Thursday Drops: New Arrivals Throughout the Redesigned Curated Shop!

February 24, 2022

We recently redesigned our entire online shop in order to make it easier to navigate and to give ourselves room to grow by bringing even more exceptional stationery products on board. This past few weeks have seen a dramatic expansion of our selection of woodcase pencils and pencil accessories, as well as a new notebook and case system from Lochby. Be sure to check out these and more!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of WMS + Co. and other brands we stock. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Curated Pens & Pencils

Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Pencils. Often regarded as one of the best woodcase pencils on the market, the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni is now available in 2B, B, F, and HB grades, both individually and by the dozen.
Tombow MONO 100 Pencils. The similarly high-end Tombow MONO 100 is a favorite of writers and artists, also stocked in 2B, B, F, and HB grades and sold individually and by the dozen.
Erasers! Those of us who know the frustration of having a crappy eraser stuck to our wood pencil can appreciate a quality stand-alone rubber eraser. We now stock Tombow erasers suitable for multiple scenarios, from the general purpose Tombow MONO to the MONO Light (suitable for delicate papers), to the Dust Catch, to the MONO Sand Eraser.

In addition to the notebook systems discussed below, we’ve recently aded the Soumkine Universal Planner to the Shop!

Curated Paper & Notebook Systems

Lochby Notebooks and Cases. Made from vegan-friendly waxed canvas, the Lochby series of notebooks and cases include the A5-sized “Field Journal”, the smaller “Pocket Journal”, as well as the Quattro four-pen case and Tool Roll (which of course can also hold pens and a wide variety of writing instruments). The Field Journal and Pocket Journal each ship with 68gsm Tomoe River refills, which are standard A5 and pocket sized and can be used in any other compatible notebook cover or system.
Midori MD Notebooks and Paper. One of the most popular Japanese notebook systems on the market, and for good reason: Midori makes a versatile range of notebooks, notebook covers, writing pads, and accessories such as Diary Stickers and Sticky Memo Pads (recently added!). For those looking for something a bit more traditional and open-format than Traveler’s Notebook.
Traveler’s Notebook. We have the full range of Traveler’s Notebook Covers, Refills, and Accessories in stock, including all of the Standard MD Paper Refills, Specialty Paper Refills (including Tomoe River “Lightweight Paper”), and the “B-Sides and Rarities” collection. If you’re interested in learning more about Traveler’s Notebooks, check out this post on how I’ve set mine up, as well as this post showing how to connect multiple refills and accessories inside the cover.

Curated Desk & Reading Accessories

I’m a person of many interests, and many hobbies, and while pens and ink are first and foremost my main distraction in what little spare time I still have, reading is a close No. 2. For that reason, when we set out to form The Curated Shop, I knew that it would always stock a healthy selection of bookmarks, book stands, and related desk accessories such as desk trays and even hourglasses. If you spend any time at all in The Curated Shop, be sure to check out this section, which as always been my personal favorite.

Curated Washi Tape and Enamel Pins

I’m currently working on expanding our selection of interesting washi tapes and enamel pins, and I absolutely love this product category because it offers a fun and inexpensive way to express yourself at the office and at home in your notebooks and journal.

Thursday Drops: New Reading Accessories from WMS + Co.!

February 17, 2022

This past week we updated the T.G.S. Curated Shop’s main page in a way that I hope makes it easier to navigate while also creating room to grow our various categories, including our selection of curated desk and reading accessories! This week we’re pleased to offer a selection of high-end bookmarks from WMS + Co., in your choice of sterling silver, bronze, and copper. All of these make exceptional gifts, whether it’s a mid-winter pick-me-up for yourself or a gift for someone else. In addition to the official “Reading and Desk Accessories”, many of our writing instruments and notebook systems offer products that pull double duty,

In my humble opinion, everybody needs their own “ex libris” stamp.

Editor’s Note: Reading Accessories strike me as a neglected product category across the board. I’m not aware of many stores that stock items of interest to readers of physical books, and it’s one of the areas of the shop I’d like to grow. If you have favorite products that are hard for you to find and would like me to look into, I’d appreciate it if you’d drop me a comment or an e-mail through the Contact link.

WMS + Co. Corner Page Markers. These bronze and copper corner bookmarks are surprisingly light, slipping easily over the corner of your page to mark your spot in your novel or journal. Currently available in both bronze and copper, with sterling silver on the way.
WMS + Co. Sterling Silver Page Points. We personally use all of the products that we stock in our Desk and Reading Accessories section (it’s how we curate, after all), and this set of three Sterling Silver Page Points is one of a handful of products that sees use every day. I keep two of them in the devotional books I read every morning, and a third in my current book-in-progress.
WMS + Co. Sterling Silver Page Markers. Looking for a slightly larger, more traditional bookmark? These Sterling Page Markers ship as a set of two.
WMS + Co. Bronze Octagonal Rubber Stamp. All of WMS + Co’s high-end rubber stamps come with a voucher that allows you to order your customization for no additional charge. While many people might opt for a letterhead stamp or professional credential, I chose a custom personal library stamp. (Because who actually gets rid of their books, right?) This heavy bronze stamp is cast from an antique version.
WMS + Co. “Philosophical” Hand Stamps. Jazz up your journals and written correspondence with your favorite quote. (Some are more work-friendly than others.) We also sell re-inkable stamp pads, which are not included.
Hightide Co. Folding Metal Book Stand. One of the original products that started the Curated Shop, and still a best seller. (Seriously, some people order like four of these at a time, and I get it, because you can use these in various places around your home, whether on your desk as a book, notebook, or pad holder, in the kitchen as a cookbook holder, or even as a stand to display larger artwork or photographs.
Caran d’Ache Editing Pencils in Red/Graphite and Highlighter/Graphite. A personal favorite that’s never far from my side when I’m working or reading, these Caran d’Ache double-ended pencils are infinitely practical. Sold individually or by the dozen.
Traveler’s Company Brass Ruler and Brass Template Bookmarks. The Traveler’s Company Brass Ruler and template bookmarks are best sellers, whether you use them as a straightedge or just a handy bookmark that can pull double-duty when necessary.
Traveler’s Company Brass Number Clips. Mark multiple places in your research volume, or turn your notebook into a multi-subject by creating sections with these brass clips from Traveler’s Company.
Traveler’s Company Brass Clip. Another “daily user” for me, which can serve double duty as a clip to hold open your Traveler’s Notebook or other journal while you write, or a book while you read.

Lochby 68gsm Tomoe River Refills — 68gsm Tomoe River Paper is back!

Curated Shop Update: A Shop Redesign and Lochby Cases + Notebooks!

February 15, 2022

Over the past weekend I took care of something that was a long time coming, and redesigned the shop in a way that not only makes it more navigable but provides some much needed room to grow in a way that’s not cluttered and confusing. Going forward, the T.G.S. Curated Shop will have four main product pages: Pens and Pencils (+ Refills), Curated Paper + Notebook Systems, Curated Desk + Reading Accessories, and Washi Tape + Enamel Pins. You can check out the new shop landing page here, which breaks everything out by both section and brand.

Introducing Lochby Cases + Notebooks

Also, please join me in welcoming Lochby to the Curated Shop, with their full range of notebook covers and pen cases made from durable, vegan-friendly waxed canvas! The current lineup includes the Lochby Field Journal, an open-sided notebook case/organizer capable of holding up to six slim A5 refills using a combination of front and back cover slots and four elastic cords. The Lochby Pocket Journal is a zippered case that holds up to two 3.5” x 5.5” pocket notebooks, along with cards, etc. (It will also fit a passport.) Both the Field Journal and the Pocket Notebook ship with one 72-page Lochby refill, which contains fountain-pen-friendly 68gsm Tomoe River Paper, with additional refills available for purchase separately. The Field Journal refills are available in Dot Grid, Lined, Plain, and Planner (6 months) rulings, while the Pocket Journal refills are available in Dot Grid, Lined, and Plain versions.

Lochby also makes two dedicated pen cases: the Quattro four-pen case (which actually holds four-plus pens if you use the outer slots), and the Lochby Tool Roll, which can be used to hold anything from pens to bike tools to art supplies to whatever you might want to carry around with you. My favorite aspects of the Quattro are the offset pen slots that prevent unnecessary contact between pens when the case is closed, and a soft liner, both of which help protect against scratching.

The entire Lochby lineup is attractively priced, especially given the quality, ranging from $39-$59 for the various cases, $8.99 for the A5 Tomoe River notebook, and $5.99 for the Tomoe River pocket notebook. You can check them out here, along with the rest of our carefully curated selection of products.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Lochby and other brands we stock. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

TWSBI 1791 Inks (New) — My three favorites from the new entries in TWSBI’s 1791 series.

New TWSBI Inks: A Comparison

February 8, 2022

TWSBI recently released five new colors to round out its “1791” collection: Tangerine (Orange), Navy (Dark Blue), Grape (Light Purple), Forest Green (Dark Green), and Crimson (Red). The new inks nicely complement the existing six, so I thought I’d post a photo showing a comparison of all except the greens. (I’m low on those at the moment and didn’t want to crack open a bottle for sampling, but the new “Forest Green” is darker than the “Emerald", which has more blue in it.) Which is you’re favorite? I’m torn between the “Crimson,” which reminds me of Kaweco Ruby, and the “Tangerine,” which to me is a more traditional orange than the classic “Orange” that has a reddish tone. We stock the full line of TWSBI Inks in the Curated Shop, with the 1791 series starting at $6.50! We also recently received a shipment of TWSBI Fountain Pens, including the Vac700R “Iris” edition, the TWSBI Vac Mini, and the TWSBI Diamond Mini.

TWSBI-1791-Ink-Comparison — “Grape” was a pleasant surprise - it’s a mid-tone purple that’s lighter than the “Royal Purple,” and also shows some shading. New inks on the left, original on the right.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and other brands we stock. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Shop Update: Back from Break with New TWSBIs!

February 1, 2022

After a much-needed break, I’m happy to be back with several new TWSBI models for the shop! As of this morning, we now offer the TWSBI Vac700R in the coveted “Iris” finish, the TWSBI Vac Mini, the TWSBI Diamond Mini, and the TWSBI ECO in Jade. Quantities of certain nib sizes may be limited on the Vac 700R Iris and the ECO Jade, but I stocked what I could get. I’ve also restocked most other TWSBI fountain pens in popular nib sizes such as fine and medium, and I am pleased to offer the latest TWSBI Ink releases, including Forest Green, Grape, Mandarin Orange, Crimson, and Navy. Happy Shopping!

All links to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, unless otherwise noted. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!