Thursday Drops: Retractable Pens, T.G.S. Penwell Last Call, Traveler's Spiral Ring Notebooks and More!

Earlier this week we announced the arrival of the Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen, a new original design from notebook-maker Endless that seeks to offer a retractable nib option for fountain pens at an accessible price point. In addition to the Endless Creator, additional colors of Anterique Pens, and Anterique mechanical pencils, we now have more Traveler’s Company Spiral Ring Notebooks, as well as new versions of both the Life Noble Note A5 Sidebound Notebooks and Stenographer’s Pads. Happy Shopping!

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

1. Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen. The Endless Creator Fountain Pen hit stores this week. I’ve been playing around with one and will have a fuller review at some point, but I’ve enjoyed the faceted body and interesting design. No issues with the pen on my end.

2. T.G.S. x Penwell “Aged Red” Collaboration. As I mentioned in last weekend’s Giveaway announcement, I’ll be pulling a handful of the T.G.S.-exclusive Penwells out of stock to use in connection with an exclusive fountain pen promotion in the coming weeks. I don’t know whether/when we’ll do another run of these, so last call!

3. Traveler’s Company Spiral Ring Notebooks. We received a shipment of the Traveler’s Company Spirals, featuring both the classic Midori MD Paper and the Midori Watercolor paper. These notebooks with Kraft paper covers make great journals and/or sketchbooks, especially now that we have the watercolor versions.

4. Anterique Classic Click Ballpoints. We now have the Anterique vintage-style ballpoint pens in 26 different colors. These pens include a .5mm low-viscosity refill similar to a Jetstream or Acroball, and leave a very fine line that dries quickly and doesn’t smear. You can even mix and match the different colors to create the pen(s) of your choice.

5. Anterique Brass Ballpoints. Anterique makes a brass-barrel version of the classic click pen, in four different colors (though the plastic parts are interchangeable with the upper section from the standard click pens).

6. Anterique Classic Click Mechanical Pencils. The .5mm mechanical pencils share the same vintage “click pen” look, and feature a retractable tip and “cushion spring” mechanism to prevent lead breakage.

7. Anterique “Mach Ball” Refills. These were on backorder for some time, but we now have a healthy stock of these Anterique .5mm “Mach Ball” refills. Feel free to stock up with your Anterique Pens!

8. Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith 849 Ballpoints. We have more of the Caran d’Ache and Paul Smith limited edition ballpoints currently in stock, though certain colors (Racing Green) go extremely fast.

9. Life Noble Note A5 Blank Notebooks. We received the plain unruled versions of the Life Noble Note A5 sidebound notebooks, so we can now offer all formats of this paper.

10. Life Stenographer’s Notebook (Graph Paper). The top-bound Life Stenographer’s pad features 50 sheets/100 pages of quality life paper in either classic steno or grid ruling.

New Arrivals: Anterique Ballpoints + Mechanical Pencils in 26 Colors, plus the Endless Creator Fountain Pen!

I don’t think I quite prepared myself for bringing in the ENTIRE LINE of the Anterique ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils. These top-sellers are now listed in a whopping 26 different colors for the ballpoint pens, along with the .5mm mechanical pencils, which come in eight different colors at the moment with probably more on the way. A few things to know about the Anterique Ballpoints specifically:

• The barrel tops and bottoms are all interchangeable. While we also carry a selection of bicolor pens released in partnership with Mark’s Tokyo (which feature the Mark’style “Days” motif), you can combine different colors of the standard Anterique ballpoints to create your own unique style.

• In addition to the standard vintage click-pen, we also carry the brass barrel “upgrade”, sold in four different colors. Note that you can customize your brass pen by swapping in the upper piece from one of the 26 standard colors. (Pens are all sold separately - any modifications are your own project!)

• I’ve had some success swapping the excellent Anterique .5mm Mach Ball refill into vintage Bic Clic Pens. For a short discussion on how to do this, and how certain editions of the Bic Clic might require some hacks and modifications, check out this post.

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The Anterique Mechanical Pencils maintain the same vintage style design with what they describe as a "cushion slide mechanism" that prevents the core from breaking when strong writing pressure is applied. With heavy pressure, a spring releases the lead upwards, preventing breakage.

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The Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen Has Arrived!

While it’s been a topic of conversation since its announcement at the beginning of the year, the Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen has finally landed at retailers. This retractable (i.e., capless) fountain pen features a push-button mechanism similar to the Pilot Capless/Vanishing Point and the Platinum Curidas, but with an original faceted design that’s distinct from anything else on the market. So far, I’ve been impressed with the tester I’ve been using, and it’s a fun product for the $50 price point. These are currently in stock and available with fine nibs only.

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The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, and is supported by purchases via the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Thursday Drops: Caran d'Ache + Paul Smith 849 Ballpoints, Refilling on Refills, and More!

Happy Thursday! It’s a short work week and we’re almost to the weekend again, so hang in there! We have lots of fun stuff to discuss today. In addition to receiving a new shipment of Write Notepads Notebooks, we are also fully restocked on the ever-popular Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith collaboration 849 ballpoint pens, as well as Rollerball refills from Caran d’Ache and the excellent low-viscosity refills from Anterique. (Those interested in how to use the Anterique refills in vintage Bic Clic-style pens should read this recent post.) Over the past few weeks, we’ve also expanded our selection of fountain pens from TWSBI and Nahvalur, with additional models from the ECO-T and the Original Plus lines. Happy Shopping!

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

1. Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith 849 Ballpoint Pens. This year’s bicolor release is back in stock in all colors, with the Racing Green/Navy and Cobalt/Emerald color combinations leading the way in popularity so far.

2. Anterique Stationers Brass Ballpoint Pens. These well-balanced ballpoints from Japanese stationery Anterique combine vintage click-pen design with a modern brass barrel to offer an exceptional combination of balance and durability. I walk through the entire Anterique line in this recent YouTube video.

3. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pens. With this most recent shipment, all colors of the larger Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball pens are back in stock, including favorites white and grey.

4. Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint Pens in Anthracite Grey. Of the standard colors, the matte Anthracite Grey is the top seller. We also have the mechanical pencil version!

5. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Refills. I’m generally not a fan of rollerball refills and their tendency to bleed, but even I’ve had to change my tune a bit with these. As I wrote last month, I’ve had good luck in getting these to fit the standard 849 ballpoint body in addition to the larger Rollerball.

6. Anterique Stationers Low-Viscosity Ballpoint Refills. We just received a massive shipment of the Anterique refills and have a good stock for the foreseeable future!

7. TWSBI ECO-T Fountain Pens in Mint and Saffron. The ECO-T has become a personal favorite from the TWSBI lineup, and I go back and forth on whether it’s due to the rounded triangular grip or the colors.

8. ECO-T Jade and Rose Gold Ink Set. We still have a few of this winter’s Jade + Rose Gold ECO-T gift sets, for those who don’t want to miss out on this special edition.

9. Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pens in Lovina Black and Matira White. Nahvalur recently sent another shipment of their Vacuum-filler pens in black and white with rose gold trim. Over on the YouTube Channel, I did a short video looking at these pens in more detail, and I also did a longer video on how to use the vacuum filler system for those who are curious.

10. Washi Tape and Enamel Pins. Traveling this summer? A fan of sending postcards? Fun washi tape is a great way to decorate written correspondence, and we have plenty of it, along with our enamel pins that you can wear to the library this summer to show your love of stationery and reading!

Thursday Drops: Breaking Down The Desk Pad, By Category

In yesterday’s post, I looked at what might be the current pinnacle of the “Desk Pad” product category: the Cortex Brand Sidekick Notepad. While the Sidekick makes for an exceptional work tool, as I mentioned yesterday, it’s a specialized piece of stationery designed to serve a specific role in your workflow, and therefore may not work for everyone, especially if you use paper in large quantities. The T.G.S. Curated Shop stocks an array of landscape desk pads and landscape-style notebooks intended to meet a more diverse range of needs.

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WMS & Co. Calendar Pads, in Full and Keyboard size.

Category 1: Landscape-Style Planners and Calendar Pads

From spiral bound notebooks that can be used as a traditional planner to tear-off desk pads that sit beneath a keyboard, undated calendar products are flexible tools you can use to organize your workweek appointments, or collect your notes and to-dos day-by-day. For a portable solution akin to the Sidekick (i.e., a durable product you can carry between meetings and locations), consider the Write Notepads Weekly Planner, which features a week-on-two pages layout in a landscape format. Other flexible options include the WMS & Co. Planner Desk Pads, which are tear-off writing pads that come in two different sizes (Full and Keyboard), both featuring a weekly calendar layout.

The Write Notepads Landscape Ruled Notebook in Pistachio

Category 2: Landscape-Style Spiral Notebooks

Some people prefer a sturdy spiral notebook that keeps their notes in one place and allows for archival retention, whether as a matter of personal preference or a work requirement. The Write Notepads Landscape Notebook has long been one of our top selling products, and features a unique lined ruling that runs horizontally. (Pro tip: If you want a Landscape Notebook with dot grid ruling, all you have to do is turn the standard Write Notepads Dot Grid spiral notebook sideways - there’s no header, just a blank page, so they work in either landscape or standard “mode”.) Similarly, Maruman’s Mnemosyne line of spiral notebooks features a landscape layout for certain rulings, including their grid and blank notebooks.

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Soft Midori MD Cotton Paper is not only fountain pen friendly, but excellent for pencils.

Category 3: Blank Writing Pads

We carry a wide array of blank desk and writing pads, all of which work well with a range of writing instruments, including fountain pens. Favorites include the Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton pads, which are glue-bound on two sides for added durability and are designed to be used as either landscape-style pads beneath a keyboard or as a standard notepad with a vertical orientation. In addition to their Planner Desk Pads discussed above, WMS & Co. makes a selection of blank desk pads for standard notetaking, including versions in different shapes and colors.

Do you have a favorite brand of desk pad that you think we should carry? We’re always looking to bring in new lines and products, so please let us know!

Just a reminder that through Monday, May 29 at 11:59pm CT, we are running a Memorial Day Weekend Sale! Take 10% off all shop orders using the code “SUMMER23” at checkout. Some exclusions (i.e., TWSBI) apply.

New Arrivals: Kit Your Traveler's Notebook Out for Your Summer Travels!

I nearly spouted coffee across the table this morning when my daughter told me that the last day of school is this coming Thursday! Where did the year go? At the same time, I’m ready for summer, and all it entails. Work quiets down, and I usually change out my Traveler’s Notebooks to feature more journaling-style inserts as opposed to the productivity and planner-focused build-outs that I’ll use during the Fall through Spring months.

Introducing the New Traveler’s Notebook Repair Kit in Spare Colors

One of my favorite aspects of the Traveler’s Notebook system is its customizability, including the ability to change the elastic to add a pop of color to the outside of your notebook. Traveler’s has begun releasing their Repair Kits in new color combinations, including this Version 010 (Spare Colors). While certain of the colors in this package were previously available in the standard pack, this (relatively) new release is notable for the addition of a grey-blue elastic cord, which I think would look awesome on the black, blue, or even the olive notebook covers.

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Traveler’s has decided to release the repair kits in different color combinations. The “Spare Colors” comes with the five replacement cords shown here, plus two replacement bookmark strings and a spare fastener.

We are currently fairly well-stocked with most Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kits in both Standard and Passport sizes, as well as most refills. For those of you looking for the B-Sides and Rarities collection, our inventory is low because I understand that these are in the process of being added to the regular lineup and will reappear at some point in the future. If you want these refills, get them now as we are very low and I don’t have a firm ETA on the new versions. Many thanks for your support!

This week is a great time to get started with Traveler’s Notebook or one of our other notebook systems, as we are running a Memorial Day Sales Promotion through 11:59pm CT on Monday, May 29. Take 10% off your total order using the coupon code “SUMMER23” at checkout. Some exclusions (such as TWSBI) apply.