Uni Jetstream Prime Ballpoint Pens — The Jetstream Prime is an excellent - and regularly overlooked - ballpoint pen option. It’s available in a variety of matte, smooth, and pearlescent finishes, as well as tip sizes ranging from .38mm to .7mm.

Thursday Drops: The GOAT Workhorse Pen, Kakimori, Roterfaden Accessories, and More!

February 1, 2024

I’m in the process of preparing my notes for a seminar I’m leading at the California Pen Show this month, which will focus on stationery for everyday use, techniques I use to incorporate these tools into my daily life, and how I think they’re helpful. Today’s Thursday Drops post offers a bit of insight into the type of products I will be discussing! I strongly encourage anyone who plans on attending the California Pen Show to check out the slate of classes on offer, because strong attendance will encourage more of this type of content in the future.

In addition to the big ticket items, there’s always going to be room in our shop for the practical, such as these Roterfaden Sheet Protectors that let you better organize your Taschenbegleiter.

The pens, paper, and ink that I use everyday might surprise people. Though expensive limited edition fountain pens and inks with crazy properties like wild shimmer and sheen garner much of the attention in the stationery blogosphere, most of what I write with on an everyday basis is far more straightforward and, well, kind of boring, but in a good way. When I’m working - which more often than not boils down to getting words/concepts/thoughts on a page - I want a reliable pen/ink/paper combination that I don’t have to think about at all because it just works. This week's slate of new arrivals mostly fall directly into that bucket!

Uni Jetstream Prime Ballpoint Pens. I’d venture that the Uniball Jetstream can easily be dubbed the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) workhorse pen. The Jetstream Prime is Uni’s “upscale” housing for the Parker-style SXR-600 refill, with a tried-and-true twist ballpoint design and excellent balance in the hand. Choose between matte and pearlescent finishes.
Uni Jetstream SXR-600 Parker-style Ballpoint Refills. We’re thrilled to be able to offer the Jetstream Parker-style refill (which can be used in an absolutely massive variety of pens) in .38mm, .5mm, and .7mm tip sizes. They last forever and are the first upgrade I typically make to any Parker-style ballpoint or rollerball.
Uni Jetstream SXR-200 D1 Refills. Similarly, all of my D1 multi pens typically feature the SXR-200 D1 Jetstream refill. Available in red, blue, and black, and .5mm and .7mm tip sizes. A exceptional upgrade for the Lamy 2000 multi pen/4-color Ballpoint.
Nahvalur Nautilus “Ruby Koi” Limited Edition Fountain Pen. Nahvalur has done it again, with its second gorgeous limited edition release of 2024. The “Year of the Dragon”-inspired pen sold out in less than a week, and hopefully these will follow. “Ruby Koi” features red and black German ebonite paired with either a gold-toned stainless steel or 14k gold nib.
Pilot Fountain Pens. Additional Pilot fountain pens arrived yesterday, including new additional Explorer colors (grey, white, and clear!). Core workhorses such as the Vanishing Point, Custom 74, and Custom 823 are also fully restocked.
Kakimori A5 Hardbound Notebooks. Kakimori is one of the boutique Japanese brands that has been on the shop “short list” for some time, and last week we received our initial shipment that included a selection of hardbound A5 notebooks in traditional Japanese fabrics. Featuring OK Fools paper with a light grey grid layout.
Kakimori Metal Nibs and Holders. Kakimori nibs have become the go-to solution for those who want a dip nib that’s more durable than a glass pen but which doesn’t need to be replaced after a month or so of use. The brass nibs will patina over time and take on a beautiful burnished look.
Roterfaden Notebooks in All Sizes. We carry the full range of refills for the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter organizer system, from A6 to A4, as well as specialty layouts such as the “Project Planner” and undated monthly calendar.
Roterfaden Sheet Protectors in A4 and A5. One of the more commonly requested Roterfaden accessories are the plastic sheet protectors, which allow you to carry loose papers, receipts, business cards, and other items inside your Taschenbegleiter. I personally carry multiple sheet protectors in a single set of clips. Sold in packs of three.
Traveler’s Company 2024 Calendar Refills. All of our dated 2024 Traveler’s Company dated diaries are now 20% off. It’s not too late to pick one up to outfit your Traveler’s Notebook for the upcoming year, though some specific layouts are sold out and won’t be restocked.

Nahvalur Nautilus Ruby Koi Fountain Pen — A red and black ebonite Nautilus? Too bad I couldn’t snag this one as a signature release….

Welcome Kakimori! Including Brass and Stainless Nibs, Nib Holders, and Hardbound Notebooks

January 30, 2024

We’re thrilled to now be able to offer Kakimori metal nibs, nib holders, and hardbound A5 notebooks in a variety of Japanese fabrics. The Kakimori brass and stainless steel nibs are exceptional tools for ink sampling and swatching, in addition to calligraphy and everyday writing. I reviewed the brass nib back in 2022, and this particular dip nib (along with a Kakimori Sakura nib holder) has made ongoing appearances in my reviews and YouTube videos over the years, including the recent Inkvent video series. While Kakimori metal nibs are more expensive than other dip nibs, these are designed to last for many years, as opposed to inexpensive dip nibs that must be discarded after a month or so of use. As I hate to throw anything away, I find it to be a more sustainable approach, and the nib gains patina (and character) over time.

Kakimori Brass and Stainless Steel Nibs — The conical shape of the Kakimori nibs and the grooves on each side ensure plenty of line variation and continuous ink flow.

Kakimori Nib Holders in a variety of materials on a pen rest — Kakimori Nib Holders also come in a variety of materials, including raw aluminum, Sakura (Japanese Cherry) wood, and Aizome (Sakura wood that’s been dyed with indigo).

Kakimori Notebooks feature 64 sheets/128 pages of fountain pen friendly OK Fools paper with a light grey 5mm grid, in a Smyth-sewn binding. I’ve been testing this paper since it arrived, not previously having tried OK Fools paper, and really enjoy it. Ok Fools is a softer paper, yet still handles fountain pen ink quite well. The light grey ruling keeps the focus on the ink. Each notebook comes in a Kakimori light-grey slipcover for protection, which you can either recycle or keep for posterity if you use these to protect your used notebooks on a bookcase.

As mentioned, Kakimori products available as of this morning in both the pen section and notebook section of the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Nibs and holders are sold separately.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of Kakimori products.

Thursday Drops: A Whole Lot of Roterfaden, Plus a TWSBI Pre-Order Update

January 25, 2024

We’ve spent the last few days unpacking a massive shipment of new Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters in all three sizes, including a major shipment of the larger A4 covers in some unique color combinations, and we even have one four-clip version for those who want the ability to carry four, as opposed to three, notebook refills. We’ve also restocked on Roterfaden-branded notebooks, and in today’s post I’ll also highlight some of my favorite Roterfaden-compatible inserts.

I’ve heard that people are still looking for Traveler’s Notebook 2024 Calendar Refills - we still have a limited number in stock, and they are on sale! Once they’re gone, they’re gone so if you’ve been looking to build out your Traveler’s Notebook as a planner get these before the last of them sell out.

Finally, a note for all who have pre-ordered the TWSBI Black Diamond 580 Pens: They have arrived! Pre-orders are shipping out today, January 5, and the pens are now available for immediate shipment, along with a full restock of most TWSBI models.

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

Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter. This German clip-based cover system has long been a favorite of mine. Since they come in A4, A5, and A6 sizes, you have the choice of using standard notebooks or Roterfaden’s own proprietary refills.
Midori MD Light Notebooks. While I tend to carry thicker notebooks in my personal Roterfaden covers,
Midori MD Light 70th Anniversary Notebook Set. We still have limited stock of these seven-notebook sets, each with a different color grid ruling and thread binding.
Lochby A5 Tomoe River Notebooks. Featuring 68gsm Tomoe River Paper and four different ruling formats, these A5 notebooks from Lochby are excellent options for Lochby’s own Field Journal or any option including Roterfaden.
Laconic Tokyo A5 Notebook Refills. These slim A5 notebooks feature a wide range of different layouts, from daily, monthly, weekly, and 100-day diary/planner to the (much) less common Gantt Chart and Spreadsheet.
Traveler’s Company 2024 Diary Refills. We’re down to our last stock of the Traveler’s Company Planner refills for 2024. It’s not too late to get started, and if you’re looking to build out the system we have all of the Starter Kits and accessories.
Life Noble Note. Another quality Japanese Paper Brand, Life notebooks even make a version that comes with the super-small Kleid grid!
Anterique Brass Ballpoints. Looking for a planner pen to fit your Roterfaden (or other) pen loop? These slim click ballpoints feature an excellent refill
Pilot Vanishing Point. Retractable Fountain Pens are an essential for some of us who work on the go, and the Vanishing Point is both the original and best (in my opinion) iteration of this design. Nib units are also interchangeable, so you can switch from an EF to a Stub depending on the type of writing you want to do.
Pilot Explorer. As a less expensive, slimmer fountain pen, the Pilot Explorer has become a newfound favorite. This pen features Pilot’s reliable stainless steel nib and ships with both a cartridge and a converter.

Roterfaden Interior Layout Blue Felt — I went for some wild colors this time around!

Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter SO_20 Covers with Elastic — The A5 SO_20 soft leather covers now include a slim elastic on certain models, like the olive and grey versions pictured here.

New Arrivals: Lots of New Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters Now Available!

January 23, 2024

After a week or so of delays due to the weather here in Tennessee, we’ve finally received our latest shipment of Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter organizers in A4, A5, and A6 sizes, along with a full restock of Roterfaden-brand refills! This shipment has a few notable additions, including more of the A4 portfolios which have proven so popular, as well as two new versions of the A5 SO_20 soft cover. One version now features an elastic band, but my personal favorite is a limited edition in white/light cream leather with dark suede interior. You all know how much I love using light leather covers and letting them patina and age!

Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter White SO_20 — Yes. I went with white leather. No, I don’t care that it will collect stains/patina/etc. It’s a feature, not a bug!

You can check out the full range of Roterfaden products in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Please note that the rubber “Print Blanket” covers are now available with different interior felt options. All pre-orders have now shipped - if you haven’t received UPS tracking information, please let me know!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Roterfaden products.

Taschenbegleiter SO_20 A5 with Hobonichi Cousin — The SO_20 Soft-Cover A5 Taschenbegleiter is slightly oversized. Here is a white one shown with a Hobonichi Cousin AND a Midori MD Light A5 notebook.

Nahvalur (Narwhal) Pen of the Year 2024 Dragon Uncapped

Thursday Drops: Nahavalur (Narwhal) Pen of the Year, TWSBI Diamond 580 AL Black, and More!

January 18, 2024

Yesterday the Nahavalur 2024 Pen of the Year arrived via Fedex, and the “Dragon Pen” is a stunner. I’m going to have a heck of a time not buying one of these for myself. The red/black combination with the gold explosions of color throughout the mix absolutely nailed the look. Occasionally you get a pen where the promotional release photos don’t even come close to showing how good a pen looks in person, and this is one of those times.

In terms of pens that everyone’s been anxiously awaiting, the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Black is now available for pre-order! A matte black TWSBI is one of those “wish-list items” that makes you wonder what took them so long. These should arrive early next week as well with orders to ship as soon as they arrive.

Finally, Roterfaden is in the process of being restocked. Certain Taschenbegleiters and the Roterfaden stock notebooks/refills are available for purchase now, with more to come as I confirm the order upon arrival. Stay tuned!

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

TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Black Fountain Pen. TWSBI has announced their first release of 2024 - and it’s one that many have been clamoring for. These fountain pens feature a brushed black “ALR” finish similar to that on the previous releases in this series. Pre-orders are currently open, with the pens on their way to me and due to ship over the weekend or early next week.
Nahvalur 2024 Pen of the Year “Dragon” Fountain Pen. The promotional photos don’t do this pen justice, so I’ll be adding some of my own to the listing as soon as I possibly can. The acrylic features rich red, gold, and black swirls that evoke the pen’s namesake, and this limited release is available with both 14k and stainless steel nib options. We have a limited number of these pens in stock and available to ship immediately.
Clairefontaine French/Seyes-Ruled Looseleaf Paper. One of the biggest hits from 2022 is back in the shop! We have A4 and A5 individual sheets, as well as the A4 double booklets.
Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Restock. The full Roterfaden order arrives today, weather permitting! I have added certain models of the Taschenbegleiter to the store, along with a restock on Roterfaden official notebook refills.
Kaweco Art Sport Fountain Pens. We still have a couple of the Kaweco Art Sport releases in stock, mostly in the white color but there may be one or two others left. I will try to restock these once if any remain but this may be it.
Lamy Studio LX Restock. We are fully restocked on Lamy pens (and inks), including all models of the Lamy Studio such as the LX All-Black, as well as the 14k nib Piano Black and Palladium Studio fountain pens.
Pilot Fountain Pens and Iroshizuku Ink Restock. Looking for a reliable daily writer - especially one with a 14k nib that still comes in under $200? Check out our selection of Pilot fountain pens, which now includes both the Custom 74 and Vanishing Point models.
Nahvalur Bottled Ink Restock. All standard (i.e. non-shimmer) Nahvalur inks are back in stock. If you’re looking for a dark green, consider “Dark Forest”. Read more on the full range here.
Craighill Caro and Kepler Pens. I’m back to being extremely busy this January, and relying heavily on my pocket pens. The Craighill Caro is a keychain pen that’s remarkably secure, and allows you to use a D1 refill. I will write this one up soon.
Lamy Pico Retractable Ballpoint. Another staple in my pocket pen arsenal, the Lamy Pico collapses to the size of a tube of lip balm for easy portable carry, yet deploys to a full-size ballpoint pen for everyday writing.