Sunday Reading for April 16, 2023

April 16, 2023

Lamy 2000 Classic or Hype (via Dapprman). Well, given how much time I spent updating my inventory with the new arrivals this weekend, I certainly hope it’s the former. (It is.)
Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 with Calligraphy Curved Nib Review (via SBRE Brown). Montblanc has come out with a LOT of stuff that interests me lately, this one included, but alas my wallet has other plans.
Meet Your Maker: Renée Meeks, Scriptorium Pens (via Pen Addict - Caroline). One of my favorite custom pens is the Scriptorium Balladeer that I had commissioned years ago. Which reminds me, I need to break it out….
Fog: Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo (via A Fleeting Ripple). Yama-Budo, from Pilot’s Iroshizuku ink lineup, is one of my favorite inks and one of the first “nice inks” I bought for myself when I was getting into the hobby.
Quality Simplicity Is Hard to Pull Off but Makes for Fabulous Notebooks and Reading Tools (via mnmlscholar). Relatively simple products, well-designed. Enough said.
Rohrer & Klingner Sketchink Emma (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Add these permanent (or at least water-resistant) inks to the list of inks I need to actually try.
Sailor Ink Studio 573 (via Fountain Pen Love). There are absolutely so many colors in the Sailor Ink Studio lineup that you can’t reasonably try them all. That said, every time I see a new one, I want it.
Sailor Manyo Dual Shaders (via Mountain of Ink). I’m a big fan of Sailor Manyo Haha, so these other double shaders are intriguing.
What, me worry? (via From the Pen Cup). I love this, and it’s probably something I need, to be honest.
Traveler’s Company Notebook Accessory 030 Brass Clip Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). Of all the Traveler’s Company accessories, this is probably a top seller for us. It’s infinitely useful, as Sarah points out.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage, which I reviewed this week.

In Case You Missed It…

Well, I’ve FINALLY made some progress in digging out from under my backlog after a month of pen show and other travel. The big news is that this week I updated the “Best Pens” list, which is an annual tradition now that T.G.S. is NINE YEARS OLD. (I really can’t believe it’s been that long.) While the changes to this year’s list are pretty minor, I’m going to continue these annual updates, and may even add some new categories. I also reviewed a pen that I brought back from the Arkansas Pen Show: the Tibaldi Bononia Vintage, a gorgeous piston filler with an oblique medium nib. Finally, those of you who subscribe to our fledgling Youtube channel may have noticed that I’ve begun posting videos again, some linked through the reviews, others that stand alone. Each Monday, I’ve been adding a longer video titled “Currently Inked,” in which I discuss what I have inked up for the week, new arrivals, etc., and sometimes post a demonstration or extended commentary. Check them out if you haven’t already!

Some of the various iterations of the Anterique Ballpoints available for purchase in the shop!

This Week in the Curated Shop: Almost There But Not Quite!

Despite my best efforts to space things out, basically all of the orders I’ve placed in January and February have arrived at once. This week saw the arrival of more Anterique ballpoints, both standard and the upgraded “Brass Editition.” These pens have sold well, and to much acclaim, so I’m going to build out my selection and continue to stock them in the future. The biggest and most exciting news is that we are now also authorized Lamy retailers, in addition to Kaweco and Pilot! It’s taken nearly all of my effort to list this stuff in a reasonable amount of time, and I hope to finish over the next few days. We really appreciate all of your support!

Lamy

Anterique

Kaweco

Pilot

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

T.G.S. Patreon is currently the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support! Our next meetup will be at our typical time, which is the third Saturday of every month at 8:30pm U.S. Central Time. Details are circulated through the Patreon feed, so Patreon members should be sure to sign up to get updates/alerts.

Sunday Reading for April 9, 2023 (PLUS a Weekend Shop Promotion!)

April 9, 2023

2023 Atlanta Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Atlanta is always a great regional/local pen show, and if I hadn’t just spent a month traveling basically nonstop, I definitely would have gone for the entire weekend. Kimberly’s recaps are spot-on and thorough.
In Defence of Writing by Hand (via KraftyKats). Despite our best efforts here, the world continues to digitize. Personally, I think the key is to do so thoughtfully, and to maintain an analog space in your life where it makes the biggest difference for you.
Using the Hoard (via From the Pen Cup). What better way to preserve the art of writing by hand than using your notebook hoard!
Il Papiro J2 Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). I love marbled paper. Enough said.
Early Thoughts on the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Filler Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). I’m not a huge fan of modern Conklin pens, but at the same time I’m glad this particular model continues to exist.
The Kaweco Student (via Left Hook Pens). Kaweco’s student pen has developed its own following, and I’ve enjoyed the weight and shape of the section in the past.
Ink of the Week - Kaweco Smokey Grey (via Fountain Pen Love). I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Kaweco inks are extremely underrated.
Ellington Pens Review (via SBRE Brown). Ellington Pens get the SBRE Brown treatment.
How To Distinguish the Upcycled from the Wood-Cased Noris (via Bleistift). I haven’t written much about Staedtler’s decision to move to an “upcycled” - read, Wopexified - version of the Noris. This makes me sad, but I guess on a certain level it’s inevitable.
Notebook Review: Cortex Sidekick Notepad (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’ve been wanting to check out the Sidekick for some time now, but at $40 each, the price has served as a bit of a barrier. I’m not above spending on expensive notepads and notebooks, but at this price, the page count for the dollar amount has me a bit concerned, especially since that’s before taxes and shipping to many areas. That said, Cortex Brand products are well-designed and of excellent quality.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog - and on the until-now-semi-dormant Youtube channel - I spent the week getting caught up post-pen show. I wrote a short piece on five things that you can do to help introduce new users to nice pens, and I also took a look at the Kaweco Sketch Up Clutch Pencil, one of the many new Kaweco products we’ve recently added to the shop. To kick the week off, I filmed a short video titled “Currently Inked”, which was a quick look at two pens that I inked up for this week: the Pilot Custom 74 and a vintage Parker 51. I’ve decided to start working on some more video content since there are certain things that can be difficult to show/explain in writing. These will be posted both to Youtube and to Instagram Reels/Stories, though I’m not sure about frequency yet.

WEEKEND PROMOTION: Spend $50 in the T.G.S. Curated Shop and get a free Anterique Ballpoint Pen in one of the five colors above. Spend an additional $50 and get a pen in a different color. These pens are excellent, and I plan to make them a fixture going forward. Valid through Sunday. **[For those who missed the promotion, the Anterique pens are now live in the shop!]**

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

There’s been a seemingly never-ending wave of shop arrivals, mainly due to orders placed back in January and February when I was taking several buying trips and thinking that these would all be staggered somewhat. Turns out that all the new products arrived at once and I still have more to go! This week saw a huge TWSBI restock, including some additions of “last call” items like the Diamond 580 ALR “Punch Pink” and AL “Rose”, plus a restock on the ECO Saffron and newly arrived ECO Persian Green. The biggest news dropped Thursday, with Kaweco arriving in the shop, including Sport fountain pens, Sketch Up Clutch Pencils, and Inks! Stay tuned for more big news on our expansion this week.

Kaweco

Pilot Pens

Iroshizuku Inks

TWSBI

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

Sunday Reading for April 2, 2023

April 2, 2023

Atlanta Pen Show Weekend (via Well-Appointed Desk). I won’t make the show on Sunday - have to go home and get cracking on those taxes! - but if you’re in the area be sure to visit Ana at the Vanness Pens Table and Jesi at Dromgoole’s.
In Defense of the Slow, Inefficient Read … and the Long Point Pencil (via mnmlscholar). I’m glad to see that at least one other person has rejected the seemingly ubiquitous urgings for us all to become “speed readers”, as opposed to actually processing what choose to consume.
Platinum 3776 Coarse Nib Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Platinum’s new “Coarse” nib has received a lot of attention lately, particularly as a platform for custom nib grinds since it has a lot of tipping material.
Awol: A Quick Life Update (via A Fleeting Ripple). It’s amazing how much difference a change of scenery can make to those of us who love our analog “stuff,” and how this can affect our happiness with where we live.
Shibui North Pocket Fox (via Rachel’s Reflections). I’ve never heard of this brand, but I love the pattern on the nib.
f-inks F1 SS316 Fountain Pen (via Rants of the Archer). A new fountain pen brand from the Philippines is launching? Here’s one that looks worth monitoring, as I generally love pens with this specific shape.
Caran d’Ache “Ultra Violet” Ink Review (via Scrively). Another blog that will be writing “lefty-specific” ink reviews, for those of you with overwriter concerns about fountain pen inks and whether they will smear.
Itoya Profolio A5 Notebook Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). I recently had a chance to try out the paper in these notebooks and came away enjoying it. If you enjoy paper like Clairefontaine Seyes-ruled, consider giving this one a try.
What I’m Using This Week (via From the Pen Cup). Cool idea from Mary on how to make sure you’re rotating through all of the pens and pencils in your collection!
Traveler’s Short Trip Passport Size (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you visit the Traveler’s/Plotter table at a pen show, often you’ll find some Japan-only or more “experimental” refill options, like this short-version.

People shouldn’t sleep on the Laban Inks - they’re excellent. (Burkina Leonardo not included with purchase;))

In Case You Missed It…

This weekend I took a quick trip to the Atlanta Pen Show as an attendee-only, with my daughter. It was a lot of fun bringing her to her first “real” pen show, and I may write a feature at some point about introducing kids to fountain pens and how to introduce them to shows. Earlier in the week I reviewed two additional inks from the Laban “Greek Mythology” Ink series, Poseidon Green and Hera Dark Green, both of which are excellent everyday users in an ink line that’s increasingly becoming a staple for me.

The Pilot Custom 74 (left) and the Pilot Custom 823 (right) fountain pens feature two of the most consistent, reliable nibs available.

Big News from the T.G.S. Curated Shop: Introducing Pilot Pens and Ink!

Though it’s been overshadowed a bit by Atlanta Pen Show travels, on Thursday we announced that The Gentleman Stationer is now an authorized retailer of Pilot Pens and inks, starting with our favorite Custom 823 and Custom 74 fountain pens and the entire line of Iroshizuku Inks! Our focus as retailers is on pens that you can use “all-day, every day,” and you can’t do much better than one of Pilot’s “Custom Series” as your daily workhorse. Check out our Thursday Drops post for the full list of new arrivals, which also includes the recently released TWSBI ECO “Persian Green”.

Pilot

TWSBI

Platinum

Life Stationery

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

Sunday Reading for March 26, 2023

March 26, 2023

Manila Pen Show 2023 Recap (via Hand Over That Pen). Honestly, having read this recap and followed the social media posts in real time, MPS has jumped to the top of the list of international shows I want to visit.
Unmoored (via From the Pen Cup). There’s something to be said for adopting a minimalist stationery carry, which is one reason why it’s been fun to reduce the size of the pack/bag I carry on a regular basis.
Aurora Il Viaggo Secreto in Italia Volterra (via SBRE Brown). I absolutely love the material on this recent series of the Aurora 88.
Pairings Party: Onoto Scholar Highland, Ferris Wheel Press Central Park Greens (via Pen Addict). The Onoto Scholar has been one of the surprising hits of the past year, and they have some amazing, subtly gorgeous colors. Check out the Vanness website, as I believe they are the exclusive Onoto dealers in the U.S.
Moleskine Bullet Notebook Review (Writing at Large). As predicted, Moleskine’s attempt at a “Bullet Journal” notebook isn’t fountain pen friendly, despite the heavier paper weight.
Early Thoughts on the Aurora Duo Cart Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). I haven’t heard much about the Duo Cart over the past couple of years, though it’s been showing up more in my feed lately as perhaps a wider return to pen shows has revived interest in the model?
Colorfully Uncommon Commonplace Notes (via mnmlscholar). I love reading about other people’s analog notetaking systems, especially how they organize and process information for future reference.
Even More Indie Makers (via Rachel’s Reflections). Rachel’s blog is an excellent source for referrals on independent and/or custom penmakers, if you’re interested in having someone design a pen for you or if you’re simply looking for a unique design or materials unavailable elsewhere.
Maruzen Athena Renga (via Fountain Pen Love). The Maruzen inks are popular store-exclusive ink options for those visiting Japan.
Plantable Paper (via Bleistift). Just curious, has anyone ever been able to get plantable paper to work? I’ve had little success.
That In-Between Feeling (via Well-Appointed Desk). I can relate to this one, as I’m in-between a lot of things right now, stationery and notebooks included.

In Case You Missed It….

This week I tried to get some sleep after two full weeks of pen-related and other travel…and then had to travel AGAIN for work. I did manage to find some time to recap the 2023 Arkansas Pen Show, which was a great experience and I enjoyed getting to meet everyone in person! I also wrote a bit about my vintage purchases at that show, which included two new Parker 51s!

We recently received a ton of new products from Life Stationery, including this vintage-style airmail paper.

New Arrivals in the Curated Shop!

New releases and fresh stock are arriving faster than I can get them listed in a timely manner! On the pen side, we received additional Mark’Style x Anterique ballpoints with the excellent Mach Ball refill, as well as the Mark’s hexagonal metal gel pen in the “Days” series. Platinum’s newly released “Preppy Wa” fountain pen also arrived, in their six silk-screened “Modern Maki-e” finishes. Finally, I spent most of the day yesterday listing three giant boxes of paper from Life Stationery, including restocks of the Bank Paper and Typewriter Paper specialty writing pads!

Life Stationery

Platinum

Mark's

Midori

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

I shared some exciting news about projects I’m working on for an expanded T.G.S. on our last Patreon meetup, and our next members’ meet is tonight at 7:30pm CT via Zoom! T.G.S. Patreon is the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support!

Montegrappa 007 limited edition — You never know what you’ll come across at a pen show!

Sunday Reading for March 19, 2022

March 19, 2023

2023 Baltimore Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Kimberly was able to post the photo-heavy Baltimore Pen Show tour that I couldn’t do from behind the table!
BWIPS 2023 (via Rachel’s Reflections). While Baltimore remains a great mid-sized pen show, I agree with Rachel’s observation that this particular show did lack a bit of the energy from prior years.
The Manila Pen Show Is Here! (via Rants of the Archer). I’ve been following all of the photos and updates from the Manila Pen Show on social media. It looks like a great one.
Cortex Brand Sidekick Review (via Writing at Large). I’m glad to see someone do a review of this product, because it’s been the subject of strong opinions lately, mainly due to the price and shipping costs.
Pennonia Danuvius Danube (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Pennonia makes some excellent shading inks, and Danuvius Danube was one of the first ones I reviewed. I keep meaning to buy a bottle.
Introducing the SBRE Brown Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). Congratulations on the new release!
Notebook Storage Boxes (via Notebook Stories). We don’t want to go there.
Galen Leather Magnum Opus Pen Case (via Pencilcase Blog). The Magnum Opus with the magnetic closure is one of my favorite pen cases made by Galen Leather. I particularly enjoy the removable tray insert.
An Earthy Pen and Ink Pairing (via From the Pen Cup). Mary nailed it in describing how a great pen and ink pairing enhances the writing experience.
Ink Review: Taisho Inks, Part I (via Well-Appointed Desk). Some interesting colors here, on the muted side which I enjoy.

In Case You Missed It…

This week was heavy on pen show content because, well, for the past two weeks I’ve basically been either prepping for or traveling to pen shows! I recapped my trip to the 2023 Baltimore Washington International Pen Show, where we had a table again this year, and also posted some photos from day one of the 2023 Arkansas Pen Show, where I’m doing a combination of packing and getting ready to go man the table for at least a couple of hours, depending on how busy Sunday at the show ends up being. During my single day at home, I did manage to review one of our top sellers from the Baltimore Show, the Penco “Drafting Writer” Pen and Mechanical Pencil. I then promptly forgot to bring them to Arkansas. So it goes!

This Week in the Curated Shop

Prior to leaving for the shows, we received a large restock of Midori Paper, both standard and cotton, as well as all sizes of the Midori MD leather notebook covers. If you’ve been following our pen show adventures, but haven’t been able to come see us in person at a show, check out this post discussing what we brought to both Baltimore and Arkansas, as well as our top sellers from the Baltimore Show.

Midori

Hightide Sandglasses

Penco

Lochby

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

I shared some exciting news about projects I’m working on for an expanded T.G.S. on last night’s Patreon meetup. T.G.S. Patreon is the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content, including the potential return of Digital Divide, which I’ve been working on and hope to relaunch in the coming months. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support!