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The Gentleman Stationer

Vintage Living in the Modern World.
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Sunday Reading for December 8, 2024

December 8, 2024
  1. A Mini Techo Kaigi, and Plotter A5 Setup Thoughts (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I find simple, straightforward planner setups like this to be the most effective, mainly because they’re the ones you’re more likely to stick with for the long term.

  2. Visit to Ishimaru Bunkoudou in Nagasaki, Japan (via Inkredible Colours). The stationery selection at this department store looks absolutely incredible, particularly the ink selection!

  3. Diamine Inkvent 2024: Spoiler Free Introduction (via Writing at Large). A great annual Inkvent series revealing each of the colors as we go through December. I’m only linking to the introductory page to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn’t started yet, but at this point I think most people have seen at least one of the inks.

  4. Year End Pens: December Blues (via Line Variation). Both the Parker Sonnet and the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 are vastly underappreciated pens.

  5. Guest Post - Archiving Solutions (via Philofaxy). What do you do with those planner inserts and pages you are not actively using? Some sort of archive is usually necessary to manage any sort of notebook system.

  6. Distracting: KWZ Stardust Blue Fountain Pen Ink (via A Fleeting Ripple). As someone who is not typically a shimmer ink enthusiast, I’m intrigued by these inks with a formulation that allows the shimmer particles to remain suspended without shading….

  7. Montblanc 145 Classique S Nib Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). These round nibs with lots of tipping are gaining in popularity. I’ve honestly never been tempted, as I prefer nibs with a bit more angular line variation than these seem to offer.

  8. Discovering the Aurora Marco Polo Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). Now that’s a market find! a cool retro-themed design, too.

  9. Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pen Review (via Pen Addict-Jeff). These Pilot dip pens have garnered rave reviews. I need to get my hands on some and test them out.

  10. ‘Tis the Season to be STICKII (via Well-Appointed Desk). A sticker advent calendar? If you’re a sticker fiend you may want to check this one out, if not this year then next.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, we’re well into the throes of the holiday season, so I published a short counterpart to the T.G.S. Annual Gift Guide, which is a post titled “5 Bad Stationery Gift Ideas” that I hope you all find entertaining. I also posted an update on how I’ve been using my Bible Size Plotter binder to help manage my growing brick-and-mortar shop.

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

We’ve recently restocked on Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter binders, as well as Pilot E95s fountain pens, Book Darts page markers, and more! We also have a large volume of new inks coming into the shop from brands including Diamine, Teranishi, and Kuretake, most of which have already been added online but all of which are available to peruse in-person. Be sure to check out our weekly Thursday Drops post for stock updates, as well as the Tuesday “New Arrivals” post which also contains any updates to weekly shop hours.

We are currently caught up on orders, nearly all of which are shipping within two business days. While we do our best to get holiday season orders shipped quickly, we have no control over carrier timing and delivery - if you need something by December 25 or earlier, please get your orders in as soon as possible!

Diamine Inks
Diamine Inks
Pilot
Pilot
TWSBI
TWSBI
TRAVELER'S Company
TRAVELER'S Company

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives (Including the Sunderland Mk1)

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! 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. For example, Patrons receive an extra bit off the TGS x Sunderland Collaboration Pen, and Patreon supporters had their own special Fountain Pen Day promo “mystery box” opportunity, while supplies last and which is still available!

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

Don’t worry, I won’t post the Inkvent reveal without a spoiler warning!

Sunday Reading for December 1, 2024 (The Short Season Edition)

December 1, 2024
  1. Ugly Duckling: TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen (via A Fleeting Ripple). While the design isn’t for everyone, I appreciate the Swipe as a very good entry level fountain pen attempt, especially since the US release includes two different converters plus a cartridge.

  2. Midori MD Cotton Notebook (via Pen Addict). Midori MD Cotton paper is one of my favorite everyday formats for both pads and notebooks. The paper, to me, has a great balance of fountain pen friendliness and dry time. I also love how ink looks, and I try to have at least one picture of all my inks on MD Cotton.

  3. Leonardo + Stilo & Stile MZ Kintsugi (via Figboot on Pens). Of all the Black Friday “Special Releases,” this Leonardo Momento Zero might be my favorite. Stilo & Stile have released some absolutely gorgeous Leonardo collaborations lately.

  4. SPS Series: Wrap-Up for Now (via Rachel’s Reflections). Standford Pen Studio has launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand, which you can read more about in Rachel’s latest post.

  5. Gravitas Carbon Fibre Piston Test Bed (via Dapprman). Too bad about this material, because it looks really cool.

  6. Digging Back In To the Archive: How Many Do You Own? (via Philofaxy). Quite an impressive collection!

  7. Moonman V60 Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). The Omas 360 was one that got away from me. I found the angles on this one too sharp to be comfortable, but many people love it.

  8. Today I Get To/Got To (via From the Pen Cup). A great idea for a new journaling prompt!

In Case You Missed It…

I tried to take some time off this week, and had a moderate degree of success. I did a short post on the latest iteration of the Kaweco Mini Converter, which I’ve very much enjoyed in Kaweco and non-Kaweco pens. (Sorry, it promptly sold out within an hour after this review went live and I’m trying to get more.)

In terms of other content, don’t forget to check out the 2024 Holiday Gift Guide if you haven’t already! We update the gift guide annually, and it’s become a bit of a tradition around here with new items added every year.

We have all sorts of new Book Darts available in the shop, including smaller-quantity offerings, new bookmarks, and a 75-Dart mixed set option.

T.G.S. Curated Shop Thanksgiving Weekend/Cyber Monday Specials!

We’re thankful for all of our readers and customers, and we wanted to offer a special promotion/discount this weekend! Through tomorrow night at 11:59pm US Central Time, take 10% off all inks and refills using the promo code “INKSGIVING” at checkout. This discount applies to all except TWSBI and Pilot, and includes newly arrived inks such as Kuretake, Teranishi Guitar, Diamine 150th Anniversary and 160th Anniversary, and everything else in our ink shop, including Inkvent Calendars since Inkvent starts today! Check out this week’s Thursday Drops page for a complete list of new arrivals and some clearance items.

Don’t forget that we are open today (Sunday) from 12-5pm for extended Holiday shopping hours! Check out our store location and hours here and on our Google Business listing for updated shopping hours throughout the holiday season.

Kuretake Inks
Kuretake Inks
Pilot
Pilot
Diamine
Diamine
Kaweco
Kaweco

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives (Including the Sunderland Mk1)

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! 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. For example, Patrons receive an extra bit off the TGS x Sunderland Collaboration Pen, and Patreon supporters had their own special Fountain Pen Day promo “mystery box” opportunity, while supplies last and which is still available!

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

Sunday Reading for November 24, 2024

November 24, 2024
  1. 10 Useful Things (via Olive Octopus). Non-pen items can be repurposed to make your cleaning/collecting/and testing easier and more enjoyable! This is a great list, and I’ll double down on the glass stirs for ink swatching.

  2. Personalized Stationery (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’ve often wanted to customize some letter-writing stationery and notecards - maybe I need to use the discount code included in this post!

  3. Best Esterbrook Ever? King of the Night (via Figboot on Pens). This Dracula-inspired campy Estie has a great red, white and black swirl pattern.

  4. Kilk Yggdrasil and Kilk Dusk (via A Gathering of Curiosities). Kilk is a rapidly growing brand from Istanbul, Turkey that specializes in unique designs, many of which include sterling silver inlays and accents.

  5. Traveler’s Notebook as a Planner: After the First Use (via Stationery Pizza). The ability to easily experiment with different formats is one of the benefits of modular notebook systems like the Traveler’s Notebook.

  6. If You Like: Pelikan Piña Colada Rollerball Pen (via A Fleeting Ripple). The “ink ball” rollerball technology has vastly improved in recent years. I’ll need to keep an eye out for this Pelikan!

  7. Visit to Hands (Orchard Outlet) in Singapore (via Inkredible Colours). Now that I have a shop I always love to look at display options, especially for the individual gel pens and ballpoints.

  8. Inky Madness - Diamine (via Rachel’s Reflections). I’m re-exploring Diamine as an ink line after a few years away, and a few of these caught my eye.

  9. Video Review: TWSBI Diamond 580 RGT-II (via Scrively). Even as TWSBI expands its range of pens that include rose gold trim, the original Rose Gold Diamond 580 remains a stunner.

  10. Saying Goodbye to Anderson Pens (via Well-Appointed Desk). I feel super sad about this, as the Andersons were a fixture on the early pen show scene when I first entered this hobby. I wish them nothing but the best for the future.

The Kaweco Classic Sport vs. the Classic Sport Piston Filler. The gold ring means piston!

In Case You Missed It

This week we launched the 2024 T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide! An annual tradition for several years, I walk through multiple categories of gift ideas ranging from gifts for pen enthusiasts (pro tip: don’t buy a fountain pen), to those in your life who are stationery curious but not yet full-blown enthusiasts. I also offer some insights into trends I’m seeing in delivery times leading up to the holidays, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time for gift deliveries. Since we also received our initial shipment of Kaweco Classic Sport Piston Filler fountain pens, yesterday I posted my initial thoughts on how this pen compares to not just the standard Classic Sport, but also the previously released AL-Sport Piston Filler.

The week ahead of me is already planned…

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

In addition to the arrival of the Classic Sport Piston Filler, we also received the latest AL Sport “Kaweco Collection” release in Olivine, and the entire Kaweco Perkeo lineup. Most of this week, however, I spent getting ready for the upcoming Inkvent season, as well as processing and swatching multiple new lines of inks such as the Teranishi Inks from Japan, the new Diamine 160th Anniversary Inks, and a curated selection of my favorite inks from the standard Diamine Ink lineup.

Check out this week’s Thursday Drops post for the entire listing of new arrivals.

Diamine Ink
Diamine Ink
Platinum Ink
Platinum Ink
TWSBI
TWSBI
Pilot
Pilot

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives (Including the Sunderland Mk1)

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! 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. For example, Patrons receive an extra bit off the TGS x Sunderland Collaboration Pen, and Patreon supporters have their own special Fountain Pen Day promo “mystery box” opportunity, while supplies last and which is still available!

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

I spent a LOT of time swatching inks this week.

Sunday Reading for November 17, 2024

November 17, 2024
  1. Drifting Apart: The Last Drop (via A Fleeting Ripple). As someone who’s reinvented a blog/website/hobby multiple times over the years (including by stepping away for relatively long periods), this post really resonated with me. Also, be sure to watch the YouTube video referenced in the post, which I enjoyed.

  2. Recap of TIPS 2024 (via Inkredible Colours). The Tokyo International Pen Show (TIPS) is on my pen/stationery show bucket list. It’s run quite differently from U.S.-based shows, which you can read about here.

  3. What the Heck Is a Planner Convention? (via Well-Appointed Desk). I published my own recap of our adventures at the Chicago Planner Conference, and Ana had many similar thoughts! (Though I did not know about the app with the swag drops. Note for future pen shows.)

  4. Pen 18111 3D Pen Review and Giveaway (via Figboot on Pens). Apparently Yoshi Nakama is returning to Japan and potentially will not be making pens for the foreseeable future, but has remaining stock of some of his 3D-printed pens.

  5. Change of Planner Plans/Change of Planners? (via Stationery Pizza). I too have decided to opt out of the dedicated “Planner” this year and return to notebook systems, namely a combination of the Traveler’s Notebook and Plotter.

  6. Archiving and Storing A5 Inserts (via Philofaxy). If you use ring or modular notebook systems, you will understand the importance of having an archiving strategy for those back refills you want or need to save.

  7. Pineider A5 Hardcover Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Though they’ve expanded into pens in recent years, Pineider’s roots are as a paper manufacturer. I do love colored paper!

  8. A New Beginning for Macchiato Man (via Macchiato Man). I’m glad to see the site isn’t going away! Many thanks to Blake for making this possible.

  9. Traveling with Ink: November 2024, my North Sea Haul (via Fountain Pen Blog). Now that’s a great trip! Complete with pen acquisitions.

  10. Road Trip with Traveler’s Company (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I love the idea of the Traveler’s Caravan and the customized notebooks. I’ve never made it to one of these events, but maybe (one day) I can host?

Just a small part of the swag I brought home from the Chicago Planner Conference.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I recapped my trip to the Chicago Planner Conference (i.e., Swagfest 2024). It was a unique experience, quite different from any traditional pen show I’ve attended. Based on discussions that I had with attendees during the class that I co-taught, I also drafted up a new “Ask T.G.S.” post addressing how to handle higher-maintenance inks.

Perfect pairing? I’m loving the new Diamine inks.

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

This week saw the arrival of multiple new releases from TWSBI, including the Caribbean + Onyx Diamond 580 ALR and the Sky Blue ECO, as well as a full restock on most of the recent releases such as the ECO Irish Green + Onyx and all of the bronze-trimmed offerings. We have most TWSBI nib sizes back in stock, so if there is a pen you’ve been waiting for, please check in!

We’ve added a ton of new inks to our offerings, including Teranishi Guitar inks from Japan, the newly arrived Diamine 160th Anniversary inks, and Platinum Chou Kuro, Platinum Carbon Black, and all of the Platinum Classic Iron Gall inks. Read about all of this weeks arrivals in the Thursday Drops post.

TWSBI
TWSBI
Teranishi Guitar
Teranishi Guitar
Platinum
Platinum
iLootPaperie Art
iLootPaperie Art

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives (Including the Sunderland Mk1)

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! 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. For example, Patrons receive an extra bit off the TGS x Sunderland Collaboration Pen, and Patreon supporters have their own special Fountain Pen Day promo “mystery box” opportunity, while supplies last and which is still available!

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

A stationery show at the historic Hilton in downtown Chicago? Count me in! More details later this week.

Sunday Reading for November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024
  1. Makar Short (via Figboot on Pens). Yes, these are luxury pens, but as David points out, these are unique offerings with really nothing else like them on the market. From the maker of Makar knives.

  2. Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - A Fresh Look (via Pen Addict). After all these years, the Custom 823 remains a personal favorite. I’m all for new barrel colors, though I love my classic Amber dearly.

  3. Stabilo Grow Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a Stabilo fountain pen, except maybe way back when I went to college in Europe and was first exploring inexpensive fountain pen options.

  4. SPS Egyptian Cats (via Rachel’s Reflections). I’ve been reading through Rachel’s posts about the Stanford Pen Studio pens and have really enjoyed the artistry in the various offerings, all designed in collaboration with different artists.

  5. Ensso Bolt Retractable Fountain Pen (via The Poor Penman). I’m not sure I realized just how compact this pen was. I’m glad to hear results from the Ensso Kickstarter are positive, as this is a really hard design to pull off.

  6. Diplomat Viper Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Hmm. This textured, hooded-nib offering from Diplomat has me intrigued. I need to pick up a sample.

  7. Gear or Supply Guys (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). One of the most fun aspects of the Chicago Planner Conference, as opposed to a traditional “pen show”, is that there were far fewer “gear guys/gals” walking around. People enthusiastically discussed whatever worked for them.

  8. OHTO Minimo Ballpoint Review (via Pen Addict). Say yes to the slim ballpoint that can go anywhere.

  9. Planner Review: Agendio Customizable Planners (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love customizable systems, and this one even allows you to vary the paper to make it fountain pen friendly.

  10. GIVEAWAY: Galen Leather 1870 Marbled Notebooks (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana is giving away one of these gorgeous new vintage-styled notebooks from Galen. I really. need. one. of. these. No I don’t. Yes I do.

Let’s talk about Fountain Pen Friendly Paper! (Tested with fountain pens, markers, and fineliners!)

In Case You Missed It…

As part of our Fountain Pen Day celebration earlier this month, we released a Fountain Pen Friendly Sampler pack, and in a separate post I discussed the rationale behind it, why I enjoy certain papers in this pack, and how I plan to handle requests for samplers going forward. Yesterday I discussed five of my favorite inks from the Teranishi Guitar Inks lineup. More on that below!

The Teranishi Guitar inks went straight into the Lamy 2000 Pine! Gentle Green, that is.

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

We’ve had a bunch of new arrivals pour in before the holidays, including new fineliner and pencil accessories from Tom’s Studio, new 5-year and 3-year journals from Midori, and what I’m most excited about, the arrival of the entire lineup of Teranishi Guitar inks! Check out yesterday’s post linked above for details on my five favorites, but I also have full swatches and comparisons available on the site and in this week’s Thursday Drops post.

Teranishi Guitar Inks
Teranishi Guitar Inks
Tom's Studio
Tom's Studio
Field Notes
Field Notes
Midori
Midori

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives (Including the Sunderland Mk1)

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! 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. For example, Patrons receive an extra bit off the TGS x Sunderland Collaboration Pen, and Patreon supporters have their own special Fountain Pen Day promo “mystery box” opportunity, while supplies last and which is still available!

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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