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The Gentleman Stationer

Vintage Living in the Modern World.
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Sunday Reading for August 11, 2024

August 11, 2024
  1. Yoseka Stationery Fest (via Inky.Rocks). I’m sure there will be a full recap coming as well, but I was jealously following along with the Stationery Fest attendees in real time.

  2. Tactile Turn Vice Side Click Pen Review (via Pen Addict). Wow. I can’t choose between either of these and I might have to buy both.

  3. …On Pocket Pens (via Dapprman). The number of pens in my collection that can be considered “pocket” or “EDC” has definitely expanded over the past several years.

  4. Waterman Exception “L’Essence Du Bleu” (via Scrively). I acquired my first Exception pen this year at the Chicago Pen Show, and have been thoroughly enjoying it.

  5. Sugar Turtle Studio - Four Ink Reviews (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Don’t miss out on these Diamine exclusives from Tom’s shop.

  6. All Good Things Must Come to an End (via Goodwriterspens). I’m glad to here that a vintage resource will continue to remain available as a reference.

  7. Takeo Dressco Spica Bond Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Spica Bond paper is one of those specialty Japanese papers that you are seeing more and more. This notebook apparently comes in A5 slim.

  8. P.W. Akkerman Voorhout Violet (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This dusty purple is one of my favorite Akkerman inks.

  9. Coming Soon! Rickshaw x Well-Appointed Desk Pen Cases (via Well-Appointed Desk). I was able to see these in person at the D.C. Pen Show and they look great. I can’t wait for the release.

  10. M670 Grey White: A New Pelikan Souverän Model (via Pelikan’s Perch). A new look for Pelikan with dark PVD trim!

In Case You Missed It…

This week I posted my recap of the 2024 D.C. Pen Show, along with links to online resources from the classes/seminars I held. I haven’t seen many show recaps yet, but that may change as those people attending both the D.C. Pen Show and Stationery Fest return and compare both experiences. On the review side, I reviewed the Kokuyo Mark+ Dual-Tone Highlighters, which have been a key component of my everyday work rotation for a couple of years now.

The Anterique Brass Edition Ballpoint in Navy Blue is one of several sharp-looking new colors.

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

We’re now almost fully moved in to our new space, and it gradually feels like things are getting back to normal! I’ve certainly been thankful for a week at home recovering from D.C. in advance of the San Francisco Pen Show in less than two weeks. In the shop, we have a full restock of Tom’s Studio Lumos Pens (including the new Lumos Brass special edition), as well as the Studio Pocket fountain pens and all of the Tom’s Studio inks. Most standard paper lines have also been restocked, including Nakabayashi and Life Stationery. Finally, we’ve added nearly a dozen new colors of Anterique ballpoints in both standard and brass editions.

Roterfaden
Roterfaden
Tom's Studio Pens
Tom's Studio Pens
Anterique
Anterique
Tom's Studio Inks
Tom's Studio Inks

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

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Just a few of the notebook systems we were discussing in the Pen Lounge yesterday!

Sunday Reading for August 4, 2024 (D.C. Pen Show Edition)

August 4, 2024
  1. Pilot Custom 743 - Ranking the Nibs (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Pilot now offers the full range of specialty nibs to the U.S. market. I hope to bring some of these options to our own shop soon.

  2. Delta Dune…or Is It Duna? (via Figboot on Pens). The old Delta pen company was one of my early favorites when I first got seriously into the hobby. The revived Delta has some interesting designs and I hope to have some time to see their wares today.

  3. On Traveling When Older (via Urban Adventure League). A lot resonated with me in this piece. My style of travel has definitely changed (dare I say “slowed dramatically”) as I’ve gotten older.

  4. Hakase Part II: NJ15A, the Pen (via Dapprman). Part 2 of the Hakase journey - actually receiving the pen!

  5. Pencil Boards? (via Stationery Pizza). Posts that simply pose a question are sometimes fun. Do you use pencil boards? How and where? I have a few but seldom break them out. (On the flip side, I agree the Traveler’s Notebook Brass Clip is an insanely useful accessory.)

  6. Reader Question No. 9: How Long Do You Keep Your Notes (via Analog Office). I tend to hang on to everything that isn’t pure “scrap paper”, especially journals and notebooks that form a snapshot in time.

  7. Ink Omakase: July 2024 (via Inkredible Colours). This is an awesome idea!

  8. Prepping for a Pen Show (via Rachel’s Reflections). I’m not nearly this organized, and my show experiences - especially prep - would definitely improve if I were. I especially like the idea of taking a pre-show nib inventory.

  9. Journaling to Improve Handwriting and for Posterity (via The Postman’s Knock). Journaling can also be a way to practice and improve your handwriting without it feeling like “handwriting practice.”

  10. Stationery Store Day (via Well-Appointed Desk). Many thanks to all of you who supported us this weekend, both in person at the D.C. Pen Show and online! I wasn’t aware Stationery Store Day is a thing, but with Record Store Day, etc., it should be!

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote a post about building out a new office, and the various choices I have to make with respect to layout, furniture, and accessories. I also shared my Friday report from the 2024 D.C. Pen Show, and hopefully I will have some time to wander the show today and do a more in-depth report on independent makers and new brands attending the D.C. Show for the first time.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Tokyo Traveler’s Notebooks and the Pen Show Weekend Discount!

This week’s theme was “Restock!” We’ve been running down our stock of heavier items in advance of our move, so that we would be able to have shipments directly delivered to the new space. We now have most of the Traveler’s, Midori MD, and Maruman Mnemosyne restocked and available for purchase, along with newly arrived Traveler’s Notebook “Tokyo” Limited Editions and a new vegan-friendly Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter in black cactus leather.

Also, many thanks to those of you who sat in on my “notebook systems” overview course at the Vanness Pen Lounge in D.C.! For those who missed out on the fun, you can take 10% of most brands using the coupon code PENSHOW10 at checkout (some brand exclusions apply). I’ll be at the D.C. Pen Show until close to closing time, so come see me at the table next to between Vanness and Matthew’s Nib Works.

Roterfaden
Roterfaden
Traveler's Company
Traveler's Company
Platinum
Platinum
Endless
Endless

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

We’ve recently shared some news regarding our continued growth with our Patreon members. If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

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Sunday Reading for July 28, 2024

July 28, 2024
  1. The Best Paper of the Last 1500 Years (via Inky Rocks). Fans of washi won’t want to miss this video! What a cool trip.

  2. 2024 Pacific Northwest Pen Show - Recap and Report (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). This show received mixed reviews from vendors and attendees. It has some promise, given the location, but I gather logistics need to be improved.

  3. Alabaster and Orange and no Immediate Clarity (via A Gathering of Curiosities). These are three beautiful acquisitions. I love the deliberate nature of this collection.

  4. Two Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoints Limited Editions: Keith Haring and Nespresso Kazaar Editions (via Writing at Large). I agree that these are two of the better 849 limited releases from the past few years, and very well executed. (We have limited stock of both remaining.)

  5. Rulers & Fountain Pens (via Stationery Pizza). I use rulers with my fountain pens all the time, though you do have to be careful with the nib. Rulers are one of those somewhat-overlooked pieces of stationery kit that can be very useful to have on hand.

  6. Digital Is Ephemeral (via Analog Office). I’m a big proponent of keeping both digital and hard/physical copies of important documents.

  7. The Wing Sung 601a (via Left Hook Pens). Wing Sung’s vintage-style clone pens can be fun to play around with, and an easy way to decide whether you like a certain style before you commit to a vintage version. Quality control is all over the map.

  8. Asvine V200 Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Asvine finally made their true Conid Bulkfiller clone. I’ve handled one of these - it’s pretty close but the edges are sharper.

  9. Kaweco Sport Carmine Fude Nib (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli reviews the latest Galen Leather exclusive release with a customized fude nib.

  10. Sticky Note Day: Midori MD A7 Sticky Memo Pad (via Well-Appointed Desk). Looking for sticky notes that don’t feather or bleed? Midori MD Paper makes one of the better fountain pen friendly options.

In Case You Missed It…

The big news this week is that we’ve been moving - you can read some on the details here and in additional forthcoming posts later this week. We did introduce a new feature - the “Ask TGS” Resource page, which is the first step towards refreshing some of the Archival and Informational content on the website. Think of this as a standard “FAQ” (Frequently Asked Questions) Page that I plan to update and add to as we go along.

It’s incredibly satisfying to finally have all of my stock out and readily visible. For example, inventory was showing that the TWSBI 700R Vac Iris was completely out of stock, but I actually have a lot of them.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - We Are Now In Our Physical Location!

First of all, a huge thank you to all the readers and customers who have supported us over the years and made the move to our new space possible! (And especially those of you who have supported us by ordering this week during our move.) We took possession on Monday of a physical brick-and-mortar warehouse/shop space, which will allow us to (1) ship faster and more efficiently, (2) stock a greater variety of products, (3) produce more content, and (4) open a couple of days a week to customers in the Nashville area so that you can shop in person!

We have all sorts of new Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters in stock, including two different black and red versions in leather and vegan-friendly danceflooring material.

We’ve continued to receive new stock over the past couple of weeks, including a fresh restock of Roterfaden binders in the A5 size (with 4-clip options!), as well as the new Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e limited editions and a bunch of new Caran d’Ache releases, including the new Claim Your Style Pens and Nespresso 849 releases. We have access to all of our inventory despite the move and are shipping orders on our regular schedule.

Platinum Pens
Platinum Pens
Endless
Endless
Caran d'Ache
Caran d'Ache
Pilot
Pilot

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

We’ve recently shared some news regarding our continued growth with our Patreon members. If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

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Sunday Reading for July 21, 2024

July 21, 2024
  1. Meet Your Maker: Zach Skogsberg, Skogsy Pens (via Pen Addict - Caroline). If you’re interested in learning more about the people behind your favorite custom pens, you should be reading this series over at the Pen Addict. Skogsy Pens are among my new favorites!

  2. David Oscarson Art Nouveau (via Figboot on Pens). You don’t see many online reviews at Oscarson pens, but they are known for their intricate artwork (and corresponding price point).

  3. Checking in with That Fanciest of Hobonichi Planners (via mnmlscholar). I need to do my own mid-year July check-in. Given all that’s going on, my Hobonichi use has been somewhat sporadic for non-everyday planning as of late.

  4. Wearingeul Iaros Orna Eperanto (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Now that’s a bright blue ink!

  5. Venvstas Magna Piston 2.0 (via Dapprman). The Venvstas project goes on, with a new release. This pen is an ambitious design that’s gone through several design iterations without ever making it into the mainstream.

  6. Journaling Series: Journaling in Response to Media (via Writing at Large). If you’ve missed out on early entries in this series on journaling techniques, it’s well worth your time to check out.

  7. Doodling with Fountain Pens: Random Doodles (via Fountain Pen Love). Another multi-post series that I’ve enjoyed following, especially since I’ve been looking for ways to enjoy different nib/ink/paper combinations.

  8. Metamorphosis of a Book (via Pen Addict - Sarah). Ever want to know how someone writes a published book from start to finish, by hand? Congrats to Sarah on the latest release!

  9. Tale of a Vandal Pen User: State of the Hoard 2024 (via Peaceable Writer). I love reading these periodic updates from a blogger I’ve followed for years!

  10. Pen Show Recap: Pacific Northwest Pen Show 2024 (via Well-Appointed Desk). The Pacific Northwest (Portland) Pen Show is a new entrant on the pen show circuit, now in its second year. Ana made her way there so you can read about how this show evolves.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I reviewed a few products that have been around for some time, but which have never made their way into my review queue before now. I started with a new “Ask TGS” post about permanent inks, focusing on Platinum Carbon Black and other pigmented inks. Yesterday I reviewed the Platinum Prefounte, which is a relatively recent addition to Platinum’s already substantial lineup of pens at the sub-$20 price point.

I’ve also been a bit more active over on the T.G.S. YouTube Channel, though I really expect this to take off once I have expanded studio/office space at the new location. This week I have a short demonstration video of just how waterproof the Platinum pigment inks really are, and I’ve also recently compiled an extra long video of desktop pencil sharpener demonstrations. (Nerdy, yes, but hopefully useful!)

The Koi Climbing Waterfall might be my favorite of this year’s Preppy Wa releases.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Move Week!

We’re moving this week and are set to take possession of our new physical space tomorrow! I’m excited to finally get into the space and see what I have to work with. In the meantime, I don’t expect shipping to be significantly disrupted as I have a plan to get things moved over logistically fairly soon.

This year’s Claim Your Style Fifth Edition Pens feature four matte gradient finishes - beautiful!

In the meantime, new arrivals haven’t stopped! You can view the full list in this week’s Thursday Drops, but the big highlights are the arrival of the Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” second series, a wide array of standard line Platinum pens, and the Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style Fifth Edition 849 Ballpoints. Also, don’t sleep on the return of the Platinum Desk Pen. This thing features a sweet, bouncy extra-fine steel nib that I absolutely love.

Platinum
Platinum
Endless
Endless
Caran d'Ache Pencils
Caran d'Ache Pencils
Pilot
Pilot

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

We’ve recently shared some news regarding our continued growth with our Patreon members. If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

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Sunday Reading for July 14, 2024

July 14, 2024
  1. Baron Fig Squire Hex Review (via The Poor Penman). Baron Fig has released a new version of their Squire rollerball, in a hexagonal shape. I have one for review and will be publishing my own thoughts at some point.

  2. Nahvalur Horizon Earth Day (Plus a Giveaway) (via Figboot on Pens). The Nahvalur Horizon can be an overlooked Nahvalur model, as it’s one of the newer releases from the company and includes an integrated piston filler. These two pens are inspired by Earth Day.

  3. Left Over Notebooks (via Stationery Pizza). How do you handle the issue of partially used notebooks? I tend to be a completionist - not switching them up or opening anything new until it’s finished, but then my own backlog becomes a pile of entirely unused notebooks.

  4. The Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen: Early Thoughts (via Fountain Pen Blog). I’ve not written about Diplomat in some time. As a whole, the make excellent pens, and it’s interesting to see this review of their entry level “Magnum” fountain pen.

  5. Full Fills and Aesthetically Compelling Nib Designs (via mnmlscholar). This new emerging trend of intricately engraving fountain pen nibs (and even modifying things like nib slits) is something to watch.

  6. Stabilo Boss NatureCOLORS Review - Can Highlighters Be Used for Sketching (via Writing at Large). YES! The Stabilo Boss is an excellent compact highlighter.

  7. Doodling with Fountain Pens: Organic Pattern (via Fountain Pen Love). The latest in a long-running series for those who want more ways to use their pens!

  8. DC Pen Show and SF Pen Show Classes (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you’re attending the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows later this month, don’t forget to check the class schedules and sign up. Some classes this year are space-limited!

YouTube Pencil Sharpeners Demonstration Cover Thumbnail with Three Sharpened Pencils

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I continued my recent theme of pencils and graphite, with a post on lead holders and lead pointers, and how you should try to procure a stand-alone lead pointer if you want the sharpest point possible. Late yesterday (due to technical difficulties), I posted a YouTube video demonstrating three desktop pencil sharpeners, following up on a blog post from last week on the same subject.

The new Caran d’Ache 849 “Claim Your Style” ballpoints in four gorgeous matte gradient finishes.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, Including Caran D’Ache Claim Your STyle Edition 5, and Move Details!

We’re moving next week! As detailed in this post, we’re opening a new physical location and the process of getting our inventory moved over starts a week from tomorrow. It’s not a big move, so I don’t anticipate any major disruption to our 2-3 business day shipping time. That said, we will be attending the D.C. Pen Show the first week of August, so to avoid any travel-related delays I’d advise getting orders in within the next two weeks.

We had lots of new stuff arrive this week, including the latest Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style Fifth Edition Ballpoints, which feature stunning matte gradient finishes. We also have another shipment of Kaweco Sketch-Up “Softfeel” pencils, the full line of Viarco vintage-style pencils from Portugal, more Caran d’Ache Nespresso Pens, and Platinum Desk Fountain Pens!

Caran d'Ache
Caran d'Ache
Kaweco
Kaweco
Blackwing
Blackwing
Pilot Pens
Pilot Pens

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

We’ve recently shared some news regarding our continued growth with our Patreon members. If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

In LInks Tags Links
Comment
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