New Arrivals: Bank Paper, Typewriting Paper, and Airmail Paper from Life Stationery!

March 28, 2023

After a bit of an unintentional hiatus, Life Paper - including all specialty varieties - is back in stock! Favorites include the 100-sheet Bank Paper pads in both Letter and A5 sizes, Typewriting Paper, and the new (to us) ultra-lightweight Airmail paper. We even added the spiral bound stenographer’s notebook in classic Gregg-style ruling. Whether you’re looking for dedicated correspondence paper or the classic Noble Note writing pads and notebooks, all of the Life stationery is fountain pen friendly.

Life is one of the few brands that continues to make specialty papers such as Bank Paper, Typewriting Paper, and Stenographer’s notebooks.

Visit our Curated Paper shop to view our full selection, as we continue to add new brands regularly. Many thanks for your support!

I love the classic green chipboard cover.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We are authorized resellers of all brands sold.

Thursday Drops: Platinum Preppy Wa "Modern Maki-e" and Other Post-Pen Show Arrivals

March 23, 2023

Things come in waves in this business: New releases, sales, pen shows, shipments from distributors, and sometimes the waves all hit at once! I returned from the Arkansas and Baltimore Shows to a-more-than-a-handful of boxes waiting for me, which included a fresh shipment of Mark’Style “Days” Ballpoints featuring the Anterique “Mach Ball” refill, as well as the Mark’Style Days Metal Gel Pen featuring the Ohto Needle-tip refill. In addition, we now have the third edition of the Platinum Preppy Wa - the “Modern Maki-e” series, which features a modern interpretation of traditional Japanese Maki-e techniques applied to Platinum’s classic Preppy fountain pen. These are easily my favorite Preppy Wa release so far (and I’ve already picked a couple that I’d like to keep for myself).

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

The six finishes of the new “Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e” series.

Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Edition. The latest of the Preppy Wa releases features six new designs applied to the classic Preppy in a traditional maki-e style. The “Modern Maki-e” process uses silk screen and glistening powder instead of lacquer, and is quite pretty. My two current favorites are the “Kachimushi” (dragonflies on blue-black acrylic) and “Kuyou” (dark red rosettes on a black barrel). We still have a few of the Second Series remaining as well, though after pen show season those are running low.
Mark’Style Days Metal Ballpoints. I never regret bringing in additional pens from Mark’s Tokyo, especially their “Days” series. If you’re unfamiliar with Mark’s, it’s a curated brand that collaborates with different manufacturers on pens in their own particular style. This hexagonal metal (aluminum) ballpoint features their weekday motif and comes with the excellent Ohto needle-tip gel refill, Parker-style.
Mark’s x Anterique Mach Ball Click Pens. We’ve added several colors to the Mark’s x Anterique collaboration, including two “demonstrator” versions. We’ve also restocked on the refills.
Midori 70th Anniversary MD Light Grid Set. These limited edition versions of the Midori MD Light A5 Notebooks feature seven different colors of threaded bindings with matching grids. The standard A5 size makes them compatible with covers such as the Lochby Field Journal.
Midori Soft Color A5 Notebooks. Similarly, Midori has released these slim A5 colored journals in grey, blue, green, and purple dot grid paper, all of which is still quite fountain pen friendly. I’ve enjoyed adding a pop of color to my Lochby and Roterfaden notebook systems.
Midori MD Kurashiki Canvas Pen Cases. We only have a couple of these canvas pen cases left (perhaps one in each style), since they were quite popular at Baltimore. Both flat and gusseted (standing) sizes are available.
Midori XS Stationery Kits. I’m doing my best to get the quirkiest of the Midori products in front of a U.S. audience, including these compact MD stationery kits that feature miniature, portable versions of desktop classics such as staplers, scissors, a mini measuring tape, and adhesives.
Portable Rulers from Midori and Traveler’s Company. Who doesn’t need a ruler or a straight-edge from time to time? Whether I’m drawing charts in your planner or notebook, or actually needing to measure something, a ruler is one of my most-used desktop tools.
Hightide Folding Metal Bookstands. I just wish I had more space on my table in Arkansas, because I would’ve brought the entire, colorful range of these versatile desk/reading accessories. These folding metal bookstands hold anything from actual books to notepads for transcribing notes to tablets.
Hightide Sandglasses. Showcasing these in person at the Arkansas Pen Show must’ve worked, because we’ve sold plenty of them in the past week. Analog timers such as sandglasses have plenty of uses, ranging from Pomodoro-style work timers to cooking applications to gaming. If you’re curious about how I use them (and how others have as well), check out this blog post.

Kachimushi “Dragonflies” on blue-black acrylic.

New Arrivals: Mark'Style Days Metal Ballpoint and More Mark's x Anterique Pens

March 21, 2023

Mark’style Tokyo is a curated line of product collaborations from Mark’s, a Japanese brand that takes its own unique design riffs on classic stationery items. The Mark’style “Days” series is perhaps the most popular, and we’ve carried their hexagonal woodcase “Tous les Jours” needle-tip ballpoints for a couple of years now. Last month, we added the Mark’s x Anterique Mach Ballpoint, which features an excellent low-viscosity refill with a new level of performance in a vintage-style click pen.

For those who love a hexagonal barrel but find standard ballpoints or gel pens too narrow, the Mark’style Metal (aluminum) Gel Pen offers a bit more of a grip.

We’re continuing to build out our selection of Mark’style pens! This week, we received a shipment of the “Days” Metal Gel Pens, a more substantial - yet still lightweight - hexagonal ballpoint that includes the .5mm Ohto needle-tip gel refill, an excellent Parker-style refill that’s a quick drying, smooth writer. Available in six different colors, these pens are currently priced at $23.50 and available for purchase in the Curated Shop. (You won’t be surprised to learn that I couldn’t resist adding a yellow version to my own collection.) Additionally, we added a few additional colors of the Mark’s x Anterique ballpoints, including two “transparent demonstrators.” Happy shopping!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all products sold, including the Mark’style pens featured here.

I brought a sampling of Washi Tape! If you don’t see what you’re looking for at the table in Baltimore, everything is still available online!

Thursday Drops: Pen Show Weekend! (Plus a Midori Restock - Too Heavy to Take!)

March 9, 2023

Since it’s a pen show weekend, we’ll be running our usual promotion of extra swag with your order while we’re away. We just received a fresh shipment of T.G.S. buttons and stickers, so you’ll get a few extras in your package to compensate for any slight delay in fulfillment. I will have a couple days in the shop early next week to get caught up on shipping orders before turning around and heading back out on the road to Little Rock for next weekend’s Arkansas Pen Show! Remember, if you want to pick something up at Arkansas next week, just check out in the shop and use the “615PICKUP” Code to drop the shipping charge.

Likewise, if you miss our display of Traveler’s Company and Lochby in-person at the show, most of our stock continues to be available online.

In the meantime, right before I flew out we received a large shipment of Midori MD paper, including a restock of several favorite Midori MD Notebook sizes, all Midori MD Notebook Covers (including the natural goat leather), and more Traveler’s Company Brass Pens!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Midori MD Light 70th Anniversary Notebook Sets. These sold out lightning fast when we first stocked them last Spring, and fortunately I was able to procure another shipment. Each set contains seven A5 MD Light notebooks, each with a different color grid.
Midori MD A5 Notebooks. We now have most rulings back in stock in standard A5, our most popular size, including the dot grid notebook journal.
Midori MD Leather Notebook Covers. These natural leather covers fit the standard Midori MD notebooks and notebook journals, and will age beautifully as the undyed natural leather develops a patina.
Midori MD Cotton Notebooks. These cotton paper notebooks have “F” series sketchbook dimensions, but the larger F3 fits the A4-size paper notebook cover, and possibly others.
Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint Pens. My favorite everyday pocket ballpoint, which lives clipped to my Plotter Mini 5 (and to be honest, most of my other planners as well, given that I have like five of these pens). Though they last a long time, we also have the refills.
Traveler’s Company Brass Bullet Pencil. After a short hiatus, the Brass Bullet Pencil is back in the store. As a concept, this type of pencil is one of my favorite products in existence, and the Traveler’s version might be the only one currently made?
Midori MD Letter Pads and Envelopes. There’s still time to respond to all of those InCoWriMo letters! (I know I have a personal backlog… stay patient, pen pals.)
Penco Pocket Drafting Pens and Pencils. I’ve brought several of these to Baltimore with me, so if you’re at the show you have to come by and see what’s become a top-selling product.
Caran d’Ache 849 “Colour Treasure” Edition Ballpoint Pens. We still have a few of the 849 Colour Treasure ballpoints in both the cool and warm tones. Once these are gone, that’s it! If they’re not gone before next week I’ll take them with me to Arkansas.
Penco Perfection Light Bullet Pens. We have a full display of these at the Baltimore Pen Show this weekend, but we also have some remaining in online stock.

Thursday Drops: New Lochby Colors, Unique Highlighters, and More!

March 2, 2023

If you didn’t see our announcement from Instagram last night, Lochby has launched two of our favorite cases - the Quattro four-pen case and Pocket Journal - in new colors: Charcoal and Navy. Now you can build out a complete set of all the Lochby accessories in matching colors, if you so desire! I’ll be bringing a selection of what I still have available to the Baltimore Pen Show next week, and to the Arkansas Pen Show the week after that, so if you would like to reserve one of these cases for show (or Nashville-area local) pickup please place an order using the coupon code “615PICKUP” at checkout. (Note: This is NOT a “free shipping” code. After this code is used, we will reach out to verify where you intend to pick up your order.)

Kokuyo Beetle-Tip Highlighters are in-stock!

While we plan to have a table in both Baltimore and Little Rock, we will be constrained by space and plan to focus on cases, notebook systems, and a selection of pens, pencils, and office accessories. If there’s something specific you would like delivered to the show, please be sure to get your orders in by this weekend, and in the case of a larger/fragile item like a Sandglass or multiple notebooks/pads of paper, please reach out first to make sure delivery is feasible since I will be flying. I hope to see as many of you as possible next week!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Lochby Quattro Four-Pen Case. Originally launched only in classic brown with the yellow honeycomb lining, the Lochby Quattro - our top selling pen case - is now available in navy blue and charcoal!
Lochby Pocket Journal. Like the Quattro, the Pocket Journal now also comes in navy and charcoal colors, and we’ve restocked on the 68gsm Tomoe River Lochby Pocket Journal refills.
Midori Kurashiki Pen Cases. While we’re on the subject of canvas pen cases that will age beautifully, we have received a fresh shipment of these cases, in both a flat pouch and gussetted design. These canvas cases even include a small interior pocket to hold a pencil sharpener.
Lochby Field Journal. Based on the level of interest that we received at the D.C. Pen Show, I expect the Lochby Field Journal to be a big seller in both Baltimore and Arkansas, so we restocked on all colors. We also have a variety of A5 refills that are compatible with this cover, which can hold up to 6 of the Lochby-branded or similarly sized softcover notebooks.
Midori MD Light Notebooks. These slimmer, softcover versions of the Midori MD A5 notebook will fit the Lochby cover, and come available in grid, blank, and lined versions. Other sizes are available as well.
Midori Soft Color Notebooks. A recent discovery, these notebooks feature fountain pen-friendly blue, green, purple, or grey dot grid paper. The blue and grey refills have been living in my own Lochby.
Clairefontaine Classic 1951 Staplebound A5. A slimmer version of the clothbound 1951 notebooks that are so popular. Read more about why we love Clairefontaine paper here.
Kokuyo Dual-Tone Highlighter Markers. These unique highlighter pens feature a dual tip, each with its own ink supply in a different shade. This way, you can differentiate between topics, levels of importance, etc. by using the darker (or lighter) color to add emphasis.
Kokuyo “Beetle-Tip” Highlighter Markers. Sold in sets of five, these particular highlighters from Kokuyo allow you to easily change the width of your line, with either a classic standard highlighter line, a double line, or a thin line that can be used to make notes. Check out the pictures in the listing for more details.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Graphite/Yellow Bicolor Pencils. These two-in-one highlighter/annotator pencils are fixtures in the various pen/pencil cups I have scattered around my home and office. Sold individually or by the dozen.