Introducing Amethyste de l'Oural, the First Ink in the Jacques Herbin 1798 Collection

August 9, 2017

Herbin has just announced Amethyst de l'Oural ("Amethyst of the Ural Mountains"), billed as the first ink in the new "Jacques Herbin 1798 Collection." Herbin fans will notice that both the packaging and the ink itself appear similar to the inks in the 1670 Anniversary collection, only this time the ink contains flecks of silver instead of gold! The end result is striking.

Herbin has widened the mouth of the bottle a bit, but otherwise the packaging will look familiar to those of you who enjoyed the Herbin 1670 Anniversary Inks.

Overall, Amethyste de l'Oural is a nice deep purple color, and the silver flecks complement the ink better than gold would have. Herbin has also widened the mouth of the ink bottle, making it MUCH easier to fill larger-diameter pens without having to decant the ink into another bottle or fill with a syringe. While I personally may not use these sparkly inks in my daily writing, I can't deny that they're gorgeous to look at, especially when used for folded nib lettering.

A shot of the silver sparkles and a bit of sheen

A couple of new interesting bits: Per Herbin, the date, 1798, marks the ascent of Napoleon and the end of the French Revolution, and also the time in which steel nib dip pens began to replace the traditional writing quill. You may also notice that J. Herbin has rebranded itself as "Herbin," the original name used by the company at the time of its founding in 1670.

Where to Buy

Amethyste de l'Oural is being shipped to retailers this month. It should be available for sale to the public by the end of September at any Herbin retailer, including our site sponsor Vanness Pens, which carries the line of standard Herbin inks, as well as the 1670 Anniversary inks.

2017 DC Pen Show: Saturday Recap

August 6, 2017

Well, I stuck to my guns and didn't buy anything on Saturday after what turned into a blowout Friday. That isn't to say that Saturday at the D.C. Pen Show wasn't enjoyable. The crowds were significantly larger than Friday, and from what I heard most vendors did really well because people were buying a lot of pens and ink! I spent most of the day visiting with people whom I hadn't seen in a very long time, and walking around the show just enjoying the experience. I'll try to keep this recap limited to pictures as much as possible, because I know that's what you all want to see!

As always, Brian and Andrea Gray of the Edison Pen Company stayed busy at their table. They brought a large selection of custom pens to the show.

Kenro Industries was at the show, and they brought a selection of Montegrappa Fortuna pens, including these Heartwood pens shown here.

Dan Smith ("The Nibsmith") was located in the back hallway, and kept up a brisk business throughout the weekend.

And, as always, Mike Masuyama had a steady stream of customers. If you want to book a slot with Mike, you need to get to the show EARLY.

Despite being assigned a table in the back hallway, Vanness Pens seems to have had a good show.

After Hours

After the show ended, everyone headed downstairs to a memorial service for Susan Wirth, who passed away unexpectedly in May after the Chicago Pen Show. Her associates set up her booth at the D.C. Show this year, just as she would have, and it was good to see them doing a brisk business all weekend.

Afterwards, Kenro Industries hosted an after-hours event for bloggers and some other show attendees at Top Golf in Alexandria, and they were kind enough to invite me. Check out my Instagram stream (@gentlemanstationer) for some of the antics. Let's just say it wasn't an early night.

Some after-hours folded nib work by Dan Hoisner.

2017 DC Pen Show: Thursday and Friday Quick Recap!

August 5, 2017

It's been a wild Thursday and Friday here at the 2017 D.C. Pen Show, and your correspondent is nearly tapped out already, in terms of both money and energy. The D.C. Pen Show runs for four days, with the first two days being "trader days", and Saturday and Sunday open to the public. Thursday is generally very quiet, with a handful of vendors set up in the ballroom selling to each other before the madness starts. Friday is much busier, but still not as crazy as Saturday. Friday at the D.C. Pen Show might be my favorite day of any pen show that I regularly attend, because admission is limited to the "weekend pass" holders and you can wander this absolutely massive show, scouring the tables for gems that might get lost in the shuffle during the MUCH more crowded public days.

This Friday, However, Had a Hitch...

The seething masses waiting to crash the gates on Friday morning. Torches and pitchforks have been Photoshopped out.

After a quiet Thursday night, which many of us spent at the hotel bar catching up with people we hadn't seen in months (or in some cases, years), we were eager for the show doors to open at 9 a.m. Sadly, due to a LOT of disorganization on the the show promoter's part, some vendors didn't even receive table assignments until nearly noon, and it was after lunch before the show was fully set up and ready to go. Needless to say, there were a lot of unhappy/visibly angry vendors, and understandably so. Even though it's not a public day, a lot of business gets done on Friday (especially on the higher end), and the pen repairmen and nib grinders lose a full half-day of business if they can't get their table assignments and start work as soon as possible in the morning. Hopefully they will make it up on a busy Saturday and Sunday, and that changes are made to ensure that the same thing doesn't happen next year. Otherwise, I'm not sure that the D.C. show will retain its position as the premier pen show on "the circuit," because vendors and attendees can't - and shouldn't - justify the time and expense of attending this show if the promoters can't take basic steps to ensure that the doors open on schedule.

My Friday Takeaways

I kicked off the 2017 D.C. Pen Show by picking up two pocket pens from Ian Schon of Schon Design, who showed up with both his standard line as well as a bunch of prototypes. I've not used Ian's pens before, but have heard great things, so predictably I picked up two: a PVD DLC-coated stainless steel classic version, and a royal blue and gold anodized prototype. Both of these use the Fisher Space Pen refill, which you know I'm a fan of.

Things moved pretty quickly after that. I snapped up three pens, two of which I've wanted to purchase for the past couple of years: an Edison Menlo (with the new draw filler filling system), an Edison Glenmont in Tibaldi Impero Celluloid, and a Kanilea Pen Co Nui Nalu.

From left: Kanilea Pen Co Nui Nalu, Edison Menlo with Draw Filler in blue flecked acrylic, and Edison Glenmont in Tibaldi Impero Celluloid.

Despite the short day, I also managed to have nibs tuned by Mike Masuyama and Dan Smith, and picked up a couple bottles of Robert Oster ink from Vanness Pens (Fire and Ice and Maroon 1789). After the chaos that was Friday morning, everyone pretty much stayed on-site at the hotel for dinner and retired to the bar later for drinks and sharing the day's finds. Hopefully I'll have much more to share tomorrow, after a full day of pens and people! In the meantime, here's a gallery of some pen show shots.

If you're in the Washington, D.C.-Northern Virginia-Maryland area, be sure to visit the D.C. Pen Show this weekend, August 5 and 6! It's being held at the Marriott Fairview Park Hotel in Falls Church, VA, and runs from 9:30 to 5!

Notebook Review: Musubi Premium Journals

July 29, 2017

It's hard to believe that Tomoe River paper is seemingly everywhere these days, given how difficult it was to import/locate just a few years ago. If you're unfamiliar with Tomoe River, it's some of the best paper for fountain pen users out there, and certainly the most unique. Despite its light weight and overall thinness, Tomoe River paper will not bleed or feather except in the most extreme circumstances, and Tomoe River notebooks can contain hundreds of sheets of paper while remaining compact.

Seighaia ("Wave") pattern in Enji fabric. This thin journal actually has 200 sheets of paper.

The most recent Tomoe River notebook that I've had the opportunity to review comes via the team at Musubi, located in SIngapore. Musubi sells hand-sewn journals and diaries that contain 200 sheets of unlined Tomoe River Paper and are wrapped in unique Japanese fabrics. Notably, Musubi employs disabled artisans, and per their website, operates in partnership with an organization dedicated to finding employment opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities.

Each Musubi notebook features a hand-sewn binding.

Musubi was kind enough to send me an A5 clothbound notebook in the Enji ("Autumn Red") color scheme, featuring the Seigaiha ("Wave") pattern. It's a beautiful notebook. The cloth is soft, the binding appears to be high quality, and the notebook lays completely flat, making it easy to use the entire page. The Tomoe River paper, of course, is exceptional, and Musubi has used a heavier ivory laid paper for the endsheets. The soft clothbound cover might not hold up to the rigors of daily carry, but this would be an excellent journal to keep at your desk or bedside.

Tomoe River Paper handles nearly all fountain pen inks very well, even with wet nibs.

Where to Purchase

Musubi A5 journals can be purchased directly from Musubi's online store, and come in a variety of colors in addition to the red featured here, including Midori ("Matcha Green") and Kon ("Navy Blue"). You can also choose from either the Seigaiha ("Wave") pattern, the Tonbo ("Dragonfly") pattern, or a variety of seasonal prints, including rabbits, owls, and sakura ("Cherry Blossoms"). Diaries are handmade to order, and require a lead time of 2-3 weeks. They are also not inexpensive, ranging from $67 US for the basic pattern to $96 for more exotic fabrics, but you're paying a premium for craftsmanship. Many thanks to Musubi for providing me with the opportunity to review this unique item.

Disclaimer: Musubi sent me this journal free of charge for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

Pen Review: Visconti Rembrandt Back to Black Edition

July 26, 2017

Of all the major pen brands, Visconti might be the one with which I have the least amount of experience. I own one Visconti pen - the Homo Sapiens Dark Ages - but very few of their offerings have spoken to me to the point where I would be willing to pay the premium prices that most Visconti pens command. Sure, there are a few special and limited editions that have made my "someday" short list (i.e., something with the Wall Street celluloid), but what's kept me from diving into Visconti in the same way that I have with other brands is Visconti's reputation for having QC issues with their nibs. Given that Visconti's signature 23kt palladium "Dreamtouch" nibs are somewhat high-maintenance, I wanted to see how the company did with something more basic. Appelboom was kind enough to loan me a steel-nibbed Visconti Rembrandt "Back to Black" for review.

Design and Build

The Visconti Rembrandt features a classic streamlined profile with very few adornments or flourishes, other than the finial and the engraved cap band. The most notable feature of the Rembrandt is the magnetic closure, which reminds me a bit of the cap on the Steel & Flint pocket pen in that it makes a slight "pop" when you cap/uncap it (though not as audible). The Rembrandt also features Visconti's signature spring-loaded "bridge" clip, modeled after the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, which appears on most other Visconti pens. People either love this clip or hate it - some think it looks ostentatious, but I find it to be one of the more understated elements of Visconti design, which can be ornate and a bit over the top. The clip doubles as an excellent roll-stopper.

Visconti clearly intended the Rembrandt to serve as a "workhorse" pen. It's nicely balanced and a comfortable writer that I was fine using either posted or unposted. Some might find the metal section slippery, though generally ruthenium plating tends to add some "grippiness." Also, note that there are NO THREADS on this pen due to the magnetic closure, allowing for maximum versatility in how you grip the pen (low, high, etc.). I don't generally have a problem with section threads hurting my fingers unless they're exceptionally sharp, but if this is something that regularly poses an issue for your, the Rembrandt may be worth checking out.

The Rembrandt features Visconti's "My Pen" system, which you can use to swap out the finial on the cap for a personalized initial, zodiac sign (yes, I'm not kidding), or birthstone.

Nib and Writing Experience

As much as I wanted to love this pen, things fell apart with the nib, which was dry and "squeaky," for lack of a better term. The pen wasn't necessarily scratchy, but I could definitely feel and hear a LOT of feedback from the nib. I suspect this is probably due to the coating applied to the steel nib to give it the "blacked out" look. I've experienced variations of the same thing with other coated or plated steel nibs, but not this severe.

If you're considering this pen (or really any Visconti, for that matter), I'd add $40-60 to the cost to cover your nib work. You may luck out and get one that writes perfectly out of the box, but you're just as likely (if not more likely) to get a dry writer, hard starter, or skippy pen. To illustrate how all over the place Visconti's nib QC can be, check out Matthew's review of a different, unplated Rembrandt nib over at Nib & Ink, where he had a completely different (positive) experience.

This broad nib definitely needs to be smoothed and have the ink flow increased. The ink is Kaweco Paradise Blue.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

While I appreciated the look, feel, and balance of the Visconti Rembrandt "Back to Black," the coated steel nib didn't do it for me, though at Appelboom's attractive pricing you may still have room in your budget for a nib tuning. If I were going to purchase this pen, I'd personally consider paying extra to upgrade to the 23kt Palladium "Dreamtouch" nib. While those have their own issues, and typically need some minor adjustments, they are capable of being outstanding writers with a lot of character.

Appelboom is currently offering the Visconti Rembrandt Back to Black edition for $129 US (excluding VAT). The "Dreamtouch" upgrade to the 23kt palladium nib costs an extra $140.

Disclaimer: This pen was loaned to me for review purposes by Appelboom. I was not otherwise compensated for this review, and all views expressed here are my own.