Thursday Drops: Notsu Restock, Zebra Sarasa Grands, and Memorial Day Weekend Sale and Clearance

You all really can’t get enough of the index cards! We were basically sold out as of yesterday afternoon, but today I picked up a fresh box in the mail from Notsu, which included not just additional Centre Rise notecard sets but also 3x5 Dot Grid Cards with rounded corners. Other new arrivals include a restock of the Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage gel pens (the upgraded anodized models) in most of the popular .5mm tip size, as well as additional TRAVELER’S Notebooks in Olive and Camel. (The Camel has been backordered for a long time, and I know people have been waiting for it.)

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Oh, and a bonus: The “New” Iroshizuku colors are back in stock! Syun-gyo, Rikka, and To-ro are all available in relatively limited quantities, but hopefully they will be easier to restock going forward.

For Memorial Day Weekend, all items in the Clearance and Sale section receive an automatic 20% off, instead of the usual 15%. Our pencil sale continues through the end of the month (excluding Blackwing and TWSBI products). Use “PENCIL10” at checkout to claim your discount. The physical store will be open Thursday and Friday 1-6pm, and Saturday from 10am-6pm, with potential Sunday hours given that it’s a long weekend. Stay tuned.

1. Notsu Centre Rise Card Sets. You all keep buying them, so we’ll keep restocking them for as long as we can, in whatever colors we can get! The Notsu Centre Rise includes 50 Vertical “To Do” Notecards, dividers, and a magnetic carrying case that doubles as a notecard stand for your desk.

2. Notsu 3x5 Dot Grid Index Cards. The standard Notsu 3x5 Dot Grid Index Cards with rounded edges are back! These cards likewise fit the Centre Rise cases, and can be used interchangeably with the “To Do” system.

3. Notsu Dot Grid Writing Pads. Notsu also makes letter-sized and A5-ish Dot Grid writing pads, which are great general-use desktop paper pads.

4. Notsu Index Card Holder. These vegan leather card sleeves hold a handful of 3x5 index cards, with a magnetic “portfolio” feature to hold one card while writing, along with a pen loop.

5. Zebra Sarasa Grand Gel Pen Restock. These excellent gel pens are back in stock in the upgraded “Sarasa Grand” style, which features a textured anodized metal barrel with a matching refill. Extra refills are available separately. The .5mm had almost completely sold out, but is now available in all shades.

6. Maruman Spiral Note Basic Notebooks. These simple, utilitarian notebooks from Maruman feature slightly lighter paper than the flagship Mnemosyne lineup, but handle fountain pen ink just fine and are an excellent economical option for everyday writing. Multiple rulings available in both A5 and B5 sizes.

7. Traveler’s Notebooks in All Colors. All colors are back in stock as of yesterday, including the Standard Size in Camel and Olive. Get ready for your summer adventures with a brand new Traveler’s Notebook!

8. Lochby Field Folio. If the narrower width of the Traveler’s Notebook doesn’t suit your needs, consider the A5 Lochby Field Folio, which is a zippered version of the classic Lochby Field Journal minus the hook-and-loop closure. The Field Folio also contains an interior pen loop.

9. Lochby Field Journal and Pocket Journal Refills. We recently received a massive restock of the Lochby A5 and pocket-sized notebooks, all of which contain 68gsm Tomoe River paper. These can be used with the Lochby cases, or with any similarly sized notebook system.

10. Lochby B5 and A5 Slim Notebooks. AND, Lochby has recently released a larger B5 version of their slim notebooks, as well as an A5 Slim Version which should fit Travelers and other similarly sized A5 Slim/Personal notebooks.

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AND the last TGS x Sunderland Special Edition is in the case. Anyone want it?

New Arrivals: Lotsa Notsu and New (to Us) Arrivals from the Back Catalog

Many thanks to Brad at the Pen Addict for giving us a shout yesterday, and I’m glad to see that he’s enjoying the Notsu Index Cards he picked up at the Atlanta Pen Show! (He’s also giving some away!) These fountain pen friendly index card sets tend to sell out quickly after they arrive, but we’re constantly restocking so if the exact item you want isn’t showing as in-stock, be sure to check back. That said, we currently do have the “Centre Rise” Index Card organizer sets in stock, each of which ships with 50 Vertical “To Do” cards, dividers, and a magnetic box that doubles as a card stand/organizer for your desk. We also have blank cards (with both rounded or standard corners), as well as the vegan leather magnetic card holders that come with a pen loop and offer a stable writing platform on the go. Check out all of our current Notsu offerings here.

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The TWSBI Diamond Mini is back in stock, including in the “Classic” variant.

Plus Some Underappreciated Gems from Lamy and TWSBI….

As we’re discovering once you have access to the full manufacturers’ catalogs, there are tons of exceptionally good pens, pencils, and more out there that don’t receive much attention from the FOMO factory on social media simply because they’re not “new”, despite being well-made and even unique! We had a few such items arrive recently, including the Lamy Logo “Tri Pen” Multi Pen (which uses the same gravity-driven color selector as the Lamy 2000), as well as the TWSBI Diamond Mini in the “Classic” (Black Cap) color. We make every effort to stock some of the lesser known pens, some of which fly under the radar for reasons I cannot comprehend. (Like the polished wood Lamy 2000 ballpoints….)

Don’t forget that through the end of May, we are running a pencil promotion where you can get 10% off all pencils and pencil accessories using “PENCIL10” at checkout (excluding Blackwing and TWSBI)! We’d also love to host you in person. Our brick-and-mortar shop is open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, and Saturday from 10am-6pm. Keep an eye on this page for details and updates.

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Thursday Drops: What, There's Another Lamy Multi Pen? Plus Some Really Good Inexpensive Notebooks

Somehow I missed the memo that all of Lamy’s multi pens feature the same “gravity” switch mechanism as my beloved Lamy 2000 4-color ballpoint. Just this week I got my hands on the Logo Tri Pen, which at only $40 is a very nice multi pen that also accepts D1 refills. I think I need to build out the rest of the Lamy multi pen lineup…. In addition to the Logo Tri Pen, we have additional Lamy 2000 multi pens back in stock, along with the Uni Jetstream “Pure Malt” 4+1, and the Lamy 2000 Blackwood and Taxus pens.

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I’m somewhat irrationally excited about the Maruman Spiral Note Basic Notebooks. I’ve been looking for a relatively inexpensive fountain pen friendly “working” notebook to stock as a shop standard, and I may settle on these. Available in B5 and A5, they come in a wide range of different rulings. Finally, don’t forget that this month is Pencil Month at T.G.S., with 10% off all pencils and pencil-related items (excluding TWSBI and Blackwing) through the end of May. Just use the coupon code “PENCIL10” at checkout to claim your discount.

We’re open this weekend! Come see us in person at our Nashville location from 1pm-6pm Thursday and Friday, and Saturdays from 10am-6pm.

1. Lamy Logo Tri-Pen. The Lamy Tri Pen is one of those “back catalog” products that I missed, but it features the same turn-and-click gravity-driven mechanism as found in the Lamy 2000 multi pen, one of my all-time favorites.

2. Lamy Safari Dark Dusk and Sunset. This year’s Lamy Safari release returned to a monochromatic look, with dark glossy blue and a coral pink matte finishes to choose from. We have all formats (fountain pen, ballpoints, rollerballs, and mechanical pencils).

3. Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint (Multi Pen). Yes, they are finally back in stock! One of the top sellers in our shop, across all categories, the Lamy 2000 multi pen has long been a personal favorite for everyday work due to it’s compatibility with a wide range of D1 refills. You can read more about this pen and why we like it here.

4. Lamy 2000 Blackwood and Taxus Ballpoint Pens. Yet another deep-cut from the Lamy catalog! These upscale wood ballpoints feature a polished finish and take the same Lamy M16 refill (or compatible substitute) as other Lamy ballpoints.

5. Uni “Pure Malt” Multi Pens and Ballpoints. Uni’s “Pure Malt” series, which features pens made from the woods used in Japanese whisky barrels, has been a cult favorite in Japan. We’re now happy to offer both the standard ballpoint and the Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pen in this finish.

6. Maruman Spiral Note Basic Notebooks. These simple spirals are perfect for work, school, and other everyday writing. We’re trying to add more relatively inexpensive fountain pen friendly paper where we can, given rising costs. These versatile notebooks are available in B5 and A5, currently.

7. Lochby 68gsm Tomoe River Notebooks. We are fully restocked on Lochby notebooks in nearly all sizes and rulings. (If it was available, we ordered it.) This includes A5, Pocket, B5 and A5 Slim.

8. New Tom’s Studio Fountain Pen Ink: Peaches & Cream (No. 20) and Ivy (No. 21). Tom’s Studio has released two new fountain pen inks, both of which feature some nice shading. Customers have responded well to the Tom’s Studio line of bottled inks, and I’m glad they continue to expand the offerings.

9. Tom’s Studio Lumos 11-Tip Set. You can once again separately purchase the full 11-tip set, which is the same set of 11-tips that is included with the original purchase of a Lumos Refillable Fineliner pen.

10. Tom’s Studio Lumos Grip and Rollstop. These are back in stock in black and natural leather, as well as a stitched cork version. If you find the Lumos a touch narrow for your comfort, these sleeves may help, and they also function as a rollstop to help prevent your pen from rolling off the desk.

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New Arrivals: Tombow Mono 4B and 6B Pencils, a May Pencil Promotion, and Lochby Tomoe 68gsm!

In case you missed it from this weekend, we’ve declared May “Pencil Month” here at T.G.S., and are offering 10% off all pencil and pencil accessory orders through 5/31, using the coupon code “PENCIL10” at checkout. We have all sorts of new pencils from brands including Appointed, Tombow (including the 4B and 6B Mono pencils pictured here and discussed in our latest “Currently Inked” video), Musgrave, and Viarco, as well as a wide range of sharpeners, extenders, erasers, and more. Sale applies to both wood and mechanical pencils, but please note that Blackwing and TWBSI are excluded due to manufacturers’ restrictions.

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Lochby A5 Slim, B5, and Pocket “Planner” (a new layout).

New Formats of Lochby Paper (Tomoe River 68gsm)

I have a soft spot for Lochby because they use 68gsm Tomoe River Paper, one of my favorite fountain pen friendly papers available. Not only have we restocked on all ruling in the standard A5 and “pocket” size formats, but Lochby has recently added two new sizes: a larger format B5 notebook, and a more compact A5 Slim format. These versatile notebooks can be used in Lochby covers as well as a wide range of other compatible notebook systems, as long as the size matches.

Everything shown here is also available in our brick and mortar shop, which will be open regular hours this week (Thursday-Friday 1-6pm, and Saturday 10am-6pm). Come take a tour of our new look shop, which we’ve recently been updating.

Discovering Unusual Paper: "Paper Tasting" Sets from Yamamoto Paper

It’s easy sometimes to get stuck in a rut with hobbies and interests, and many times over the years I’ve found myself bored with my stationery routine, using the same pens, pencils, and especially paper without much variation. The good thing about paper is that if you write enough you will use it up and need more, which offers you endless opportunities for experimentation (as long as you keep writing). Japanese distributor Yamamoto Paper offers a seemingly endless array of unique and uncommon Japanese papers, and sells them in convenient sample packs of pads and loose sheets.

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Each Yamamoto Paper Tasting Sampler includes a cover sheet with a short description on the manufacture, history, and usage of each of the three papers. It will also indicate Yamamoto’s opinion on how each paper reacts to different types of ink.These sorts of opinions are incredibly subjective, and as I’ll discuss more below, your own opinion may differ wildly (which is part of why these sorts of samplers are so much fun). Photos of additional information included with each Paper Tasting Sampler are included in the gallery below.

I’ve purchased many different paper sampling or “Paper Tasting” products from Yamamoto Paper over the years, starting back in 2022 at the San Francisco Pen Show where they had a setup at their table that allowed you to assemble a small box of samples of different papers in square sheets. I bought two full boxes, and I’m now well into my last one which I’m working through sparingly. I use them for small notes, and have found that they fit well inside a six-ring plotter binder if I punch them with three holes. What I plan to write about today, though, is Yamamoto’s “Paper Tasting” series. These relatively inexpensive sets of three bound notepads are organized by paper texture, color, and/or other properties such as translucency, and are released in different “volumes” as Yamamoto acquires new papers, and other papers are discontinued.

Among the most recent set of releases is this new set of “Gray” papers (Volume 4). I’m a fan of unusual paper colors such as gray and blue, as these tones add some visual depth to written correspondence and often showcase different undertones in fountain pen ink than standard white or ivory. The current Yamamoto “Gray” paper sampler comes with three different paper options: First Vintage Ash (B7 pad), Half Tone Color Abyss (A6 pad), and Kona Wrap Sky (B6). The latter two papers are blue-grey, so directly fall within my own personal preferences.

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When I test papers, I often choose fountain pens that will “challenge” the paper. Shown here is a Pilot Custom 823 ground to an architect nib, a very wet Parker 61 with a medium 14k nib, and a relatively wet Aurora 88 Sigaro Blu with an ebonite feed that delivers a lot of ink to the page.

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My two favorites from this sampler pack are the Half-tone Color Abyss (Top) and Kona Wrap Sky. I would probably flip Yamamoto’s descriptions in terms of fountain pen friendliness. All of these papers are indicated as working well with fountain pens, but I wouldn’t consider the First Vintage Ash (below) to be the best of the bunch. Again, there’s no substitute for your own experimentation.

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First Vintage Ash didn’t bleed through, but there was some feathering with the architect nib on this fibrous paper. I assume that Yamamoto values dry time over the lack of feathering, thus explaining why this particular paper received the highest marks of the three for fountain pens? This strikes me as a better pencil paper than anything, given the texture.

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The largest pad in this assortment (Kona Wrap Sky, in B6) will probably get the most use, as I will use it to write letters and for general notetaking. This paper showed zero feathering or bleedthrough, and it has a wonderful cool blue-gray tone.

So are these papers purely “samples”, or are they usable? It depends on how you use your paper. I’ve personally always found great practical usage for my Yamamoto Paper, and these particular papers are bound into pads so they are incredibly useful for things like short notes and even written correspondence, if you like the A6 and B6 sizing. I’ve also turned the smaller pads sideways and hole-punched them to add notes to my binder systems.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

For me, trying out different papers, even one-offs or papers so rare that I likely won’t be able to find them again, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the stationery hobby. These Yamamoto Paper samplers are an easy way to do that. I appreciate that these aren’t just loose sheets of paper, and the fact that they’re bound into small pads makes them much more usable as notepads, writing tablets for letters, or even small sheets that you can hole-punch and add to your binder system.

As I noted above, we currently have seven different Yamamoto “Paper Tasting” Samplers available in the shop, alongside the packs of larger A4 looseleaf papers (which of course can be cut down to different sizes using a paper cutter). Patreon members should check this week’s Patreon feed or the “Announcements” section of the Discord for a special Yamamoto Paper Sampler offer.

If you’re ever in the Nashville, Tennessee area, please stop in and see us! We’d love to welcome you in store and answer any questions you may have. The Gentleman Stationer is open this week Thursday (1-4) and Friday (1-6) and Saturday from 10-4. Our site is entirely self-supported through the shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.