They Sure Don't Make It Like They Used To: Vintage Office Paper from The Well-Appointed Desk

March 24, 2021

As an enthusiast of both fountain pens and (to a lesser extent) typewriters, when I saw that my friend Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk had managed to source vintage typewriter paper (that also happened to be fountain pen friendly) and made it into A5 pads, picking up a few was a no-brainer. The paper, billed as new old stock Esleeck Clearerase Fluorescent White Erasable Bond, 25% cotton with “Cockle Finish” and a 75gsm/20lb weight, is quite good, to the point where I’m going to have to start looking for a modern equivalent.

As with all Well-Appointed Desk and Skylab Letterpress products, the artwork and design are top-notch.

In terms of performance with fountain pens, I’ve not experienced anything quite like this paper, and therefore don’t have anything in my current reference “library” to which I can easily compare it. Maybe bank paper, or perhaps 68 gsm Tomoe River? Both handle fountain pen ink just as well, with no feathering or bleeding, but this paper has a much more tactile feel. Perhaps it’s the finish? Or the coating applied to make the type “erasable” (hence the name, “Clearerase”)? Either way, the Esleeck paper offers a window into what generic office paper must have been like 40-50 years ago, and I’ve got some serious nostalgia for a time when I wasn’t even alive.

My Hermes Rocket ultraportable, expertly restored by Nashville Typewriter.

But what I was most excited about was how dedicated “typewriter paper” performed in an actual typewriter. I popped a sheet into my favorite “everyday” machine, my Hermes Rocket ultraportable with a wet cotton ribbon, typed out a few lines, and was shocked by the clean imprint. While I wouldn’t say that this paper outperforms heavier, more absorbent cotton “rag” paper with a typewriter, that’s not an appropriate comparison. This Esleeck paper was likely intended as everyday “working” paper, similar to what most people would use in their office printer today, and it’s far and away a better product.

The paper worked equally well on my Smith-Corona Skywriter with a blue ribbon. (Ignore the smudging on the typewriter writing sample in this picture and below, as that only occurred when I ran the initial writing sample through two additional typew… — The paper worked equally well on my Smith-Corona Skywriter with a blue ribbon. (Ignore the smudging on the typewriter writing sample in this picture and below, as that only occurred when I ran the initial writing sample through two additional typewriter platens to test the paper.)

I compared the Esleeck paper to 25% cotton Southworth resume paper that I had lying around, and while the Southworth paper also handled fountain pens and typewriter ink quite well, it didn’t have the same feel as the Esleeck.

Oh, to be back in the days where standard office paper had a watermark.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

This is exceptional paper. Unfortunately, since supplies are limited, this will be it for this excellent vintage stock unless Ana manages to find more. From a bit of internet sleuthing, it appears that the Esleeck paper company was purchased by office supply stalwart Southworth in the early 2000s. I’ve used Southworth paper in the (now distant) past for resumes, etc., and it turns out I had some of their 25% cotton, 24 lb. resume paper lying around. While the paper I have is quite fountain pen friendly, it’s heavier than the Esleeck, with a rougher texture due to the “antique laid” finish. It appears that there is also a Southworth “uncoated wove” 20 lb. paper that also has 25% cotton content, which may be a closer match, but unfortunately I fear that this exact paper could be lost to the ages unless you’re willing to hunt new old stock on eBay.

(That will not, of course, stop me from obsessively trying to locate a modern equivalent. Stay tuned.)

I purchased the product featured in this review from the Well-Appointed Desk Shop with my own funds for my own use. This post does not contain affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported exclusively by sales from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and via Patreon.

Accessorizing Your Notebooks with the Traveler's Company Brass Lineup

March 23, 2021

Most people who are familiar with the Traveler’s Company family of products recognize the Traveler’s Notebook and related refills and accessories. Less familiar, perhaps is the “TRC Brass” lineup, which includes vintage-inspired brass accessories such as pocket pens and pencils, clips, a ruler, bookmarks, and perhaps my favorite of all, an old-school brass pen case. All of the TRC brass products will last a long time and develop a patina as they age, allowing you to create your own stationery heirlooms.

Check out these and other Traveler’s Company products in the T.G.S. Curated Shop! Remember that all domestic U.S. orders over $75, and international orders over $250 ship free.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all products sold in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

Sunday reading for March 14, 2021

March 14, 2021

A Lesson on Ink Hygiene (via Left Hook Pens).. I’ve generally had great luck in avoiding moldy ink and SITB (“Slime in the Bottle”) issues, though I typically do pay careful attention when flushing and cleaning pens to ensure inks from one bottle can’t cross-contaminate another. Some great advice here.
Vintage Writing Paper and the Consumption of Pen Stuff (via The Poor Penman). A generally great reminder to actually use your pens and stationery, to be sure and patronize small stationery businesses to ensure they can actually stay in business, and to go buy some of Ana’s typewriter paper before it goes away forever.
Parker 51 (2021 Edition) (via SBRE Brown). Stephen reviews the Parker 51 re-release, with the gold nib, and he received a very nice writer. A well-rounded review.
Doms Fusion Pencil (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I love any rounded triangular pencil with a fairly dark core, and these look like they fit the bill.
PenBBS 224 Tolstoy (via Mountain of Ink). I have to admit, there aren’t many new inks that catch my eye these days - I think I’m just overwhelmed with the flood of new releases - but this shade of green from PenBBS really fits my aesthetic.
Pont Neuf Notebooks (via Pencilcase Blog). Pont Neuf is the companion brand to Kunisawa, a high-end Japanese stationery company with a luxury business aesthetic. I reviewed Kunisawa a couple of years ago and am glad to see that they have incorporated new, ultra-fountain pen friendly paper into their products.
Pilot G2 Limited Metallic Body (via Pen Addict). The G2 always gets trashed by stationery snobs, but there’s a reason it’s so popular. The “Limited” barrel available directly from Pilot is an excellent upgrade over the standard plastic, and I carry a G2 Limited in my briefcase at all times.
My Artsy Pens (via My Pen Needs Ink). I don’t use a lot of markers, nor do you see many marker reviews. Bob looks at a few options here, and talks about how he incorporates them into practical list-making.
How a Pelikan Found Her Song: Center Stage with the Rare and Exotic Music Nib (via Pelikan’s Perch). Wow, this was a find. There’s also some great bits of history on three-tine music nibs and how they originally were used.
Video Review: Pilot Custom 823 (via Scrively). I have a Smoke 823 on order from Appelboom, to match my Amber version. The Pilot Custom 823 is truly one of a handful that could be “desert island” pens for me.

In Case You Missed It…

I’m on vacation for this coming week! That means posting will likely be sporadic, but you know, sometimes I have to escape from my family for an hour or two and I may get something up. This past week, I posted one piece, which is the starting point for what I intend to be a comprehensive paper resource for the site. I’m looking for additional recommendations (especially for “Tier 1”), and I am in the process of placing orders for papers that I’d like to sample.

New This Week in the Curated Shop

This week I received a restock of Midori MD “B” pencils, as well as the gorgeous TRC Brass Rulers. I also now stock the Write Notepads special edition “Engineer Paper”, in both notebooks and memo pad format. Note that since I’m on vacation this week, shipments may be delayed until my return. Sometimes we do have help shipping out orders, but it’s sporadic.

TRC Brass

Penco

Midori

Write Notepads

Sponsorship Changes - Consider Joining T.G.S. Patreon!

You may have noticed that over the past several months, I’ve been allowing paid sponsorships to lapse and relying on direct support from readers and visitors, either in the form of Patreon pledges or Curated Shop Purchases. I plan to continue this trend in 2021, with the goal of T.G.S. being completely self-sustaining by the end of the year. While I will continue to collaborate and work with select partners, I do not wish to rely on paid advertising going forward, with the possible exception of smaller brands and makers who you may see on my sidebar from time to time.

You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. I will be rolling out some new content in 2021 that will be exclusive to Patreon subscribers, including monthly online meetups, and the eventual return of the “Digital Divide” newsletter (you can read back content here). I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access.

Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper (Last Updated 6.24.26)

March 11, 2021

Years ago, I compiled a five-part resource titled “The Best Paper for Everyday Writing,” in which I looked at five different product categories that I regularly use in my working life and recommendations for each. These included hardcover notebooks, softcover notebooks, spiral notebooks, pocket notebooks, and writing pads/looseleaf. This particular post (which is semi-regularly updated), stepped back from specifics and offers more general thoughts on paper, this time going by brand.

I receive a lot of questions about which brand of paper to buy to ensure a good experience with fountain pens. Those are always tricky questions to answer because (1) “fountain pen friendly” is a relative concept; and (2) some brands use different types of paper for different products - some designed with the fountain pen user in mind, others not.

So as a baseline, what needs to happen before I will publicly recommend something as “fountain pen friendly paper”? My standard is fairly simple: No bleed-through or feathering with any fountain pen nib that can be reasonably used for everyday writing. (Because I mainly use my paper for drafting and notetaking, as opposed to drawing, wet ink samples, or flex-nib calligraphy, my standards may be more lenient than some.) I also don’t worry much about how the paper shows off ink color or things like sheen and saturation, though dry time occasionally factors into which paper I want to use for a particular purpose (i.e., quick notes). Below, I’ve divided major paper companies into “Tiers”, based on my own experience with using a range of fountain pens on their products. This is NOT intended as commentary on the overall quality of their offerings, merely to serve as a reference point on how well the paper used by certain brands tends to handle fountain pen ink according to my own standard. For example, while Field Notes is listed in “Tier Three,” that’s not surprising because the company makes pocket notebooks, and their products aren’t directed at those who want to write with a stub nib fountain pen every day. I love Field Notes, sell them in my shop, and use them fairly regularly - just not with most fountain pens.

Midori Japanese Paper Notebooks — All the Midori MD Notebooks.

Tier One

When I place a company into the “Tier One” category, it means that you can likely purchase a product based on brand alone and ensure yourself a good fountain pen writing experience.

Clairefontaine. I still consider Clairefontaine the gold standard. Clairefontaine pads and notebooks feature 90g, coated writing stock that works well not only with fountain pens but pretty much any ink you can throw at it. It’s also relatively inexpensive for quality paper, making it my first choice and recommendation.
Midori. Both their “MD” and “Cotton” lines work exceptionally well with fountain pens. I find the paper more absorbent than Clairefontaine - especially the cotton - with better dry times. Midori MD paper can also be found in standard Traveler’s Notebook refills and the refills used in the Plotter binder system. Midori also recently introduced a “Thick” version of their MD paper, perfect for heavy ink applications and those who want to use the paper for mixed media projects that involve watercolor and ink washes.
Tomoe River. Available in 52g and 68g variants, this ultra-thin Japanese paper has taken on a cult following over the years. Even with the recent change in paper formulation, which I understand slightly changed the texture and the appearance of certain inks on the page, it remains excellent paper for writing. Though dedicated “Tomoe River”-branded notebooks can be found, typically this paper is sourced from third-party notebook manufacturers such as Traveler’s Company (“Lightweight Paper” refill), Nanami Paper, Lochby (68g), Atelier Musubi, and Odyssey Notebooks (68g) (among others). For similar though smaller-batch papers, check out Japanese Paper Distributor Yamamoto’s offerings, which change regularly. I don’t feel comfortable adding any of these as stand-alone entries as many are either not regularly available or being discontinued, hence the rotation in the Yamamoto lineup.
Graphilo. I often think of Graphilo as the ultimate ink-friendly paper, given that it has almost zero bleedthrough not just with fountain pens but also with things like markers. This paper was developed by Kobeha, a Japanese stationery manufacturer based in Kobe, Japan, specifically for use with fountain pens, and Graphilo keeps getting better as Kobeha refines the product. An excellent paper for showcasing ink color.
Iroful. This ink-friendly paper from Sakae Technical Paper was designed to mimic the now-discontinued Cosmo Air Light, and is known for its ability to showcase ink colors. Some find Iroful to have a too-soft texture, though not as much as Cosmo Air Light. This paper is generally seen as an improvement over Cosmo Air Light because it does not cause the ink to “spread” as much, working better with finer nibs.
Maruman. Exceptionally good office or student-grade paper that comes in both spiral-bound and pad formats, in multiple sizes, in both the Mnemosyne (80g) and Basic (70g) versions. In addition to handling fountain pen ink well, the pages are perforated, making Maruman notebooks a top choice for those needing versatile paper to use in the office where filing or scanning notes is necessary. The “Basic” version is slightly lighter weight than the flagship “Mnemosyne,” but still handles fountain pen ink well and comes in at an extremely reasonable price point, making it a good solution for an everyday work or student notebook.
Nakabayashi. Nakabayashi makes fountain pen friendly notebooks and paper under several different lines in multiple formats. The “Logical Prime” and “Logical Air” notebooks offer a multi-lined ruling similar to Clairefontaine French-ruled paper, and the “Yu-sari” paper is thicker paper designed to handle even the wettest of fountain pen nibs. Yu-sari paper is also sold in A5 and B5 looseleaf sheets. Nakabayashi is another relatively cost-effective option, especially if you are looking for notebooks to use in a Roterfaden, Lochby, or other notebook system/cover that uses the standard A5 format.
Profolio. Similar to Nakabayashi, Profolio notebooks contain a multi-lined paper that I find quite versatile and convenient. Available in multiple sizes (A6, A5, and B5), these notebooks offer another fountain pen friendly option in a thread/clothbound lie-flat format.
Life. Another Japanese paper that can be counted on to handle fountain pen inks reliably, though Life paper can be difficult to source in the U.S. and on the expensive side. Life also makes products in harder-to-find paper styles such as bank paper, typewriter paper, and Airmail/Onionskin paper.
Apica. Though Apica primarily makes very slim notebooks with lower page counts - a product I don’t use extensively - their paper is very fountain pen friendly and cost effective.
NOLTY. A relatively inexpensive Japanese brand that is sold everywhere to the point where it almost seems like commodity stationery. Regardless, I’ve found NOLTY products to be incredibly fountain pen friendly and am doing my part to see them become more common in the United States. NOLTY paper comes in white and off-white variants, and while they are known for their planners, NOLTY notebooks are also excellent.
Stálogy. I love Stálogy’s 365-Day and Half-Year notebooks, which feature white paper and a light grey grid. While the paper is almost as thin as Tomoe River, it’s slightly more absorbent, resulting in shorter dry times that make it more “work friendly” for quick notes. (Several lefties I know love this paper.) Stàlogy used to be included in Tier 2, but from customer reports, they have resolved some issues with bleedthrough and I’ve now included them in “Tier 1”.
Rhodia. A sister company to Clairefontaine, Rhodia products have a different design aesthetic and the paper features a slightly different texture (i.e., many people find their paper slightly less slick than Clairefontaine and more absorbent, with quicker dry times).
Nebula Note. Fans of more textured paper will love Nebula Note, which is made by Korean ink company Colorverse. Designed to both showcase ink color and handle everyday use, the 90gsm Colorverse paper dries relatively quickly for how ink-friendly it is. The spiral notebooks also feature perforated pages, which are eminently useful for many of us in the professional world.

Shorthand Press Grid Paper Spiral Notebook

Tier Two

Outside of the first group of papers, many of which are specifically targeted to fountain pen users, you have to start to think a bit about how you intend to use the notebook. Personally, I would still consider most of the paper listed in this category as “fountain pen friendly” for my own purposes (i.e., writing with EF-Medium nibs and “practical” inks), but since you may experience spots of bleed-through and feathering if you push the paper, I don’t feel comfortable discussing them in the same context as the papers listed above.

Leuchtturm 1917. Having developed a reputation as a “Moleskine upgrade,” Leuchtturm has become a fixture not only at specialty stationery stores, but more mainstream retail outlets. Leuchtturm paper is quite usable with fountain pens but you may see slight “pinpoint” bleed-through with very wet nibs and inks.
Lamy. Last year Lamy released a series of notebooks featuring a unique take on combination lined-grid ruling, with textured paper that behaves similarly to Baron Fig and Leuchtturm. Since this paper is quite fibrous, it doesn’t bleed but has a tendency to feather with very wet pens.
Roterfaden. While known for their Taschenbegleiter organizers that are compatible with most standard size notebooks (A4, A5, and A6), Roterfaden also makes their own proprietary refills in a variety of rulings. I’d compare the paper quality to Leuchtturm and Lamy, in that it works fine with finer lines and drier inks. The biggest selling point of these notebooks is that they lie flat and work exceptionally well with the metal clips in the Taschenbegleiter.
Notsu. Notsu index cards should be considered “Tier One,” because they are frankly the best I’ve ever used and feature a wide variety of different formats. In addition to the index cards, Notsu also makes notebooks and notepads with thick dot grid paper that I enjoy because it’s textured and fairly absorbent, so it dries quickly. I debated whether to include the entire brand as Tier One, but I moved it to Tier Two because as they expand beyond the Index Cards I want to see whether the paper remains consistently fountain pen friendly throughout their entire product line.
Kokuyo (Standard Paper). I love Kokuyo’s “tall and skinny” hardcover pocket notebooks, and the micro-grid paper works well enough for any writing instrument I would consider as pocket carry, including extra-fine and fine nibs on my pocket fountain pens. You may see pinpoint bleed-through otherwise, depending on the ink.
Laconic. Laconic paper behaves similarly to Stálogy and Kokuyo in that it works fine with extra-fine and fine nibs but is targeted to the Japanese planner market, which relies heavily on fine-tipped gel pens (particularly the erasable Pilot Frixion). I personally can tolerate a small bit of show-through, and have no issues using the wide variety of Laconic refills for practical tasks.
Blackwing. I’ve been impressed with Blackwing’s standard offerings, particularly the paper in the Blackwing “Illegal Pad” writing pads. Note that the paper used in Blackwing products can vary across their special edition line, with some papers performing better than others, so I’ve placed them in Tier Two.
Shorthand Press. Los Angeles-based Shorthand Press has been around for years, and they’ve recently expanded their color range to include different covers and rulings. The paper has a vintage off-white tone, and will handle extra-fine through medium fountain pen nibs reasonably well, but may struggle with show-through and feathering with wetter inks and wider lines.

Tier Three

These are brands where you shouldn’t expect much compatibility with fountain pens, and if you purchase a notebook or notepad from one of these companies, you might see significant bleed-through and feathering. That’s not to say you can’t use fountain pens, I just wouldn’t expect to be able to use both sides of a page.

Moleskine. The ubiquitous black notebook that you see everywhere. If you’re a pencil or ballpoint lover, Moleskine has some great limited and special editions, but I’ve never had a good experience with any of their paper using a fountain pen, or even a rollerball.
Field Notes. While some of the special edition Field Notes pocket notebooks use thicker paper, Field Notes are relegated to pocket ballpoint territory in my own personal carry. That’s fine - it’s their intended purpose.
Doane Paper. One of my favorite paper rulings of all time (Doane’s signature Grid + Lines) is generally relegated to the ballpoint + gel pens + pencils rotation. While Doane paper handles fountain pen ink somewhat better than Field Notes, it’s best categorized in the same tier.
Appointed. I love the feel of Appointed’s textured, thick paper, as well as their linen stock covers, but since the paper is highly absorbent (presumably due to a higher cotton content found in U.S.-made paper), it can feather and bleed with wet fountain pens. While you can certainly get by with an extra-fine or fine nib, Appointed paper really shines with pencil, where its tactile feel pairs perfectly with graphite.
Any drugstore or big-box brand. Sure, occasionally you can find batches of very inexpensive imported composition or spiral notebooks made from sugarcane paper or another fountain pen compatible stock, but it likely won’t remain consistent from year-to-year and you may have to start your search over annually.

Missing Brands and Future Updates

Obviously I don’t have extensive experience with every paper brand out there, so I haven’t included many in this list and won’t do so until I’m comfortable discussing their performance with some degree of certainty. This rough guide therefore shouldn’t be read as “exclusive,” and I intend to add to it. Also, I’ve avoided commenting on small makers or boutique brands that can change their paper stock periodically. (I’m currently watching Endless, Anecdote and Levenger for this reason, but to date I’ve been impressed with their offerings. As I gain more experience with some of these and/or see that the products show consistency, I will consider adding them to this list.)

You will also note that Write Notepads has fallen off this list, due to the company pausing their consumer/retail line to focus on B2B sales and custom work. While I hope they return at some point in the future, I have not included them due to the lack of availability. Similarly, Baron Fig has fallen off the radar in recent years, but I still draw from my stockpile. I love the texture of the old Baron Fig paper, especially with pencils, but I can no longer speak to how the current stock handles fountain pens as I have not bought any in some time.

UPDATE: If you’re interested in how paper and notebooks are sized, check out this post comparing various popular sizes (i.e. A4 vs. A5 vs. A6).

All links are to Gentleman Stationer Reviews, the T.G.S. Curated Shop, or to my friends at Vanness Pens. This post does not contain affiliate links.

Introducing the Write Notepads "Engineer" Collection

March 9, 2021

Adding to their considerable repertoire of high-quality spiral notebooks and memo pads, Baltimore-based Write Notepads has launched a new series of classic “Engineer” Spiral Notebooks and Memo Pads. Both products feature a unique smooth, uncoated 70# graph paper with a non-repro 1/4” blue square grid. The layout is intended for engineers, designers, and those who simply enjoy versatile graph paper. Personally, I’ve been using this notebook as my landscape/garden planner for 2021, and am looking forward to being able to carry this durable oilboard cover into the backyard without jeopardizing its ability to last for an entire season.

If there was ever a perfect notebook to pair with the CW&T Pen Type-A, this is it.

The notebook is currently labeled a “limited edition,” so I’m not sure how long these will be around. I have both in stock in the Curated Shop. “Together We Build” Engineer Notebooks are priced at $16 and a set of two Engineer Memo Pads at $18. Looking for the perfect pen to pair with engineer paper? Check out the CW&T Pen Type-A or Pen Type-B, or the new pocket-size Penco drafting ballpoint pens and pencils!

A note on the paper: Write Notepads did not design this notebook with the fountain pen enthusiast in mind, and they expressly state as much in their promotional materials. That said, I’ve found descriptions of this paper as “not fountain pen friendly” to be a bit overblown. I’ve been able to use extra-fine and fine fountain pens without issue, and even medium nibs showed only slight feathering, with barely any bleed-through.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all Write Notepads products sold in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.