My Top 10 Blackwing Volumes Pencils

Most stationery subscription services haven’t stuck with me. Around this same time last year, I wrote an article titled “Are Stationery Subscription Services Worth It?” in which I looked at the pros and cons of having a steady stream of new releases automatically coming to your mailbox. Personally, nothing much has changed since then in terms of my own situation. I still subscribe to both Blackwing Volumes and C.W. Pencil Enterprise’s “Pencil Box” subscription service. Though I considered resubscribing to Field Notes in light of the great releases they’ve put out over the past year, I don’t use enough pocket notebooks to justify it. (Anyway, now that I’m both a Field Notes and Write Notepads retailer, this isn’t such a big deal, as I have an endless supply of notebooks if I see an edition I like or I somehow run out. In many ways, the problem is worse, because I have this constant temptation to raid the store inventory for my personal stash, but that’s a story for a different time.)

So what keeps me coming back to Blackwing Volumes? It’s not as though I’m using up a dozen of each release on a monthly, or even an annual, basis. Honestly, it’s more about supporting the brand’s creativity and guaranteeing that I’m able to enjoy each of the releases, which can sell out quickly. If there’s one I don’t particularly like, or if the pencils pile up to the point where I can’t use them all, pencils are easy to give away, and I have a school-age child.

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It’s easy to see which Volumes get the most use.

What I realized while waiting for Blackwing Volume 3 (Ravi Shankar) to arrive, is that I’ve never done a deep dive and talked about my favorite Blackwings, and with so many special editions having been released over the past few years there are some exceptional pencils to choose from. As a relatively long-term subscriber, I have most of the editions in my personal stash, with the exception of the very early ones. Here are my favorites:

1. Blackwing Volume 344: Dorothea Lange. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that I have a half gross of these tucked away. The combination of the deep red burgundy barrel, red imprint, and bright red ferrule - well, other than maybe the upcoming Volume 3, I’m not sure there’s a pencil that’s a better fit for my personal taste.

2. Blackwing Volume 211: John Muir. I don’t have many 211s left, but I honestly prefer the standard release Blackwing Natural, with it’s grey eraser and extra-firm graphite. (I actually think I only have a single 211 left, and I couldn’t find it, which is why the Natural appears in the photo at the top.)

3. Blackwing Volume 10: Nellie Bly. An underrated release that doesn’t get enough love. The simplicity of the matte grey finish, inspired by newsprint, makes this a pencil I could use everyday.

4. Blackwing Volume 73: Lake Tahoe. The raised texture on this pencil gets me. Plus, this one features Blackwing’s softest graphite found in the original Blackwing MMX (now the “Blackwing Matte”).

5. Blackwing Volume 24: John Steinbeck. I love this pencil not only for the blacked-out color scheme, but because it’s the first Blackwing pencil to feature their “extra-firm” graphite, which is an excellent choice for drafting and long-form writing. I sometimes swap out the black eraser for a pink one, just to add a little contrast.

6. Blackwing Volume 16.2: Ada Lovelace. I’m not a computer programmer, or even that technologically adept, but I love the combination of the white barrel and black ferrule.

7. Blackwing Volume 1: Guy Clark. The first (and to date, only) Blackwing Volumes editions to feature a round barrel. While I’m a Nashville native, and maintain some familiarity with country music, I’ve never been a huge Guy Clark fan, but I certainly appreciate how they pulled this one together.

8. Blackwing Volume 155: Bauhaus. Of course this one was going to make the list. My collection of Bauhaus-inspired writing instruments increases yet again.

9. Blackwing Volume 530: California Gold Rush. The second Blackwing pencil to feature the extra-firm graphite, this model was a tribute to California Historical Site No. 530, where gold was first discovered. The banded ferrule added another unique touch to a pencil that’s a favorite for many.

10. Blackwing Volume 4: Mars. Volume 4 was somewhat controversial due to the gritty texture of the paint, but the combination of the dark orange barrel, gunmetal ferrule, and the soft MMX graphite keeps this one in my rotation.

All pencils pictured here are from my own personal collection. As of 2024, The Gentleman Stationer is now an authorized retailer of Blackwing, so you can purchase directly from us and show your support!

Pen Review: Montegrappa Elmo "Fantasy Blooms" Fountain Pen in Iris Yellow

Few pen manufacturers have expanded their lineup more than Montegrappa has over the past several years, and what the brand has accomplished is impressive. From landing celebrity collaborations and major licensing deals to releasing more approachable "everyday-writer" type pens, the Italian company has done its part to fill the void left by the collapse of Delta and OMAS.

Inspired by a pen of the same name from the 1920s and 1930s, which was named for one of the original designers and co-founders Heinrich "Elmo" Heim, the Montegrappa Elmo represents an effort to expand further into what I view as the "upper mid-range" segment - pens that retail for $150-200. Pens in this category include those many would consider for a possible everyday writer, and I tried to evaluate the Montegrappa Elmo from this perspective. This particular pen comes from the Elmo "Fantasy Blooms" series, which is identical to the standard Elmo except for the pearlized resin, available in three colors named for flowers: Black Star Calla Lily (a green base with black swirls), Blue Cross Gentian (a blue base with purple swirls), and Iris Yellow (a yellow base with dark purple/reddish swirls).

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It's taken me a while to review the Elmo because I admittedly harbored serious doubts about this pen. Based on looks alone, I found the standard pen boring and overpriced. While I still have reservations about whether the current price point is sustainable (discussed further below), the unique materials that Montegrappa developed for the "Fantasy Blooms" series caught my eye and finally prompted me to pick one up. After a couple of weeks with the Elmo, my initial impressions were at least partially unfair.

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The “Iris Yellow” acrylic is difficult to describe, but it’s certainly the major selling point for this pen. The pearlized resin features swirls of purple, dark blue, and some black(?). No two pens are alike.

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The Montegrappa Elmo features very good build quality, centered around a well-tuned JoWo stainless steel nib. Honestly, the nib on this pen is one of the better extra-fine steel nibs I've used in some time. It writes a moderately wet line with steady ink flow and without any dryness or scratchiness. As one would expect at the price point, the filling system is cartridge/converter. The pen caps/uncaps smoothly in two turns, and while you can post the pen, I suspect that Montegrappa intended for the Elmo to be used unposted, as it's better balanced that way. Importantly, the pen feels solid, like it will hold up to heavy use over time.

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Writing sample done with Sailor Manyo “Kuzu” ink, which is a deep burgundy color.

My primary criticism of this pen from a usability perspective concerns the metal threads on the barrel. They're not necessarily sharp, but I definitely feel the edge of the "step-down" from the barrel to the grip section, which would prevent me from using this pen for very long writing sessions. How much this aspect of the pen's design impacts you, however, will depend on how you grip the pen. If you don’t have an issue with pens like the Pilot Metropolitan (which has a similar step), you’ll probably be ok, though this feels a bit sharper.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Montegrappa Elmo "Fantasy Blooms" fountain pen ticks a lot of boxes for a mid-range fountain pen that should appeal to a wide audience. The biggest issue? Pricing, in my opinion. MSRP on the "Fantasy Blooms" pens is $250, with most retailers (such as site sponsor Pen Chalet, where I acquired this pen) selling them for $200. The price point doesn't surprise me - Montegrappa has a reputation for pricing aggressively on the high end, and plenty of companies sell acrylic pens with steel nibs in the same range.

What makes me increasingly uncomfortable is that $150-$200 seems to be emerging as the new "default" price point for pens with pretty basic specs, with many companies (like Montegrappa) testing the upper limits of that bracket. On the consumer side, buyers are being asked to pay more for pens that used to cost $120-$150. While the Elmo sports upgraded components such as a better nib, a nicer converter, and more unique materials, is this pen sufficiently different from a $25 Pilot Metropolitan to justify more than a $220 difference in MSRP? If the price were $130, or even $150, I’d have far fewer qualms about recommending it.

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Three Montegrappas in my collection, from left: Elmo “Fantasy Blooms”, “Monte-Grappa”, and the Extra 1930 in Turtle Brown celluloid.

We're moving into uncertain times, and right now I have more questions than answers. Not just about this particular pen but about this segment as a whole. Fountain pen enthusiasts have shown that they will pay a premium for unique designs and materials, but will this hold amid economic uncertainty? Are pens like the Elmo unique enough to get customers to drop $200? If not, will companies like Montegrappa respond by reducing their price point to meet new economic realities, or by reducing or discontinuing their entry-level and mid-range lines to focus on the luxury segment? I’ll be thinking hard on these questions as 2020 slogs on.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet using store credit generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which is one way I support the blog. This post contains affiliate links.

The Sad, Strange Saga of Crane Stationery

Amidst the turmoil that has enveloped the country since March, it’s understandable that the travails of stationery companies wouldn’t receive much attention in the mainstream national press. Still, Crane & Co.’s decision to drastically reduce their workforce by 200+ individuals and close their North Adams, Massachusetts manufacturing facility is notable not only because it’s a cautionary tale for those stationery companies that fail to adapt to modern realities, but also because it marks yet another end of an iconic American stationery manufacturer with more than 200 years of history behind it.

Based on the limited media coverage and my own discussions with knowledgeable sources, the January bankruptcy and closure of retailer Papyrus - Crane’s largest distributor and retail footprint - threw the Company into a precarious financial situation from which it simply couldn’t recover once COVID-19 forced the shutdown of the North Adams facility in March. What followed was a series of apparently ham-handed efforts to manage the fallout, which saw the company get embroiled in a dispute with the local officials over their attempt to re-open as an “essential business” in alleged violation of local COVID-19 guidelines, followed by an announcement that the “reopening” would be temporary, and that 200+ Crane employees would be laid off on June 19, and the North Adams manufacturing facility closed.

Indeed. #feelingrightnow #dowagercountess #penaddict #fpgeeks #crane #cranestationery #stationery #finewriting #downtonabbey

It’s unclear whether this is the end of Crane as a brand. Parent company Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. has stated that they plan to relocate an unspecified (i.e., small) number of employees to their main facility in Cohoes, New York. Other sources say that all remaining employees will be laid off by September. As of now, the Crane website is still live, and their COVID-19 statement still emphasizes that “Crane products are exclusively produced in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and have been for 2019 years. We are inextricably connected to the wellbeing of our community, and its wellbeing will always be our top priority.” In my opinion, not the best look given everything that’s occurred, and one would think that clearer messaging might be in order. Then again, I’m not sure whether Crane’s “core consumer” cares as much about the history behind the company and American stationery traditions in the same way readers of this blog might.

Regardless of whether “Crane” stationery continues to technically exist, the end of a storied 200-year run of making stationery in the Berkshires will be sad to see. I have the Crane engraving plates for the personal stationery for three generations of my family, as do, I suspect, many in this community. I’ve not paid much attention to Crane outside their (well received) efforts a couple of years ago to expand their business beyond wedding invitations and formal stationery, but when I visited their setup at the National Stationery Show in January, the company seemed poised to branch out further with some new licensing deals and collaborations designed to appeal to a more modern consumer. I presume that going forward, Mohawk will continue to fulfill orders for wedding invitations and personal stationery via Crane’s existing retail footprint, but it will be interesting to see whether any effort is made to grow the brand further. They could continue to build on 200 years of tradition, or Crane could simply go the way of Eberhard-Faber and other former stationery “greats” and become just another label. This will likely be a story I continue to follow, so stay tuned….

First Look: Van Dieman's Ink

While it’s uncommon for me to run across “undiscovered” lines of ink, occasionally it happens. Such was the case with Van Dieman’s Ink, an Australian brand based in Launceston, Tasmania. Per the company’s website, they have 54 inks in their collection, 12 of which are shimmering, organized into five themed series: “The Original Colours of Tasmania,” “Hollywood,” “Midnight,” “Wilderness,” and “Tassie Seasons.” According to Yagan (Macchiato Man), who previously reviewed the brand, “Van Dieman’s Ink” is a reference to “Van Dieman’s Land,” the former name for Tasmania given for Anthony Van Dieman, a Dutch colonial governor and a backer of early expeditions to Tasmania. While Van Dieman’s Ink has been available to Australian fountain pen users for a while, U.S. retailers only recently have begun stocking these inks.

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The box art on the “Wilderness” and “Midnight” series somewhat reminds me of Noodler’s Ink.

I ordered four bottles: Three inks from the “Wilderness” series and one ink from the Midnight Series. Of these four, I’ve spent the most time with the Wilderness Inks. “Black Tongue Spider Orchid” is a dusty purple, “Firetail Finch” is what I would characterize as a “pure red,” and “Eucalyptus Regnans” - my personal favorite - is a mid-to-dark green. The Midnight ink (“Eclipse”) is an off-black/dark gray.

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Many thanks to Ana at the Well-Appointed Desk for supplying the Col-o-ring “Dipper” that I used for the ink swatches!

Van Dieman’s Ink seems to behave well on most papers. I experienced some slight feathering and bleedthrough after my first fill of the Black Tongue Spider Orchid, but I’m fairly sure that was due to the feed being oversaturated after filling and the pen (a TWSBI Eco) writing very wet for a while. The issue went away after a few lines. Firetail Finch and Eucalyptus Regnans both perform well, and while I’ve not had the chance to use Eclipse extensively, it appears to have similar properties.

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The writing sample pictured here was done on a Baron Fig Mastermind Desk Pad, one of my favorite tools for everyday work.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Given my experience (albeit limited) with these four inks, I plan to keep an eye on Van Dieman’s and try more of the colors. Personally, I always appreciate brands that not only make a good product, but embrace their origins and offer the opportunity to learn something new about another part of the world. For example, I knew little about the history of Tasmania, much less Tasmanian flora and fauna. Check out all 54 colors of Van Dieman’s Ink and you stand to learn a lot!

Van Dieman’s Ink is sold in 30ml bottles, and you can currently purchase at site sponsor Pen Chalet for $12.95 per bottle. All four series feature the same pricing.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. The inks featured in this review were acquired from Pen Chalet using store credit generated through Pen Chalet’s affiliate program, which is one way I support this site. Many thanks to Pen Chalet for making this review possible.

This Just In: Reading Accessories in the Curated Shop

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have read a recent post in which I talk about reading, and how it’s probably my second-most obsessive hobby other than pens. In all honesty, both are better described as a lifestyle more than a hobby - you tend to embrace the analog side of things wholesale or you don’t. For example, in addition to all the pens, notebooks, and writing pads I have scattered around my house, there are also hundreds of bookmarks stuck in cups or tucked into books that I’ve either read or am in the process of reading.

When I first had the (admittedly crazy) idea to launch the T.G.S. Curated Shop last year, one thing I felt very strongly about was trying to merge these two passions together in some way - not to be just another pen and stationery retailer, but to offer carefully selected reading accessories and other items that would be of interest to those who maintain a strong analog presence in their life.

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To this end, I’m happy to introduce the following brands to The Curated Shop: WMS & Co, who make these very nice folded metal book weights and sterling silver page points, perfect for holding your hardcover book or journal open while you read or write; and Book Darts, a longtime favorite brand of mine who were kind enough to collaborate with me on these special edition T.G.S. tins. Of course, these all pair perfectly with the Write Notepads Classic Hardcover Notebook, now back in stock in all three colors.

Many thanks for your support!