Just Landed: Maruman Mnemosyne Notepads, Notepad Covers, Label Stickers & More!

One of the more undersung fountain pen friendly paper lines, Maruman’s Mnemosyne notebooks and notepads are among the most versatile, and we’re happy to announce that we’ve expanded our selection of Mnemosyne products to include additional paper sizes and formats, as well as the Mnemosyne label stickers to help you further customize your notes! As of this morning, you can purchase the Mnemosyne spiral notebooks in sizes ranging from A4 to A6 to B5, and we have also added A5 Notepads, a handy A5 Notepad Cover that includes not just a classic padfolio but five pockets for organizing, and two different top-bound steno pads. Label stickers are available in “Tab,” “Task,” and “Flow” formats.

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You can view additional Mnemosyne photos and writing samples in the shop listings, or by visiting this past post. As I mentioned above, Maruman Mnemosyne paper unfortunately doesn’t get mentioned as often as brands such as Rhodia or Clairefontaine, though I find it handles fountain pen ink just as well. The perforated pages, durable covers, and attractive price point make this a paper worthy of your consideration.

If you’re interested in reading further on fountain pen friendly paper recommendations, we maintain a running list of fountain pen friendly brands, which also has an active comment section because we can’t test them all!

Paper Review: First Impressions of the New Sanzen Tomoe River Paper

Fans of the original lightweight Tomoe River Paper were disappointed to hear last year that it was being discontinued. After a lot of back-and-forth over whether the paper was truly gone forever, it was announced that Japanese paper company Sanzen had purchased the formula and naming rights from Tomoegawa, and Tomoe River Paper would go back into production. But would it be the same? That’s the big question.

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A comparison of the original Tomoe River (top) vs. the new Sanzen version (bottom). I have more comparisons of writing samples below.

A good friend of mine placed a large order direct from Yamamoto Paper in Japan, and was kind enough to add a package of A4 Sanzen Tomoe River sheets to his order for me. I’ve had a week or so to test this paper out, and can offer you my initial thoughts. Short Answer: Those looking for an exact replica of classic 52gsm Tomoe River Paper (in terms of both feel and how the paper showcases ink colors) are going to be dissatisfied, those who appreciate any lightweight writing paper that handles fountain pen ink without feathering or bleeding will like this paper just fine, and those who use pencils in addition to fountain pens might strongly prefer the new paper over the old. Let me break this down:

• Sanzen Tomoe River Paper feels stiffer and has more tooth. While it still manages to have that “crinkly” feel that some people loved about the original, the Sanzen version feels different - more like a traditional writing paper such as Midori MD. It also has more feedback - it’s not rough or scratchy, but the feedback is definitely noticeable when you do a side-by-side comparison with the original. I’ve heard some people complain about the paper “dragging” on nibs, and while I personally would not describe the feel as “draggy,” that may depend on the specific nibs you use and how sensitive you are to writing feel.

• Sanzen Tomoe River Paper showcases ink much differently than the original. It’s neither good nor bad, but inks look different on the Sanzen paper than on the original: darker with less shading and sheen, and less-pronounced color variation in multi-chromatic inks. You will either like or dislike this property/feature, depending on how you want your inks to look, but there’s really no way to tell other than trying some for yourself. I tend to use less exciting inks for my daily writing than most people, and I don’t use my papers for art and/or calligraphy where ink properties might be more important, but if you do, you may end up disappointed.

• Sanzen Tomoe River Paper may have less show-through and “ghosting.” I’ve had several questions via Instagram about whether there is “ghosting” with the new Sanzen version. For purposes of answering this question, I’ll equate “ghosting” to “show-through”, meaning that you can still see the writing on the reverse side of the page, even if the ink technically doesn’t bleed through. The short answer is yes, there is still show-through (as you would have with any thin paper - it’s unavoidable), but it’s not as pronounced. I say “may” above because it will likely depend heavily on the ink you use.

  • Note: I personally define “ghosting” differently, and use it to refer to the transfer of ink or graphite from one page to another when you write on the back of a page that already has writing on it. With pencil, it’s near certain that you’ll experience some ghosting with anything HB or softer. With pens, it’s more a function of the ink used rather than the paper, but ultra-smooth paper will exacerbate the tendency of highly saturated or slow-drying inks to ghost.

• Sanzen Tomoe River Paper will likely be more durable than the original. If I had one complaint about original Tomoe River Paper, it’s that the paper could be so thin and crinkly (especially in looseleaf form), that it could tear easily. For this reason, I often avoided using Tomoe River paper at work, and in situations where I needed a notebook or writing pad to travel in a backpack or briefcase. While far from scientific, I did a “tear test” on both the original Tomoe River and the Sanzen Tomoe River, and the Sanzen version feels stronger and rip-resistant.

• Sanzen Tomoe River Paper is better for pencil. Given the additional tooth/texture, those of us who use pencils as much as fountain pens may well prefer the Sanzen version to the original, which could be a bit too “glassy smooth” for pencils. Because of the lack of texture, many found that the original Tomoe River Paper smeared with darker pencil, probably because ultra-smooth papers don’t hold the graphite as well as toothier versions.

In this picture, you can see a pronounced difference in color between the inks on Sanzen Tomoe River Paper (top) and the original 52gsm paper (bottom). The two inks are Vinta Perya and Vinta Sirena, respectively, both of which typically have multi-chromatic shading, which is not as visible on the Sanzen paper. To be fair, the lighting in my kitchen makes the Sanzen writing look darker than in real life, and the effect is more pronounced on the blue Perya than the more green-ish Sirena.

Note: In comparing Sanzen Tomoe River Paper with the “original” Tomoe River Paper, I am not distinguishing between any of the formulation changes in the original. Prior to being discontinued, the original paper changed at least once (to much discussion among paper connoisseurs). Because I could never tell a difference between the “new” and “old” original Tomoe River, and because the different versions are not easily identified, I’m not taking that into account in this comparison.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Sanzen Tomoe River Paper is not widely available at the moment, though that will likely change as it works its way through the supply chain. Personally, I think I’ll be perfectly happy with this new version, should I ever need to purchase additional Tomoe River notebooks, or should companies like Traveler’s Company and Musubi decide to start using this paper in their notebooks. (I have a lifetime supply of pretty much any sort of paper in existence, so I’m not particularly concerned about running low on original Tomoe River.) That said, the Sanzen Paper is different, and if you’re a die-hard fan of the original you shouldn’t expect it to duplicate the experience you’ve grown to love. This is essentially an entirely new paper, and should probably be considered on its own merits.

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So where can you get this paper? The Yamamoto Paper Etsy Shop is currently the only source I’m aware of. It’s currently priced at $6.50 for a pack of 50 A4 sheets, with shipping costs of nearly $20 so you’ll want to stock up and make your order count. I expect I’ll be able to offer this paper in the Curated Shop at some point, though if you’re a die-hard fan of old Tomoe River you’ll be happy to know that I still have some 52 gsm paper available in the Traveler’s Notebook “Lightweight Paper” Specialty Refills, in both Standard and Passport sizes. (I tried to stock up on these while they’re still available for purchase). Lochby A5 and pocket notebook refills also feature the 68gsm Tomoe River, and I hear this paper will remain available but that’s by rumor only.

This post does not contain affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges/donations via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Essential Stationery: For Me, It's Sticky Notes

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve basically been forced into stationery minimalism. Three quarters of my stash has been packed away, and while I don’t have as large a stockpile as many, and tend to keep only what I might reasonably use, it’s definitely given me a sense of what’s truly essential and what’s a luxury. Here, I define “essential” as “What have I had to go back into storage to dig out of boxes because I can’t function without it?” The number one thing? My stash of sticky notes and page markers.

I use a broad range of sticky notes and page markers for everything from making notes to myself, to creating makeshift bookmarks, to annotating documents at work, to marking up books I’ve been reading where I want to go beyond marginalia. Honestly, for my day job, I probably do just as much writing on Post-its as I do on traditional legal pads or notebooks.

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A real-time shot of my work desk from this week. Lots of Post-It flags. Always.

So What’s In My Stash?

I keep a wide variety of stationery readily available for this purpose, ranging from your classic Post-Its (purchased in bulk every couple of years at Costco), to 3M document flags, to fountain pen friendly stickies from Midori and Traveler’s Company, to repurposed washi tape. For books that I plan to keep (as opposed to library books I can’t mark up), I’ll use Book Darts and more expensive paper tabs such as those from Duncan Shotten. Here are a few of my favorite options, chosen by what’s actually on my desk at this very moment:

• Classic Post-It. While overall performance with fountain pens definitely varies by batch (and especially by paper color), on the whole I’ve had a decent experience using standard 3M Post-It notes with fountain pens and most other writing instruments. The classic yellow are my favorite, and as I mentioned, I usually buy them in bulk at Costco.

• Midori MD Sticky Notes or Traveler’s Company Sticky Notes. I don’t use these on “throw away” notes for work, since they’re more expensive, but when I’m reading a book or wanting to add a sticky note to my journal, and intend the note to last for posterity, I’ll definitely use one of these higher-quality, fountain pen friendly sticky notes. The Traveler’s Company sticky notes come in a handy insert with plastic protector so you can store them as a refill inside your Traveler’s Notebook. The Midori MD versions are slightly larger (A7 size), so they can really double as “sticky memo pads.”

• 3M Post-It Flags. I probably wouldn’t buy these myself (b/c you can’t really write on them well), but I work at a law office and they have them lying all over the place so they’re always in my bag and sometimes “whatever’s available” (or “whatever’s free”) is what you use.

• Book Darts. These classic metal page markers are infinitely useful, and I never find myself without a tin of them in my bag or next to the chair I’m reading in. While they’re reusable, I typically only use them in books I’m reading and plan on saving, since I like to leave them in long-term to revisit certain passages. (They’re archivally safe and won’t degrade paper over time.) You can also use them to create a multi-subject notebook divided into sections.

• Duncan Shotten Sticky Page Markers. I have several packs of these quirky sticky page markers in various themes. (Lately I’ve been using the “alien” ones.) They’re great for when you want to show more personality than a Post-It flag allows.

• Folded-over Washi Tape. If you ever want to mark a page in a book or notebook, and don’t have a Book Dart or other page marker handy, you can always fold a small piece of washi tape over the edge of a page. I forget who told me this trick but it’s stuck for years!

Anything I’m missing? What are your favorite sticky notes and page markers?

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Book Darts on Tomoe River Paper!

In the Shop: Midori MD Cotton and Other Fountain Pen Friendly Papers

Japanese stationery company Midori makes so many different types of paper that it’s easy to lose track of them, especially some of the harder-to-find papers that don’t get as much attention. Case in point - Midori MD paper is quite popular on its own, and is used in everything from the classic Midori MD notebooks to the standard Traveler’s Notebook refills, but the MD Cotton paper tends to be sadly neglected.

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The slightly textured cotton paper is also excellent for pencils, especially darker graphites!

Why Midori MD Cotton? For starters, the paper has more of a white tone, as opposed to the standard cream MD, which some enjoy because they feel white paper shows off ink better. Personally, I love the A4 writing pad because you can tear off the sheets and use them in a typewriter. Cotton paper is strong and holds up well, with little bleed-through on most of my machines.

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The Traveler’s Company “Letter Pad” features Midori’s lined “letter-style” ruling on the front, and grid on the reverse.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop carries Midori MD Cotton paper in several formats, including the standard A4 and A5 writing pads, the “F” sized notebooks, and the Traveler’s Company “Letter Pads” from the B-Sides and Rarities collection. At one point, Midori made MD Cotton notebooks in standard A5, B6, etc., and I’m hoping they eventually bring them back! For more information on Midori Paper, and a wide range of other fountain pen friendly papers stocked in our shop (and elsewhere, with our friends), check out this post on fountain pen friendly paper recommendations.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Midori and all other brands we stock.

Shop Update: Paper for Letter Writing

Even though I failed to get my act together in time to participate in NaNoWriMo last month, I’ve tried to do better with my letter writing, especially now that I have access to a ready stream of paper that’s more appropriate for casual letter writing. I’ve never been one for dedicated “stationery sets,” other than correspondence cards that people have sent me over the years, preferring to rely on standard writing pads that offer more writing space. (Hey, when I do write letters, they tend to be longer.) If you’ve ever received a letter from me, you’ll know that I prefer three types of paper: Clairefontaine Triomphe, Midori MD Cotton, and standard 52gsm Tomoe River paper (which is currently hard to source due to manufacturing changes). What do I like about these specific papers? They’re all “standard” enough to be both readily available and reasonably priced, while still maintaining that classic “vintage stock” feel that’s nicer than a standard legal pad, for both the writer and the recipient.

We’re happy to carry most of these papers in the shop, along with a few other quirky options.

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Bright-white Clairefontaine Triomphe paper really shows off the ink!

Clairefontaine Triomphe

Available in both blank and lined formats, I would call Clairefontaine Triomphe my workhorse letter-writing paper of choice, since it’s both readily available, inexpensive, and ink-friendly. I love that it’s sold in bound writing pads, so you can use it for general writing and notetaking as well as correspondence. Available now in both A4 and A5 sizes, starting at only $5 USD.

Midori MD Writing Pads (MD Cotton and MD Standard)

If you favor more absorbent paper than Clairefontaine, or if you sometimes enjoy using pencils to write your letters, Midori MD Writing Pads are an excellent option. The unlined MD Cotton Paper has the best overall feel of any writing paper out there (in my opinion) and my only regret is that they don’t make it with a ruling. At the end of the day, I’ve simply adapted to using unlined paper. As I’ve mentioned before Midori MD pads are excellent for letter writing, and they can pull double-duty as a desk pad since they are bound on two sides and can be turned into a landscape orientation to fit beneath a keyboard. Available in both A4 and A5 sizes, starting at $10 for MD Cotton and $12 for standard Midori MD.

Life Noble Note and Bank Paper

While Japanese Stationery Company “Life” sits outside the stationery mainstream, receiving less attention than peers like Midori, many people find their paper equally as good and it’s developed a cult following. Their “Noble Note” 100-sheet writing pads come in blank, lined, and grid rulings. Personally, I find Life’s standard paper to behave closest to standard Midori MD, though perhaps with a bit more texture? If you favor toothier, more absorbent paper, check out their heavier, vintage-style Bank Paper. Available in A4 size, starting at $26 for a 100-sheet pad of Noble Note, and $28 for a 100-sheet pad of Bank Paper.

WMS & Co. ColorPads

Though color-coated paper is extremely hit or miss with fountain pens, I’ve had a lot of fun lately sending notes on the ColorPads from WMS & Co, mainly using ballpoint pen and pencil. (Colored Pencil looks exceptionally good on the grey paper.) I have one of the “Large Square” ColorPads on my desk at work, which I use for both taking notes and sending professional correspondence (thank-yous, cover notes, etc.). The best part is that all of the WMS & Co desk pads contain a minimum of 185 sheets of paper, so they’ll basically last forever. Available from $25.

WMS & Co makes writing pads in a variety of shapes and sizes. I’ve been using the large square ones (center) for work cover notes and casual correspondence.

Disclaimer: The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands shown here. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.