Thursday Drops: What's Coming to San Francisco? More Than I've Ever Taken to a Show!

So as I write this I’m in the Delta Skyclub at LAX, with an hour or so to burn before I make my connection to San Francisco. Thankfully, the Delta App tells me that both of my bags made it as far as Los Angeles, so there’s that! This week’s Thursday Drops will focus heavily on what I’m bringing to the show with me - a selection of products that I think tend to be underpromoted at pen shows, either due to vendors thinking they are too “common” to take to a show despite being excellent (i.e., the Lamy 2000 and Pilot Custom 74), or simply because they aren’t widely distributed (i.e., Lochby cases and paper refills).

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Some items (Pilot Custom 74 fountain pens, certain TWSBI models) are available in limited quantities and therefore will be taken out of stock in the shop later tonight before going live at the show tomorrow. Other items (such as most Lochby goods and the Anterique pens) will remain in stock in the online store AND available in person at the San Francisco Pen Show. Our table is located between Vanness Pens and Enigma Stationery, so we’re in good company. Come see us!

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

1. Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens. We will have at the table the excellent Custom 74 demonstrator in all colors and nib sizes. Read our recent review revisited here.

2. Lamy 2000 Pens (and Pencils). A personal favorite across the board, ranging from the iconic fountain pen to the matching rollerball, ballpoint, and mechanical pencil, the latter of which I reviewed yesterday.

3. TWSBI Diamond 580 Sunset Yellow. We have a handful of the latest TWSBI release, in this excellent gold/light orange color. I plan to restock once I return home, in time for the Navy Blue + Bronze Eco release!

4. TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape. TWSBI is doing more with the pocketable Diamond Mini lately, and I love it. The cap threads onto the back of the barrel when posting to create a full-sized writing experience.

5. TWSBI Diamond Mini White and Rose Gold II. Like the White and Rose Gold II Diamond 580, only smaller!

6. Lochby Field Journals. At the last few pen shows I’ve attended, it’s been a toss-up between the Lochby Field Journal and the Lochby Venture Pouch for most popular table item! This go-round I will also have the Lochby refill notebooks to allow you to build out your ideal planner/notebook setup at the table, and you will also be able to add-on accessories such as a pen case or roll.

7. Lochby Venture Pouch. One of those surprising products that sells extremely well in person but struggles online - or maybe it’s not so surprising! A stationery pouch that incorporates a four-slot zippered pen-case into the design is a bit hard to show off without an in-person demo. I did try.

8. Lochby Tool Roll. I failed the DC show crowd by only having a handful of these available for purchase at the table. I’m bringing more to San Francisco!

9. Lochby Quattro 4-Pen Case. The classic four-pen zippered case with offset slots so your pens don’t touch! All three colors will be with me this weekend.

10. Anterique Ballpoint Pens. Finally, the Anterique Ballpoints are one of my favorite discoveries from the past year, and I can’t wait to take them to a show. Everyone who buys one ends up getting more.

I hope to see many of you tomorrow!

Shop Update: Olive Traveler's Notebooks Are Back in Stock!

Late last week we received a small shipment of the Standard Olive Traveler’s Notebook Covers. Since Traveler’s Company sets up their own table at the San Francisco Pen Show and sells directly there, I probably won’t be bringing these with me unless someone places an order for pen show delivery. We also have a few of the matching Olive Pen Holders, as well as Sticker Release and Accordion Refills in both Standard and Passport sizes, as these were recently added to the standard Traveler’s lineup. Orders will ship until close of business on Wednesday August 23, and even though we’re traveling anything placed over the weekend will probably still fall within the 2-3 business day time frame. Many thanks!

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The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all Traveler’s Company products, including the Traveler’s Notebook system as well as the Spiral Ring Notebooks and Watercolor Sketchbooks.

Thursday Drops: TWSBI Diamond Mini White Rose Gold II Arrives, New Inks, and More!

As we get ready to head out to next week’s San Francisco Pen Show, it’s been a bit of a scramble to get everything listed online and/or pulled to take to the show. New (to us) pens that have landed include the TWSBI Diamond Mini in White and Rose Gold, and we’ve also recently received the latest series of inks from Anderillium, with new colors inspired by butterflies and moths. I inked up several of my own pens with the new Anderillium arrivals last night, and due to the quirky nature of some of the colors I was able to achieve some cool pairings! Stay tuned to social media for some photos.

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If you can’t choose, all of the Anderillium series have the option of a sample set containing 8 mini bottles. It’s an option on the drop-down menu!

Note to those who have expressed an interest in seeing our Hinze Pen collaboration at the San Francisco Show - we only have two left. If you’d like to reserve one, I can do an online purchase with local pickup next week. Just select the “Local Pickup” option and I will bring it to the show.

UPDATE: As of this morning (8/18), Olive Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kits are back in stock in the standard size!

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

1. TWSBI Diamond Mini White Rose Gold II Fountain Pen. The standard Diamond 580 in Smoke/Rose Gold and White/Rose Gold have become standbys in the TWSBI lineup, but I’ve never before brought in the Diamond Mini version with Rose Gold trim. I’ve had several requests for these, and they are now available!

2. Nahvalur Original Plus Matira White/Lovina Black Fountain Pens. Prefer a vacuum-filling system? The Nahvalur Original Plus now comes in Matira White and Lovina Black finishes, complete with rose gold trim.

3. TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape Fountain Pen. In addition to the Rose Gold version, we also carry the latest special AL release, in a bright purple TWSBI has called “Grape.” The perfect demonstrator for showcasing bright purple inks!

4. Anderillium Lepidopteran Series Fountain Pen Inks. We now have Anderillium’s third series of fountain pen inks in stock and available for purchase. Check out this post for additional details and some of my own favorite colors from this new range.

5. M+R Castor & Pollux Long-Point Pencil Sharpeners. These long-time shop favorites are fully stocked and ready to ship, along with replacement blades and the rest of the M+R Lineup.

6. Lamy Pico Pocket Pen. A bit random for this selection, but I’ve been enjoying my Pico lately, and I think I will bring them to San Francisco and have them at the table. It’s one of the most fun, practical pocket pen designs out there!

7. Nakabayashi Paper. The latest range of fountain pen friendly paper to hit the shop, Nakaybayashi paper handles ink extremely well and comes in a range of different formats and rulings.

8. Clairefontaine Triomphe Notebooks. Standard “Triomphe” paper has become a bit of a gold standard for devoted letter writers, and now this excellent paper comes in notebook form.

9. Clairefontaine “Pupitre” Tablets. I’m always on the lookout for notebooks that feature perforated pages, and these top-bound Clairefontaine tablets are excellent options for those looking

10. Curated Washi Tapes and Enamel Pins. I’ll be bringing a fairly large selection of Washi Tapes and Enamel Pins to the San Francisco Pen Show next week, but until I have to start pulling stuff for the show, all washis and pins are available to ship, including a few new patterns!

New Arrivals: Anderillium Inks Lepidopteran Series!

Anderillium is known for their bright - and sometimes offbeat - colors inspired by nature. The first two series of inks included the Avian Series (Birds) and the Cephalopod Series (Squids and Octopuses). Anderillium’s latest line of creations is the “Lepidopteran Series,” inspired by Butterflies and Moths, and it might be my favorite yet, especially for those who enjoy unusual and interesting brown inks with uncommon undertones. Be sure to take a look at “Toltype Moth Warm”, which has subtle pink tones, and “Atlas Moth Brown,” which has blue sheen.

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Anderillium Inks are well-priced at $14.50 for a 1.5oz, wide-mouthed “jam jar” bottle, with 8-bottle sample sets also available if you’d like to test the entire range. You can check out our entire selection of Anderillium offerings here.

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Further Reading and Ink Reviews

We’ve previously reviewed many of the different Anderillium inks here on the blog. Favorites include Cuttlefish Brown, Colossal Squid Dark and Kingfisher Green, and American Goldfinch Yellow. Enjoy!

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

Notes From the Curated Shop: Five Desk Essentials for Your Office or Dedicated Writing Space

In addition to standard pens and paper, we stock a wide range of desk and reading accessories to make your everyday work and home life more enjoyable! The reason I love this particular product category is that it’s often overlooked by many pen retailers even though it’s a natural extension of an interest in writing. At this past weekend’s D.C. Pen Show - there will be a full recap forthcoming, I promise - I brought along a range of non-pen items that included a handful of cases and desk accessories, and they sold quite well. Here are five of my favorites currently in the shop that can help you build out your ultimate desk setup.

1. The Penwell Desktop Pen Holder. I’ve long been a fan of the Penwell desktop pen holder, which turns any capped fountain pen or rollerball into a desk pen! Good Made Better, the maker of the Penwell, was kind enough to do a custom run for our shop in a deep “Aged Red” finish.

2. Quality Scissors. Until I started using good scissors, I didn’t appreciate how invaluable they are, whether it comes to opening mail or packages, trimming photographs or mementos to paste into a scrapbook, or craft projects. We stock several brands of high-end scissors that are both sharp and functional.

3. A Compact Ruler or Straightedge. I always find myself needing to measure something, and it’s rarely long enough to warrant pulling out the measuring tape unless I’m shipping packages. Rulers also serve as a handy straightedge for formatting plain paper, or when you want to transform a standard notebook into a planner.

4. A Book Stand. Another long-running product I’ve carried is the Hightide Folding Metal Bookstand. While you can certainly use it for reading, it’s versatility goes far beyond that - I use mine to hold notepads and notebooks as I transcribe my notes or to hold a handwritten draft of a document as I’m typing it into the computer. This particular model conveniently folds flat for easy transport in a briefcase so you can take it on the road.

5. A Pen Tray. I keep a lot on my desk, and it’s helpful to have a catch-all to hold pens, pencils, paper clips, erasers, sharpeners, bits of paper - you get the idea. These Hightide Marbled Pen Trays are made from melamine and come in either long rectangular versions or a smaller round option.

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While these five categories are fairly mainstream, other more specialized products to consider include a self-inking stamp, which can be customized to feature your letterhead, return address, or signature to add to written correspondence, or an analogue timing device like a Sandglass. We’re actively adding additional “home office” and reading accessories, so keep checking back!

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