This week’s highlighted products includes a variety of “workhorse” stationery that I use in my everyday life, including these bicolor pencils and, of course, my favorite Book Darts.

Deals & Drops: Hand-Picked Everyday Office Supplies

September 16, 2021

It’s not just about the high-end pens and paper around here. My shop offers, and I regularly use, items such as pencils, ballpoints, sticky notes, tape, and page markers. Be sure to check out our wide selection, and in addition I’m planning on bringing as much of it with me as possible when I visit the Dallas Pen Show next weekend (September 24-25) and the Chicago Pen Show the first weekend in October (1-3). These will be the first shows at which I’ve had my own table since Baltimore 2020, and I’m still in the planning process so if you plan to attend the shows and have any requests for what I bring with me, let me know!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

M+R Brass Bullet Pencil Sharpener. A classic piece of stationery beloved by pencil enthusiasts for both its portability and durability, you can get a quality sharpening experience that will last a lifetime. Just replace the blades if they dull.
M+R Brass Two-Hole Sharpener. Need a sharpener capable of handling larger pencils? M+R also makes this brass two-hole wedge, which accepts the same refill blades as the Brass Bullet.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Red/Graphite Bicolor Pencil. Between this and the bicolor highlighter pencil included below, this simple editing tool is one of the most functional pieces of stationery in my arsenal. If I’m doing serious reading, it’s in my hand. Available individually or by the dozen.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Highlighter/Graphite Bicolor Pencil. Another great one, perfect for assisting me with my legal research as I highlight and markup caselaw. (You lawyers and anyone else doing serious research will understand.)
T.G.S. Signature Book Darts. Could these be considered my first product collaboration? Maybe! Book Darts was kind enough to add a custom label to one of the more useful - though slightly offbeat - desk and reading accessories. Use these to mark favorite passages from beloved books, or alternatively to add sections to a single-subject notebook or journal!
Tombow and Uni Mitsubishi Office Pencils. Sometimes all you need is a standard No. 2 pencil, with an excellent graphite core, that won’t break the bank. Both Tombow and Mitsubishi make awesome pencils perfectly suitable for stocking your office supply closet or desk.
Midori MD Pencils. Featuring a smooth, bold “B” core and a thick lacquer in Midori’s signature white, these Japanese pencils are one of the most popular items in the shop.
Uni Kuru-Toga Mechanical Pencil. What I consider to be one of the best mechanical pencils available, largely due to the proprietary mechanism that rotates the lead as you write, maintaining a sharp point.
Caran d’Ache Eco Ballpoints. Looking for the Caran d’Ache writing experience in a standard “office supply” pen? The Eco is a quality alternative, especially if you’ve been searching for a more sustainable option like the version made from extruded wood chips.
Writing Pads from Write Notepads and Rhodia. I’m often asked about my preferred “legal pad” - to be honest, 90% of my writing done on looseleaf or writing pads is done on either Write Notepads Memo Pads or Rhodia Dot Pads. Both are cost-effective options for fountain pen friendly paper, and handle nearly all pens and ink exceptionally well.

In addition to this week’s products featured above, don’t miss the latest arrival from TWSBI: the Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue!

Every once in a while I need to systematically clear out samples and gently used pens from my collection. Be sure to check out the “TGS Gently Used” Section of the website for deals on barely used and vintage stationery.

Ink Review: Color Traveler Shodoshima Olive Green and Mihara Daruma Red

September 15, 2021

I’ve always strongly believed that the best stationery brands - or at least my favorite stationery brands - are those that draw strongly on their own origins and sense of place when developing their brand identity and aesthetic. Color Traveler, an ink brand from Hiroshima, Japan-based stationer Tayama Bungu, is one of those brands. Like other boutique Japanese inks, the roughly 20 colors in the Color Traveler lineup are all named after regional “destination towns and their histories, special products and local goods, and other items which can accompany trips.” The two inks I’m reviewing today, Shodoshima Olive Green and Mihara Daruma Red, are perfect examples: the olive green is named after Shodoshima island, described as the first locale to successfully grow olives in Japan; the red is named after Mihara City, Hiroshima, which is famous for the production of Daruma, a traditional Japanese doll known as a “symbol of tenacity and good luck.” (Note: I don’t read Japanese, so all of my background information is drawn from the Shigure Inks website, where I acquired these two inks.)

Shodoshima Olive Green

The olive green is easily my favorite of these two inks, which will come as a surprise to most readers since you know how much I enjoy writing with my reds. Olive green is a difficult color to get right - it’s typically either too yellow and pale, in which case it ends up barely legible, or it’s too dark, in which case it’s not really an olive green. Color Traveler nailed the tone, plus the ink shades nicely, dries quickly, and is generally well-behaved, even in a broader, wetter nib. If you’re interested in seeing how this green compares to others, you can check out my green ink comparison here.

I used two pens for my ink testing: a Leonardo Momento Zero Grande with a 14k medium (a very wet writer), and a Sailor 1911 Black Luster with a fine nib. I swapped both inks between these two pens, and the combination shown here worked the best for reasons discussed below. All ink samples in this review are done on bright white Write Notepads paper.

Mihara Daruma Red

My experience with the Mihara Daruma Red was a bit more mixed. While a gorgeous color that strikes me as a dead ringer for the now-discontinued Montblanc Corn Poppy Red, in a broader nib I experienced extremely slow dry times and some smearing/tackiness up to an hour later. When I swapped the ink into a Japanese fine, I had no problems, but be warned if you like broader, wetter writers. Since the Shodoshima Olive Green dries quickly, I’m curious whether the slow dry time is unique to the dye used in the red ink, or whether other colors in the Color Traveler lineup have the same issue. If you know, please drop me a line or leave a comment. To see how this particular shade of red compares to others, you can check out my red ink comparison here.

Color Traveler inks come packaged with a small glass sample vial and a pipette.

Packaging and Overall Takeaways

Apart from the Mihara Daruma Red’s slow dry time, I had no other issues with these two Color Traveler inks. Neither bled or feathered on good paper. Moreover, the packaging/presentation are top notch, with an aesthetic similar to Colorverse. Each bottle of Color Traveler ink ships with a smaller vial for sampling/sharing, a pipette for pulling ink samples or filling an eyedropper fountain pen, plus some stickers. While not a huge selling point for me personally, I can see how the packaging and included extras could serve to raise the brand’s profile in an ink market that’s growing increasingly crowded.

I purchased the ink featured in this review from Shigure Inks, and paid full retail price. At $20 per 30ml bottle, I would say that Color Traveler is fairly priced for an imported Japanese ink, and in line with other similar brands such as Lennon Tool Bar and Tono & Lims.

Disclaimer: This post does not contain affiliate links, nor have I been compensated in any way for this review. Going forward, T.G.S is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Introducing the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue (Available Now)

September 14, 2021

TWSBI has been on a roll this year, from the Diamond 580 ALR in Prussian Blue to the recently released TWSBI Swipe cartridge/converter fountain pen. Last week, they added the Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue, which is a gorgeous deep blue anodized finish that I find can appear quite different depending on the lighting. In some instances it’s a dark navy, in others, a brighter cobalt or even ultramarine!

What distinguishes the Diamond 580 ALR from the standard Diamond 580? The anodized textured aluminum trim. Like the other Diamond 580 fountain pens, as well as the ECO series, the Diamond 580 ALR features TWSBI’s high-capacity piston filling system.

The TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue is available for purchase now in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $65 in all nib sizes. Please note that we also now offer interchangeable nib units for the TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pens, as well as the full line of TWSBI Inks.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including TWSBI.

Selections from the TWSBI fountain pen lineup, from left: TWSBI ECO in Transparent Green, ECO in Transparent Purple, ECO in Transparent Blue, Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue, ECO Clear, and Diamond 580 Rose Gold. Check out the writing samples to find a nib size to match your handwriting.

Sunday Reading for September 12, 2021

September 12, 2021

On Closing (via C.W. Pencils). In case you haven’t heard the news, C.W. Pencil Enterprise will be closing its doors after seven years. To say this is a huge loss for the community is the understatement of all understatements, and I wish Caroline & team all the best for the future. Be sure to support all of your local and independent stationery retailers. If you value their contributions and want them to stay around, it’s important that you act with your dollars.
Nakaya: For Your Hand Only (via Tokyo Station Pens). If you’re a fan of Nakaya fountain pens and would like to understand more about the history behind this influential boutique brand, this is an excellent article.
The Three-Pen Collection for £1,000 (via UK Fountain Pens). I love the Worn & Wound series that inspired this post, and my three picks would look very similar to Anthony’s. The fact that the Schon DSGN Pocket 6 breaks the top three shows just how good they are and how much traction the brand is getting.
The Three-Pen Collection for $1000 (via FPQuest). Here’s the latest U.S. version! I definitely need to come up with my own rendition soon…. Stay tuned.
San Francisco Pen Show Haul (via Pen Addict). Kimberly shows off her San Francisco Pen Show prizes, including that Pininfarina PF Two which is on my short list of pens to review.
My Summer Vacation AKA the SF Pen Show 2021 (via Well-Appointed Desk). Julia shares her San Francisco Pen Show stories in this guest post over at the Well-Appointed Desk.
Color Traveler Tomonoura Sunset Sepia (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Color Traveler is a Japanese ink brand out of Hiroshima, that I don’t have a lot of experience with although I do have a couple of their colors in for review. I have found that while I love the colors, the ink has longer dry times and can remain “sticky” for quite some time in wetter nibs.
Aratrum Calamus (via Dapprman). I’ve not heard of this brand before, but I do like the design, especially the ink window.
Composition Book Round Up, Part 2 and Part 3 (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Les has the remaining installments of her annual composition book round-ups, looking at this year’s offerings from both Staples and Wal-Mart.
Odyssey Notebooks Tomoe River 68gsm - Milky Way (via Gourmet Pens). I have an Odyssey notebook that I picked up at the D.C. Show. Stay tuned for my own thoughts as I work it into the review queue, but needless to say 68gsm Tomoe River is one of my favorite papers.

This Week on the Blog: In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I was back to some original content, with the fifth installment of my Vintage Pen Primer series and a post about vintage nibs in modern pens. I also wrote a short piece discussing paper sizing and how various popular sizes compare to one another. I plan on making an effort to do more of these posts responding to frequently asked reader questions.

Curated Shop and Pen Show Updates - TWSBI Rose Gold Restock and Navy Blue 580 ALRs!

New arrivals this week include a restock on TWSBI 580 Rose Gold Fountain Pens (which I can’t restock fast enough, apparently), a restock of the new Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pen, and the new TWSBI 580 ALR in Navy Blue (which to me looks like more of an ultramarine or cobalt blue, but it’s absolutely gorgeous all the same). Check out this week’s Deals & Drops for some specials, including a price drop on 2021 second-half planner refills.

Pen Show Updates: I will be attending both the Dallas Pen Show (September 24 and 25) and the Chicago Pen Show (September 30-October 3). The best part? I will have my own table, so please stop by!

TWSBI Fountain Pens

Caran d'Ache 849

Platinum Preppy Wa

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Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

From left, A5 vs. A6 vs. B6 slim notebooks

Ask TGS: Comparing Popular Paper Sizes

September 11, 2021

Every once in a while, I like to do a post responding to frequently asked reader questions. One is how certain paper sizes compare to one another. I’d eventually love to do a post discussing the histories of the various paper sizing systems, from the rather simplistic U.S. letter/legal system to the much more complex international sizing standards, but today I plan to start by clearing up what companies mean when they say that paper is “A4” as opposed to “B6 Slim”. Where I have examples available in my personal stash, I post comparison photos below.

Midori MD A4 Pad vs. Write Notepads U.S. Letter-Size Writing Pad vs. Midori MD A5 Pad

U.S. Paper Sizing

Most of us here in the U.S. grew up on two paper sizes: Letter and Legal. As far as smaller notebooks and notepads go, you’ll find all sorts of non-standard variations, though for pocket notebooks most companies appear to have settled on the “Field Notes” 3.5” x 5.5” as a standard.

U.S. “Letter Size”: 8.5” x 11”, or 216mm x 279mm
U.S. “Legal Size”: 8.5” x 14”, or 216mm x 356mm
Pocket Notebook: 3.5” x 5.5”, or 89mm x 140mm

Stacked Writing Pads: A4 (bottom) vs. Letter (middle) vs. A5 (top). Letter size is both wider and shorter than A4.

International Paper Sizing

In most countries outside of the U.S., paper tends to be sized according to the “ISO Standards” system, which is much more detailed and provides many more options for specific categorization. A good breakdown of the system (and many other regional and/or traditional sizes) can be found here. This post is not intended to be exhaustive, though I think it hits the most frequently encountered paper sizes available on the current market.

A4: 8.3” x 11.7”, or 210mm x 297mm (standard “international letterhead” size)
A5: 5.8” x 8.3”, or 148mm x 210mm (standard “international notepad” or “Moleskine-style notebook” size)
A6: 4.1” x 5.8”, or 105mm x 148mm (standard Hobonichi Techo size)
B5: 6.9” x 9.8”, or 176mm x 250mm
B6: 4.9” x 6.9”, or 125mm x 176mm (less popular than B6 slim, at least in the U.S., but I carry at least one example in the shop from Kleid x Life)
B6 Slim: 4.2” x 6.9”, or 106mm x 174mm (more popular than standard B6, with both Midori and Nanami Paper using this for their cafe-style notebooks)
“Traveler’s Standard”: 4.3” x 8.3”, or 110mm x 210mm (I’ve seen this size referred to as everything from “A5 Slim” to “Travel” to “Personal.)
“Traveler’s Passport”: 3.5” x 4.8”, or 89mm x 124mm (shorter and wider than a Field Notes notebook)

A5 Stálogy Notebook vs. Traveler Size Standard vs. B6 Slim

Field Notes Notebook v. Traveler’s Notebook Passport

Disclaimer: This guide is intended for general comparison purposes and quick reference only. There may be variations in size across brands and regions. For example, one company’s “A5” may be slightly larger or smaller than another company’s, even though they should be standard. Don’t rely on this or any other size guide alone if you are looking to purchase a cover or folio “that will fit _____ notebook or refill.” The only way to be sure is to test it out in person or to buy a notebook cover specifically advertised as intended for that brand.