen friendly.

6. Good Things Come in Threes: Pennonia Inks (via A Fleeting Ripple). Pennonia Inks, from Hungary, are very well-behaved inks that come in a wide range of colors and focus on both shading and double-shading.

7. ScriBo Giallo Canella (via Dapprman). These light brown/caramel-colored inks are gaining traction and while I’m still undecided about how usable they actually are in real life, I’m going to give them a shot.

8. Dominant Industry Mirror Inks (via Mountain of Ink). If you’re considering these inks, be sure to read about Kelli’s experience here. These metal/holographic inks have gotten a lot of attention but they’re specialty inks not suitable for fountain pens or really general writing.

9. Stationery While Traveling (via Pen Addict - Sarah). Many of us are taking our stationery on the road for the first time in a while this summer. I love reading about how different people choose their travel kits.

10. Ink Review: A Closer Look at Anderillium (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’m a huge fan of Cuttlefish Brown.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote a post about the Nagahara Needlepoint nibs available pre-ground at Franklin-Christoph. If you love writing small, and favor extra-fine points, you might want to check these out next time you purchase from Franklin-Christoph. Relatedly, I also put together a new resource for the site - a page compiling all of my various reviews of different nib grinds and specialty nibs. I plan to update this in the future as I explore new nib grinds, especially given how much this has become a focus of the hobby.

This Week in the Curated Shop

It’s graduation and reunion season, and Father’s Day is approaching, so I’ve been receiving many requests for assistance with gifts. I published a short mini gift guide just for these occasions, and also wrote a post reminiscing about school and products I wish I had available to me years ago. Be sure to check these out, as well as all of the other brands currently available!

Platinum Pens

Reading Accessories

CW&T Pens

New Washi Tape!

This Week’s “From the Archives”

I’ve been trying to run it back on Sunday with a randomly chosen post from the T.G.S. Archive, and this week’s post will be “Traveling with Fountain Pens: In Praise of the Humble Ink Cartridge,” which was a favorite when it was originally published and seems especially timely now given the impending travel season.

Many thanks for your support of The Gentleman Stationer! We rely entirely on purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program in order to keep the site going. If you enjoy the content, please consider visiting our shop or pledging! Even the smallest of amounts helps!

Sunday Reading for May 29, 2022 (Memorial Day Weekend Edition)

1. Solace in Pens (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). With each day seemingly bringing worse news, what can you do to cope? This excellent article discusses incorporating pens into a self-care routine.

2. I Am Bitter: Lamy Aion (via a fleeting ripple). This pretty much sums up my feelings about the Aion as well. While the color of this green version is gorgeous, there’s a lot about the design I simply don’t enjoy as I find it uncomfortable to use.

3. Wearingeul Stonecutter’s Song (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This sepia/brown/grey color is one of the more intriguing inks I’ve seen from Wearingeul. I have yet to place an order.

4. Aderillium Inks (via Well-Appointed Desk). I now have three Anderillium inks, including the Chicago Pen Show special release, all of which I’ve found to be well-behaved and enjoyable to use. Look for a review soon.

5. ScriBo Grigio (via Dapprman). So far, this is my favorite of the ScriBo Inks, though I’m in the process of working my way through other colors. I absolutely love the grey-blue tint.

6. On Fountain Pen Nib Sizes, #5, #6, #7, #8 (via S.B.R.E. Brown). Fountain pen nib sizing can be confusing. This video walks through the differences and the numbering system.

7. Robert Oster Cities of America: Chicago Ink Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). While I’m a little tired of the “cities and states of America” theme that seemingly every ink company has been trying to run with these days, I should’ve picked up a bottle of this ink in Chicago.

8. Hey, Where’d You Go? (via EdJelley). For those who have been missing Ed’s reviews, he’s still writing, just not at his own site. Check out this post to see where you can follow his work.

In Case You MIssed It…

This week I took things back to basics, writing this piece on Fountain Pen Maintenance: How I Clean My Pens. I also wrote a piece on one of my latest custom nib grinds that I received from Mark Bacas, a Predator Hybrid featuring an ultra extra-fine point on the “normal” end and a wider, brush-like point on the reverse.

New This Week in the Curated Shop, Plus a Memorial Day Weekend Special!

We’ve had a lot of new stuff hit the store over the past two weeks, including pens from Platinum, a boatload of new washi tapes and snail mail accessories from iLootPaperie, and more. This week, we’re also running a Memorial Day Weekend special, where all orders placed in the Shop through Monday (5/30) will receive a free “extra,” which could be a pencil, pen, ink sample, stickers, accessories, or even something like a bottle of ink! While there are no official “tiers” to this promotion, bigger orders will receive a bigger add-on. I have a ton of cool stuff to give away as I clean out my workspace and storage, so be sure to take advantage.

Caran d'Ache

Midori MD

Platinum

Washi Tapes

AND Don’t Miss Our Memorial Day Weekend Giveaway!

We’re running yet another giveaway, with more to come! See the post for details, but this week’s giveaway features products courtesy of The Well-Appointed Desk Shop and Skylab Letterpress, including some cool notepads and Col-o-ring notebooks! The giveaway closes end of day Monday, Central U.S. Time. (After which it will be replaced by another!)

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Sunday Reading for May 22, 2022

1. Sanzen Tomoe River Paper Compared to the OG (via Leigh Reyes). Leigh has a very thorough comparison of the Sanzen Tomoe River Paper to the original. If you’re interested in using this paper for art, inkwashes, watercolors and more, you’ll want to read Leigh’s latest post.

2. Mountain of Ink Turns Five (via Mountain of Ink). Congratulations to Kelly on five years! Be sure to check out her giveaway!

3. Four Paths out of the Low-Ink-Level Conundrum (via mnmlscholar). The number of bottles I’ve ever written dry (as opposed to selling them off or giving them away at the half-way point or less) can probably be counted on one hand, but if you find yourself in this position, I typically syringe fill or dunk the converter without doing through the nib.

4. Shark Week: Jinhao Shark Pen (via A Fleeting Ripple). So maybe it’s more of a novelty item than a true daily workhorse, but the shark pens have always made me smile.

5. Monarca Arena Blanca Ink Review (via Pen Addict). Sarah reviews one of my favorite colors from the Monarca line, even though it is somewhat impractical.

6. Old Records: Some Diamine German Exclusives (via A Fleeting Ripple). The music inspiration alone earns this one a spot on the list. Anyone know where you can get these Diamine Germany exclusives?

7. Wearingeul Mature (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I still have yet to purchase any Wearingeul ink - and honestly, I’m on a self-imposed ink-purchasing hiatus until I figure out what my ink storage situation will be in my new space. I love the depth of some of their colors, though.

8. Narwhal Nautilus Fountain Pen Review (via The Poor Penman). A very well-rounded review of the Narwhal Nautilus, which I have in for review and will get into the queue myself shortly.

9. Kilk Novo Baroque with Meerschaum Pipes (via Dapprman). I love looking at different types of collectibles, especially ones that display a high level of craftsmanship such as these meerschaum pipes.

10. Cosmo Airlight Paper Review (via SBRE Brown). While it’s lost a bit of its newness with all of the different types of paper being introduced to the market, especially the new Sanzen Tomoe River being brought to market, I do enjoy Cosmo Air Light Paper.

11. Vinta Fairytale Ink (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love Vinta inks - they’re actually some of my favorite on the market today - and if you’re a fan of unique colors you won’t want to miss this latest collection, especially if you enjoy interesting shimmer inks with multiple tones.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, the big news was that we’re hosting a 10,000-follower giveaway to celebrate not only eight years of T.G.S., but our reaching the 10,000 Instagram-follower mark. This giveaway runs through tonight at 11:59pm U.S. Central Time, so don’t miss your chance! Review-wise, I published a review of the Nina Cosford Sketchbook, designed by illustrator Nina Cosford, and I’ve also updated the Workhorse Pens archive to reflect some recent additions.

New This Week in the Curated Shop

We have desk pens! Namely, the Platinum Carbon desk pen in both black and red, along with the base. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - this pen features one of the best extra-fine nibs I’ve used, especially in steel, and you can get one for $13. We also have added the full range of Midori MD Notebook “Light” paper, including the 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Series.

Platinum

Traveler's Company

Notebook Tabs

Midori

Support T.G.S.!

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.

Sunday Reading for May 15, 2022

1. Advice for New Fountain Pen Buyers (via SBRE Brown). So many new users (and relatively new users) have entered the fountain pen market, especially during the past two years, but there’s not been a lot of newbie-focused posts and videos. Much of what is out there, at least from the “established” bloggers, YouTubers, etc., is dated. I’m glad to see Stephen do this video.

2. Pocket Pen Roundup (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). In my humble opinion, all pen enthusiasts need at least one reliable pocket pen. Kimberly has some great recommendations, which somewhat overlap with my own.

3. Penquisition PenSkew Slim (via KraftyKats). If you’re in the market for a 3D-printed pen stand, and much more, be sure to check out the Penquisition store!

4. A Good Taste of Life: Kaweco Sport Milk Chocolate (via A Fleeting Ripple). Brown pens are highly underrated, especially if its a warm chocolate tone. Be sure to check out Kaweco’s latest release in the Sport line, special for Fontoplumo.

5. ScriBo NeroNero (via Dapprman). I love an interesting black ink, and this one from ScriBo apparently has grey and bronze undertones.

6. Galen Leather Pen Case with Notebook Holder (via Fountain Pen Love). An interesting idea to pair a 10-pen case with a notebook holder. I’m not sure that I would carry this many pens paired with a notebook - I tend to stick to 4 or so when I’m out and about - but if you regularly switch up for journaling, etc. this is an option.

7. Part II: Galen Leather Hard Pen Case and Notebook (via Fountain Pen Love). I have the 12-pen hard case from Galen, and I absolutely love it. While it’s not a daily carry for me, it’s great for pen shows and pen club. As this review shows, smaller versions are available.

8. Constant Companion: The Write Notepads & Co. Pocket Flip Notebook (via From the Pen Cup). If Mary uses it consistently, it must be good. You all know that I love Write Notepads paper!

9. The Paper Mind Mitsubishi Bank Paper Notebook Review (via Pen Addict). This bank paper notebook is one of my favorite ideas of the past year. I love the Mitsubishi bank paper and enjoy seeing new companies form around a specialized product.

10. Montblanc Homage to Victoria and Albert (via Well-Appointed Desk). I really need to get me a bottle of this. The color is gorgeous.

11. Tortoises So Rare, They Were Thought Extinct: The Great White Whales of the Souverän M600 Line (via Pelikan’s Perch). I will never understand why Pelikan is so stingy with their brown tortoise pens and confines them to limited edition status. These classic designs are, to me, essentials that they should sell in every size.

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This week’s “main event” features a post on metal/machined pens as great everyday writers - provided they are done right.

In Case You Missed It…

Construction is over…at least for purposes of how it affects the blog. I once again have a desk that I can use to write, and while I’m still waiting on the plumbing to get hooked up in my work area so that I can clean some pens and switch out some inks, things will start looking back to normal around here (or at least as “normal” as it ever is). This week I reviewed the new Esterbrook Needlepoint Nib by Kirk Speer, which is now available with the purchase of an Estie Fountain Pen from most Esterbrook retailers. I also continued the Workhorse Pens series, with a piece on Metal Pens as Workhorse Pens!

This Week in the Curated Shop!

This past week we added mechanical pencil versions of the Caran d’Ache 849 Black Code, Gold Bar, and Brut Rosé models. If you purchase a matching set, it automatically qualifies for free shipping, with no coupon code necessary! On Thursday we also released a shop post focused around travel-friendly stationery, including the Spiral Ring notebooks from Traveler’s Company! Per the links below, we’ve added new reading accessories, notebook dividers and office supplies, and the rest of the Traveler’s Company “Travel Tools” limited edition sets from 2020!

Reading Accessories

TRC "Travel Tools" Collection

Notebook Accessories

Traveler's Company

T.G.S. From the Archives, and 10,000 Follower Giveaway!

This past week we hit 10,000 followers on Instagram, which is a huge milestone for this hobby project that I never thought would grow as much as it did! In celebration, we are giving away a handful of awesome prizes, including a T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 pen and a mystery prize, which you might be able to guess based on this week’s “From the Archives” post. No spoilers until the giveaway goes live tomorrow morning!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Many thanks for your generous support!

Sunday Reading for May 8, 2022

1. Chicago Pen Show 2022 (via Pen Addict - Sarah). While I missed Sarah at the show, she did buy the John Twiss pen I was eyeing at Sarj’s table. Thank goodness that pen went home with somebody!

2. Chicago Pen Show 2022 Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). As always, Kimberly put together a thorough, comprehensive review of the Chicago show, particularly the food and after-hours option. Honestly, Chicago might be the best “food show” I’ve attended, in terms of the number of options within walking distance.

3. Esterbrook Estie Oversize (Candy) with Kirk Speer Needlepoint Nib (via Macchiato Man). I always enjoy reading Yagan’s incredibly thorough reviews, including this review of the recently released Esterbrook Estie “Candy”. The colors aren't necessarily my thing, but objectively I think it looks great. I also have one of the needlepoints that I’m in the process of reviewing.

4. ScriBo Rosso Chianti (via Dapprman). Just a regular reminder that I need to dip back into my ScriBo Inks.

5. London Nootropics Coffee (via KraftyKats). I’m not necessarily referring you to this post for the coffee review (thought I’m sure it’s good), but for the overarching observation about how pen people are coffee people. Spend any amount of time at a pen club or pen show and you’ll realize it’s definitely true.

6. Tiny Pen, Huge Heart: Platinum Pocket Pen (via a fleeting ripple). I’ve seen these pens before at shows, and they’re a lot of fun, though they’ve not attracted the same cult-like attention as pens like the Pilot Myu and M90.

7. Tono & Lims Protect U (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). All of the inks from this series are beautiful, but very light in color and not something that I could necessarily use due to readability concerns. Tono & Lims continues to expand their massive lineup!

8. LInk Love: The Kitten Edition (via Well-Appointed Desk). This article needs no further introduction.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published a short recap titled “Five Takeaways from the 2022 Chicago Pen Show,” discussing my experiences and observations. Based on some samples I picked up at that show, I reviewed the new Sanzen Tomoe River Paper, from the first batch of reissued paper following the discontinuation of the original, much loved fountain pen friendly Japanese paper.

New This Week in the Curated Shop

This week saw the release of the 70th Anniversary 3-Year and 5-Year Midori MD Diaries, though I only have the 5-year versions left in stock. Possibly, there will be more on the way, though no guarantees. I also have restocked on all Traveler’s Notebooks, refills, and accessories, as well as most sizes of Midori MD Paper. Finally, we have a full shipment of TWSBI Swipes in all the various colors, all other models such as the 580 and the ECO, and as of today, the latest releases from Caran d’Ache, including the 849 .7mm Mechanical Pencil in Black Code, Gold Bar, and Brut Rosé finishes.

Lochby

Soumkine

Write Notepads

Midori MD

Interested in Joining a Pen Club? Reach Out!

So I’m actively involved in two different pen clubs, the Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club, which meets every Saturday at 12:30, and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which I run and which has become an online pen club of sorts holding meetups via Zoom every third Saturday (or thereabouts) at 8:00pm U.S. Central Time. If you’re in the Nashville area, and interested in participating in an active pen group with a lot of wonderful, interesting people, feel free to reach out to me via the site for details, or join the Facebook group.

Pen clubs are great because they provide an opportunity not only to meet like-minded people, but to try new stuff and see pens/inks/paper in person without having to buy it yourself. You can also easily coordinate things like group buys, ink sample swaps, and even mini-pen shows!