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The Gentleman Stationer

Vintage Living in the Modern World.
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Sunday Reading for July 31, 2022

July 31, 2022
  1. Drama in the Pen World (via SBRE Brown). A very interesting response with some observations on certain controversies that have roiled the pen community over the past year.

  2. Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Magico, the OG (via Pen Addict). The Momento Magico, with the ink window, is the one Leonardo model I’ve not yet tried. I need to give this one a shot given how much I’ve enjoyed the standard Momento Zero.

  3. My Humble Workspace (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love seeing how others work, especially fellow reviewers!

  4. A Look at My Brown Ink Stash (via Fountain Pen Blog). Breaking down the ink stash is one of the more sobering tasks for any fountain pen user, especially when you start looking at colors together. Are these shades too similar? How many bottles of this same color do I really need?

  5. Musgrave Tennessee Red Pencil Review (via Writing at Large). The Musgrave Tennessee Red, is, in my humble opinion, one of the prettiest pencils made right now, and the dark core is sublime.

  6. Pen Porn: Benu Forest Pond (via Rachel’s Reflections). This is a new look for Benu, and I have to say that I’m enjoying it!

  7. 2022 State of the Scholar: Tray One (via mnmlscholar). It’s always fun to see if my writing inspires anyone to take similar action. I especially love to see people’s curated pen collections and hear about why they select the pens they do!

  8. How to Sell a Fountain Pen (via Inkjournal). During last week’s Patreon meetup, we had a discussion about the best way to sell fountain pens that you no longer use. This article is a great resource!

  9. Dominant Industry Autumn Forest (via Mountain of Ink). The one new ink that’s still on my list!

  10. Edison Pen Co. Comet Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). The Comet is Edison’s newest fountain pen model, which debuted at this year’s Chicago Pen Show. Be sure to check it out the next time you’re on their site or at their show table.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote an article about seeking the “sweet spot” in pen size, especially with pens seemingly becoming ever larger. I also reviewed a pen I’ve had in the queue for a long time: My Hinze Pen in “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” resin. I’m looking forward to spending some time with Hinze and the rest of the pen community at the upcoming D.C. Pen Show this week!

D.C. Pen Show and Curated Shop Updates!

Many of you may have seen the announcement posted by Vanness yesterday that due to unforeseen circumstances, they will be unable to attend the D.C. Pen Show this week. I was planning to work with Vanness this week, so we’re busy rejuggling plans. As of now, the plan is that T.G.S. will be taking over two of the Vanness tables, though it remains to be seen whether we will be selling directly at the show, or instead set up with samples and testers. Be sure to stop by!

In the meantime, we are still running a 10% off “pre-pen show/summer inventory reduction sale”, with the discount automatically applied to certain items at checkout. While not discounted, we do have a handful of Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Limited Editions available in the blue “Airline” cover. Now is a great time to pick up a Traveler’s Notebook and stock it with refills and accessories! Finally, be sure to check out the “Gently Used” page, as there are a few pens still available, all in great condition!

Traveler's Company
Traveler's Company
Lochby
Lochby
Maruman
Maruman
Book Darts
Book Darts

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become a core method of support for the T.G.S. website, and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. The Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. Attention Patreon Members: Yesterday I posted half-a dozen or so new “gently used” products to the sale page, so check it out. I’m doing a general “stash and sample” reduction, so more will follow.

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Pruning back the pen collection. If any of these survive Patreon, they may be coming soon to the “Gently Used” page. Check out this week’s post for more on why I’m cutting back and how I’m organizing my collection going forward.

Sunday Reading for July 24, 2022

July 24, 2022
  1. Heatwave… (via KraftyCats). Stay cool out there, people!

  2. How Pen Companies Fail the Pen Community (via SBRE Brown). I agree with much of what Stephen says here. The proliferation of high-end pens that objectively don’t write well out of the box is still far too prevalent, and should never happen.

  3. Meininger Art Material (Denver, Colorado) - A Quick Walkthrough (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I love a good store tour! This is an absolutely HUGE art supply shop.

  4. The DRILLOG v. 2 Machined Dip Nib (& Graft Spiral Barrel). The DRILLOG is back with a new Kickstarter, and from Ana’s observations, there have been some improvements, or maybe just a better explanation of what is reasonable to expect from the writing experience.

  5. Stipula Etruria Magnifica Miele Selvatico 1.1 (via Dapprman). As a former fan of the Etruria, I’ve also found myself wondering what happened to Stipula over the years. I’m glad to hear that the quality is still generally good, and I’d love to pick up one of the faceted models.

  6. Pencil Revolution Handmade Peekaboo Pride Notebook (via Writing at Large). Johnny at Pencil Revolution dove headlong into bookbinding over the past year or so, and I’m glad to see his work getting some attention!

  7. Caramel Swirl: Visconti Rembrandt Eclipse (via a fleeting ripple). Visconti’s steel nib offerings are a bit of a mixed bag. Some I have tried have been very smooth, others on the drier side and scratchy. I’d recommend testing the secondary market.

  8. Finishing My Greens: A Look at My Green Ink Stash (via Fountain Pen Blog). I likewise have come to the point where I’ve started to think hard about what new “stuff” I bring in to the house and add to the pen collection. That said, I have way too much ink that I need to start using or thin out.

  9. TWSBI Midnight Blue on Muji Planting Tree (via Inkredible Colours). I love TWSBI’s Midnight Blue, and think it’s a highly underrated color in this particular range of blue-blacks (i.e., more of a “dark navy” than a “steel blue” or “blue-grey”).

  10. RIIND Compact Pen Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). RIIND is back with a smaller version of their knurled machine pen, which did very well the first time around. I’m excited to see if this one goes mainstream.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I talked a little about my desire to downsize my pen collection, and how I want to organize things going forward. You all have given me a lot to think about in your well-thought-out comments and responses! I also posted an unboxing/walkthrough of my latest acquisition, one of the 2022 Limited Edition Traveler’s Notebook Sets, the “Traveler’s Hotel” edition. (No, I couldn’t resist.)

This Week in the Curated Shop

I’m getting to a point where I’m feeling better about excess inventory, and the new direction is starting to take shape. I’ve managed to clear out certain slow-selling products to make room for new curated goods, including another release of the 2022 Traveler’s Notebook Limited Editions, one of which already has sold out and another of which is very close. Don’t sleep on these!

Our inventory reduction sale will be coming to a close following the D.C. Pen Show, so if you’ve been looking to take advantage, you’re coming up on your last opportunity. Certain things have been marked down, and you can receive a general 10% off most pens, pencils, and paper, automatically applied at checkout. (Certain exclusions apply.)

View fullsize Traveler's Company
Traveler's Company
View fullsize Lochby Cases
Lochby Cases
View fullsize Maruman Mnemosyne
Maruman Mnemosyne
View fullsize Washi Tapes!
Washi Tapes!

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become a core method of support for the T.G.S. website, and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. The Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. Attention Patreon Members: Yesterday I posted half-a dozen or so new “gently used” products to the sale page, so check it out. I’m doing a general “stash and sample” reduction, so more will follow.

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Sunday Reading for July 17, 2022

July 17, 2022
  1. Gioia Alleria (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’ve not tried a Gioia fountain pen, and the aesthetic isn’t really something that’s in my wheelhouse, but I’ve seen nothing but good reviews in terms of their quality.

  2. Thin Strokes, Thick Strokes: 1.1mm Lamy Stub Nib (via KraftyKats). Chloe has a guest post this week from A Fleeting Ripple (another great blog you should be following). Honestly, the standard Lamy 1.1mm stub shouldn’t be as good as it is, yet I find myself reaching for it periodically as well.

  3. Water Lilies: Giant’s Pens (via A Fleeting Ripple). I have a pen on order with this same resin (Water Lily Koi), and it’s also interested to read about yet another newer artisan maker!

  4. A Currently Inked That Is Currently Sharing (via mnmlscholar). I can’t go on enough about how enjoyable it is to have a pen club, either local in-person or either online, where you can share your love for stationery with other like-minded people! (Especially if you don’t have anyone in your family, at work, or in your close circle of friends who loves stationery as much as you do.)

  5. Pens That Make You Go Ooh (via Dapprman). I think one of my own goals as I reevaluate things is to make sure I write with all my pens. Especially those pens I love and have kept because they both write well AND are visually appealing.

  6. Graf von Faber-Castell “Perfect Pencil” (via Scrively). An iconic product, but is it super-functional from a usability perspective? Maybe for some people but probably not for me.

  7. Otto Hutt Design 04 Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). Otto Hutt has been getting more exposure lately, especially how good their nibs are. Some of their designs are a bit too slim for me.

  8. Nespresso + Caran d’Ache Fixpencil (via Bleistift). I wish I had kept one of these for myself when I had them in the shop. I do love the orange finish, even if I would definitely have replaced the Nespresso recycled lead with a 2B Technograf.

  9. Ink Review #1859: Scribo Grigio (via Mountain of Ink). As discussed a bit further below in today’s post, I’ve been using Scribo Ink lately, and Scribo Grigio is a personal favorite.

  10. Curnow A5 NEW PAPER Inserts (via Well-Appointed Desk). Known as being among the first to use Tomoe River in pocket notebooks and handmade journals, Curnow Bookbinding has started experimenting with new papers.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I had two posts: a follow-up look at the Lamy 2000 Multipen (or “4 Color Ballpoint), more than five years after I first reviewed this particular pen. I also reviewed another Scribo ink I’ve been using, Verde Prato, which is a quite functional bright green.

Only a couple of these are left in T.G.S. “Gently Used”!

Visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop for Reduced Pricing Storewide!

We’re selling down a lot of our inventory as we refocus the shop going forward, so take advantage of 10% off pens, pencils, and paper (some exclusions will apply) from now until the D.C. Pen Show. The discount automatically applies at checkout, so no coupon code is necessary. Also, there are still a few pens left in the “Gently Used” section of the website. These have gone relatively fast, and I’m happy to see pens going to homes where they will be used and loved!

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become the primary method of support for T.G.S., and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. As of yesterday, I’ve streamlined the Patreon to two tiers: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens.

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Holiday Reading for July 4, 2022!

July 4, 2022

Happy Fourth of July, for those in the U.S.! Enjoy the long weekend!

  1. 2022 St. Louis Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). It’s hard to compete with Kimberly’s incredibly comprehensive pen show reviews! This is a great write-up of St. Louis, and it highlights a concerning trend - the lower attendance at the smaller/medium-sized pen shows due to the current expense and difficulty of travel, lingering COVID concerns, and general economic unease.

  2. What Happens When the Desk Goes to a Pen Show (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana has another St. Louis Pen Show report, plus an announcement regarding an XXL Col-o-ring, the Folio!

  3. A Play in 3 Acts: Leonardo Momento Zero Prisma (via A Fleeting Ripple). Rainbow-anodized trim certain is having its moment right now, as this post points out, and the frosted material is certainly a different take.

  4. Caran d’Ache 849 Gold Bar (via KraftyKats). Many thanks to Chloe for reviewing the Caran d’Ache 849 “Gold Bar” ballpoint pen. We still have a few in stock, and they’re eligible for the 4th of July Sale (see details below).

  5. Vinta Limited Edition Inks (via Mountain of Ink). Be sure to check out that Vanness Pens “Sodalite”! It’s a great ink.

  6. Birmingham Pen Co. Antique Sepia (via Macchiato Man). These dual-tone, multichromatic, double-shading, whatever-you-want-to-call-them inks are becoming increasingly popular. Though I haven’t spent much time reviewing Birmingham Inks (and I know I should), the ones I’ve tried have been mostly excellent.

  7. Write Notepads Pocket Notebook - Ledger (via KraftyKats). Chloe also reviews some Write Notepads paper, which we also stock and as she discovers, it’s incredibly fountain-pen friendly!

  8. Enameled Sakura (via Rachel’s Reflections). An Ironfeather Creative pen is definitely on my list of things to look for at my remaining pen shows this year. This carved pen with a sakura theme is gorgeous.

  9. BENU Euphoria Scent of Irises (via Dapprman). If you’re a fan of extremely interesting materials, BENU pens should be on your radar. I have irises in my front yard so this particular design caught my eye.

  10. Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Limited Pens Korea (via SBRE Brown). Wow, that pen features a beautiful material. Stephen was definitely luck to get one of these!

In Case You Missed It…

Last week on the blog I reviewed the Nebula Note “Casual Note” notebook, which not only features excellent paper but has PERFORATED PAGES, something that I want to see more often in high-end notebooks. I also wrote a piece on my evolving thoughts on eyedropper fountain pens, and why I’ve decided to narrow the scope of pens that I convert to eyedroppers.

T.G.S. Curated Shop Announcement and Site Updates

As I posted on Thursday, we are generally reducing our inventory and streamlining our shop. This includes clearance pricing on many items and a “SUMMER” Coupon code to take an additional 10% off through tomorrow, July 5. We haven’t decided to what extent we want to keep a stand-alone shop going - everyone in our house is pretty overwhelmed right now with work/family/life obligations, and given that the original goal was to enable us to design our own exclusive and special editions of well-loved products, there might be a way to do this (i.e., via retail partnerships or third-party fulfillment) that gives us more flexibility. For now, continue to shop T.G.S. Curated, enjoy our Fourth of July Sale, and look for more announcements during the second-half of 2022.

Meanwhile, we are fully stocked on Lochby, including some new colors of favorites! See the link below and be sure to check out the new colors of the Tool Roll and the recently arrived Venture Pouch!

Lochby
Lochby
Traveler's Company
Traveler's Company
Platinum Desk Pen
Platinum Desk Pen
Maruman
Maruman

Patreon Announcement!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become the primary method of support for T.G.S., and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. As of yesterday, I’ve streamlined the Patreon to two tiers: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. I just uploaded a huge batch of pens, inks, paper, cases, and accessories yesterday and there is stuff remaining!

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Vacation always ends far too soon.

Holiday Reading for June 20, 2022

June 20, 2022
  1. My First Show: The Dutch Pen Show (via A Fleeting Ripple). I love reading about people’s reactions to attending their first pen show, especially the sense of overwhelm when they see how much pen stuff can actually exist in one place!

  2. Review Madness and an Ink Vial Hack (via KraftyKats). If you have trouble with filling or dipping pens from standard plastic ink sample vials, Chloe has an interesting hack here to hold your ink bottles steady when filling.

  3. All Geared Up for Commonplace Notes (via mnmlscholar). Catching up on my commonplace book is definitely on my list of things to do, now that I’m back from vacation.

  4. Vintage Sheaffer Research (via Rachel’s Reflections). I get a lot of questions seeking help identifying specific models of vintage pens, so people might find Rachel’s discussion of her research techniques helpful.

  5. On Journaling and the Meditative Aspects of Writing (via S.B.R.E. Brown). Reviews are fun, but it’s definitely interesting to dive into the “why” and think about how analogue tools help us out in our daily lives.

  6. Dominant Industries Autumn Forest (via Well-Appointed Desk). The one Dominant Industries Ink that I’ve been truly coveting and haven’t gotten my hands on yet.

  7. Kaweco Premium Steel Fountain Pen Nib Review (via Pen Addict). I really wish Kaweco would simply increase their prices to account for necessary quality control and give people a guaranteed writing experience out of the box.

  8. La Couronne du Compte (Diamine) Vert Sapin (via Machiatto Man). An interesting Diamine Ink with a lot of sheen. Yagan’s ink reviews are incredibly thorough, to say the least!

  9. Preview of Montblanc Glacier Collection (via Gourmet Pens). Just take my money already.

  10. M605 Tortoiseshell Black (via Pelikan’s Perch). Pelikan’s latest Tortoiseshell release is beautiful, and I’m excited to see them release more in the M600/M605 size.

In Case You Missed It….

I was out of town this past week, so I did what I always do when I’m on my annual summer vacation, which is post a series of recaps/reflections on my favorite products from the past six months. Part I discussed my Top Five Product Reviews, Part II discussed my favorite new products added to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and Part III talked about my favorite acquisitions of 2022 thus far.

This Week in the Curated Shop

I’m basically playing catch-up on shipping today and tomorrow, since so many of you were kind enough to continue to support me even though I was off for a week! I truly appreciate it. Look for some new product arrivals and restocks in the coming weeks, but for now we are still well-stocked on favorites and some remaining special releases!

Caran d'Ache
Caran d'Ache
Traveler's Company
Traveler's Company
Midori MD Light
Midori MD Light
Reading Accessories!
Reading Accessories!

Help Support T.G.S. and Consider Joining the Patreon!

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.

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