Deals & Drops: Virtual Pen Show Setup

Since I’m not going to Dallas this weekend, I thought I might do a “Virtual Pen Show” with some examples of what I had planned to bring with me, and what you might find at my table in Chicago. (Right now, I still plan on attending Chicago, though things are a bit up in the air due to work scheduling conflicts in these crazy times we are living in.) I also had planned to have some freebies with me, so through the close of the Dallas Pen Show on Saturday, all orders $50 and up will have some T.G.S. Swag included (i.e., stickers, buttons, bookmarks), and all orders $100 and up will receive a free tin of 50 T.G.S. Book Darts! There may also be some select price reductions among the items listed here as I try to clear some stuff out to make way for new arrivals. Happy shopping!

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!

1. T.G.S. x Sunderland Machine Works mk1 Rollerball. I’m down to a handful of pens remaining, so if you’ve been on the fence, grab one before they go out of stock for a bit. I plan to do another run of T.G.S. Penwells before I reorder.

2. TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pens. I now carry the full range of TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pens, including the latest 580 ALRs in Navy Blue and Prussian Blue, as well as the Rose Gold version. Remember, the Diamond 580 uses interchangeable TWSBI Nib Units, so you don’t need to order multiple pens to be able to rotate between nib sizes.

3. TWSBI ECO and Swipe Fountain Pens. I also have a wide assortment of ECO Transparent Demonstrators and the latest Swipe cartridge/converter fountain pens. Both models offer tremendous value given their quality and performance.

4. Platinum Preppy Wa Limited Editions. Platinum’s latest Preppy release is a hot seller. I ordered a bunch of these and if supplies last, will bring them to the pen show. Choose from one of six different traditional Japanese designs.

5. Caran d’Ache 849 Pop Line Series and Claim Your Style Ballpoints. The workhorse Caran d’Ache 849 has been a mainstay of the T.G.S. Curated Shop since its inception. The 849 Black Code Edition is actually a signature pen for me. Also note that last season’s Claim Your Style pens are on sale, with only one or two remaining.

6. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerballs. Caran d’Ache recently released a rollerball version of the classic 849, which is approximately 30% larger than the standard 849 ballpoint and accepts Parker-style refills, so it’s an incredibly versatile option. My favorite colors are the matte black and matte grey.

7. Traveler’s Notebooks and Accessories. The centerpiece of my table, when I do start doing shows again, will be the Traveler’s Notebook line, where you can pick the Starter Kit (notebook cover, etc.) of your choice, then accessorize with standard and specialty refills, planner inserts (some of which are marked down), and of course the brass accessories and pens and pencils.

8. Stálogy Notebooks. I recently reviewed Stálogy Notebooks, and have been working with a half-year version that I cut down to Traveler’s Size. As I noted in the review, Stálogy paper is more absorbent than Tomoe River, leading to quicker dry times on paper that’s essentially just as thin.

9. Midori MD and MD Cotton Notebooks and Writing Pads. Classic, high-quality Japanese writing paper that we have available in a wide range of sizes. We also stock Midori MD Notebook covers, and recently received a shipment of the undyed goat leather covers in A5, A6, and B6 Slim, as well as Dated 2022 Diary Stickers and A4 Notebooks, which many of you have been requesting.

10. Write Notepads Spiral Notebooks. Finally, I was planning on either packing some Write Notepads paper or having a shipment sent directly to the show, but I always bring some of these exceptionally fountain pen friendly spiral notebooks, and have testers at the table so you all can see how good this paper is.

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Maruman Mnemosyne Notebooks recently hit the shop. If I have room, and if I still have any in stock, I’ll bring them to the show. Paper is heavy, though, so my stock could be limited.

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There’s so much I wish I could bring, like these Kokuyo Trip Books. Hmm, maybe I should open a store?

Stálogy Paper: My Thoughts, Two Months In

You can’t really evaluate a new paper until you’ve used it regularly for a couple of months, and since July I’ve been putting a Stálogy notebook through the wringer as my daily work notebook. I’ve never used this paper before, and I can see this brand easily forming a part of my daily rotation going forward. If I had to sum up Stálogy in a single sentence, it would characterize it as extremely thin, versatile Japanese paper that makes a great daily driver or work notebook, especially if you value quick dry times. That said, if you’re looking for thin paper to showcase pooled ink like Tomoe River, this may not be the notebook for you. While Stálogy doesn’t feather, and the ink looks great on the white paper with the grey ruling, you may see limited pinpoint bleed through with wider nibs and/or wetter inks, as thin, absorbent paper has its limitations.

(You may recall that I wrote a piece back in July discussing how you can customize notebooks by cutting them down to size, and that’s exactly what I did here. Stálogy notebooks don’t come in “Traveler’s Size,” - I made this one myself so a half-year version would fit in my Standard Traveler’s Notebook.)

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Stálogy covers come in a range of colors other than black, including yellow. light blue, and red versions.

Style and Build Quality

I love the Stálogy aesthetic. The flexible leatherette cover feels sturdy without adding unnecessary bulk to the notebook, which would only detract from the key selling point of paper this thin. I’ve been carrying this notebook in my briefcase or car on a daily basis for two months (albeit in a Traveler’s Notebook cover), and so far the binding has held up well.

The Stalogy pages feature grey rulings with a header allowing you to label the month, day, and date.

The other thing I am truly enjoying is Stálogy’s light grey, 4mm grid ruling. Those who find bold rulings obtrusive, but who are still looking for more structure than a blank notebook offers, should give the Stálogy system a try. The grey lines essentially disappear under your writing, and 4mm is a great size for those of us who write small.

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Every two lines are subtly numbered along the left-hand margin of each page, providing a 24 Hour layout for scheduling and logging.

Layout and Performance

In addition to the minimalist, almost industrial “leather book” aesthetic, people love Stálogy for the subtle date/time layout in the header and margin, allowing you to use this notebook for notetaking or journaling, or as a planner. The left-hand margin is subtly numbered 1 through 24, for a full 24-hour layout if you want to use your notebook as a planner or log book. Across the top, you can select the month, day, and date, which is always useful, no matter what your use case might be.

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A handful of writing samples on Stálogy paper. As you can see, the ink looks great on the white paper with grey ruling, and I had absolutely no feathering even with some very wet pens.

Which brings us to the big question: what about the paper? It’s quite good. That said, paper is all about trade-offs. Those who love really thin paper know that in order for a thin paper to handle a lot of ink without feathering or bleed-through, you typically have to coat the paper and accept a longer dry time. Stálogy takes a different approach. This paper is more absorbent than something like Tomoe River, so you have a (much) shorter dry time. (Several friends who are lefties LOVE Stálogy for this very reason.) The paper also has a nice texture that lends a pleasant, tactile feel as you write. The trade-off might be some slight, pinpoint bleed-through with wet inks and wider nibs, though most fountain pens still work very well. While I absolutely did not experience anything that would keep me from using this notebook as a daily driver, I am overly cautious in labeling something as “fountain pen friendly” because that’s become a loaded term that has different meanings for different people.

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The reverse side of the same page. You see some slight “pinpoint” bleeds on especially wet writing samples (i.e., stubs and ebonite feeds with wet ink), but nothing that prevents me from using this paper all day, every day. For how I use paper, the quick dry time is absolutely worth the trade-off in a work notebook.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

With future availability of Tomoe River Paper in question, the focus has turned to other options for extremely thin paper that allows notebook makers to pack a high page count into a compact size. While it’s not absolutely “ink proof” like Tomoe River, Stálogy paper is a very good alternative, especially for those of us who need a thin notebook and value more absorbent paper with better dry times. Personally, I’ve been using Stálogy every day for the past couple of months and love both the paper feel and quick dry performance.

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My favorite color? The light blue (though the yellow really pops).

Stálogy notebooks are available in a range of sizes, including A5, A6, and B5, in both “365 Days”/“Year” (368 Page) or “180 Days”/”Half-Year” (192 Page) versions (also referred to as “year” and “half-year”). Currently, the T.G.S. Curated Shop stocks the A5 notebooks in both 365 and 180 Days, with the grid ruling. Dot grid is also available, which I hope to stock soon. In addition to the classic black cover, Stalogy has released brighter pastel versions, such as the light blue shown here, as well as periodic special editions. Half-Year notebooks are priced at $20, and 365-Day versions at $28.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Stálogy. For more information on paper recommendations, I would check out this post on “Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” and how I categorize different brands.

Introducing Maruman Mnemosyne Notebooks

I’m pleased to announce that the TGS Curated Shop now stocks Maruman’s fabulous Mnemosyne notebooks, which not only feature fountain pen friendly paper, but a highly durable, laminate cover + spiral binding and best of all, perforated pages. One of the big drawbacks to many spiral notebooks is the inability to cleanly tear out sheets that you might want to save (or destroy) separately from the main notebook. Maruman solves this problem by adding perforations, a feature I wish others would incorporate. We currently stock Mnemosyne notebooks in A4 and A5 sizes, in lined, grid, and dot grid rulings. Please note that the grid notebooks are landscape notebooks, with the spiral binding across the top of the page and the ruling on one side.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Maruman, Midori, Traveler’s Company, and other high quality stationery makers.

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All grid notebooks are landscape style (see bottom).

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For paper of this quality, Mnemosyne Notebooks are attractively priced, with A5 sizes at $8-9 and A4 sizes at $15. All notebooks feature 80 sheets/160 pages.

And A Note on the Dallas Pen Show

Finally, a bit of bad news. Due to work staffing issues, I will be unable to attend the Dallas Pen Show this coming weekend. I know, I’m disappointed too, but stay tuned for some special surprises this coming weekend as I promise to make it up! As of now, Chicago is still on the calendar for next week.

Sunday Reading for September 19, 2021

1. Treasures in the Attic: A Time Capsule Rediscovered (via Pelikan’s Perch). I love stories about “lost treasures” and “time-capsule” discoveries. These vintage Pelikans literally look brand new.

2. Esterbrook JR Paradise Orange Sunset (via Rants of the Archer). I love the look of the cap on the JR Paradise series, with the bright acrylics and contrasting finial.

3. Introducing Susan: The Penquisition Tornado Exclusive Retro 51 Rollerball (via Penquisition). Congratulations to the crew at Penquisition for launching this gorgeous Maryland-themed Tornado. For each pen sold, $3 will be donated to the Living Classrooms Foundation. Learn more over at Penquisition.

4. Visconti Bronze Age with 18k Nib (via Dapprman). I have a Visconti Bronze Age that I picked up last year, and while I enjoy the new 18k nib much better than the palladium, I had the same issue with a nib with splayed tines. After Mark Bacas fixed it in D.C., it writes like a dream, but if you’re eyeing one of these I’d still budget for an adjustment.

5. Esterbrook Estie Sea Glass Review (via Writing at Large). I agree that the standard Estie is an exceptional writer, and the new “Sea Glass” material is absolutely gorgeous. Esties also offer the opportunity to try out pre-ground specialty nibs such as the Journaler (a smooth cursive italic) and the Scribe (an architect).

6. Fountain Pens from My Collection: Lamy AL-Star (via Fountain Pen Love). AL-Star or Safari? Which one would you choose? And how does the Vista fall into this category?

7. Color Traveler Ninoshima Baumkuchen (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This looks like another great color from the Color Traveler Series, in a gold tone, but it looks like this may be another example of a color with an extremely long dry time.

8. Waterman Serenity Blue (via Mountain of Ink). I just checked and realized that I’m out of Waterman Serenity Blue in my ink cabinet. What is wrong with me!?

9. The Pen Addict Podcast - Fountain Pen Companion with Urban Hafner (via Pen Addict). This week’s Pen Addict Podcast is a must-listen, especially if you’re curious to learn more about the Fountain Pen Companion website and database.

10. Ask the Desk: Sharpeners, Skripsert Converters, and Staples Legal Pads (via Well-Appointed Desk). I was featured in this week’s “Ask the Desk” post about legal pads. I probably should write a more thorough response at some point, but unless you can find the now-elusive Staples sugarcane/bagasse paper, I’ve had a terrible time finding decent legal pads that can handle fountain pen ink and allow you to write on both sides of the page. I’ve not been able to find a brand that writes consistently well, and have just gone the Rhodia/Write Notepads route (and sometimes just use a pencil or ballpoint).

11. Ink Review: Private Reserve Old vs. New (via Well-Appointed Desk). In case you haven’t heard, Private Reserve Ink is now owned by Yafa, and there have been changes to the ink formulation. Ana has a comparison that looks at some favorite colors.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed two inks from Color Traveler: Shodoshima Olive Green and Mihara Daruma Red. I also wrote about two custom nib grinds from my friend J.C. Ament at The Nib Tailor, who recently launched his business full-time. We need more working nib grinders, as fountain pens (and especially custom nibs) only continue to increase in popularity!

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Are you a fan of blue pens? You can’t miss the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue.

New in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

The big news was the launch of the TWSBI 580 ALR in Navy Blue, which I consider one of the better looking TWSBI ALR releases due to the fact that the color changes from navy to cobalt blue to … well, I see a bunch of different shades, depending on the lighting. You need to check this one out. We also now carry TWSBI nib units for the Diamond 580 series. This week’s Deals & Drops highlighted pencils and standard office supplies, a category we’re interested in building out.

Caran d'Ache

Kokuyo

TWSBI

Reading Accessories

Visit Us at the Dallas Pen Show This Coming Weekend!

The Dallas Pen Show takes place this coming Friday and Saturday, September 24-25. Dallas is a bit of a different experience because it’s a two-day show (which runs until 8pm on Friday!), and I’ve never been so I’m excited to meet some new folks. I will have a table next to Vanness Pens, and will be bringing goods from Traveler’s Company (including the full Traveler’s Notebook experience), Write Notepads, Caran d’Ache, Sunderland Machine Works and more!

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.

Spotlight On: The Nib Tailor, Featuring Architect + Inverted Architect Nib Grinds

I’ve known J.C. Ament for years, from way back when he was attending shows as an enthusiast, to when he started dabbling in nib work under his previous brand, Nibs on Point. I wanted to take a moment today to let everyone know about his latest endeavor, in which he’s embarked on nib work full time as “The Nib Tailor.” Before he took a break from pen shows, J.C. sent me two examples of his work for review: a broad “standard” Architect nib that has since lived in my Scriptorium Balladeer, and what J.C. calls an “Inverted Architect,” a nib that I’ve swapped between a bunch of different pens but which now lives in my Schon DSGN Ultem.

Before we get started looking at nib grinds, check out this eyedroppered Schon DSGN Ultem fountain pen, which is shown here holding a full 4ml ink sample!

Standard Architect Nib vs. Inverted Architect Nib

For newer readers, or those unfamiliar with specialty nib terminology, an Architect nib (also sometimes referred to as a “Hebrew Italic”) is the reverse of your classic stub or italic-style nib in that an Architect has broad cross-strokes and narrow downstrokes. If the grinder is skilled, you can usually use the reverse side as a needlepoint, or ultra-extra fine, nib.

Architect’s Nib Grind, with the signature blade-like shape. Turn the nib over and write with the tip for an extra-fine line.

An “Inverted Architect” is, well, the inverse: it’s basically a needlepoint/extra-fine nib with an Architect grind on the top, which you can use if you invert the pen. For my particular writing style and use case, the Inverted Architect serves a unique purpose: annotation and highlighting. I can use the extra-fine tip to take notes in the margins of documents, and the Architect side for highlighting/underlining, provided I select an appropriate ink color such as a bright orange or green.

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“Inverted Architect” Nib Grind, with the needlepoint tip and “flat top.”

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Writing samples for both a standard Architect nib (top, in Ferris Wheel Press Moss Park Green), and an Inverted Architect (bottom, in Ferris Wheel Press Main St. Marmalade), both inks courtesy of Vanness Pens.

A Word of Caution: If you’re new to fountain pens, or have never used an Architect nib, I would strongly advise you to consider borrowing one from a pen friend or visit a pen show prior to ordering this particular grind. Architect grinds can be a bit temperamental, in the sense that they can go from smooth to scratchy very quickly depending on the angle at which you hold your pen (and they’re not “butter smooth” writers to begin with, since you’re essentially making cross-strokes with a blade). It’s extremely important that the nib grinder understands your writing angle, so if you cannot visit in person, I would send multiple photos of how you hold the pen and the angle at which the nib hits the paper. That said, if you do decide that an Architect nib is for you, this grind gives your writing truly unique character. For those interested in reading further, I’ve previously written posts about various options for nib customization.

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The Nib Tailor - Available Grinds and Pricing

The two nibs shown here are just a small selection of what The Nib Tailor has to offer. You can choose from pretty much any custom nib grind, and J.C. has a detailed form for you to complete alongside your inquiry. In addition to custom work (i.e., where you send in your pen), you can purchase pre-ground nibs in various styles depending on availability. Visit the Nib Tailor website for additional details. Pricing is standard, running from $25 for a simple tuning to $55-60 for more complex grinds. In addition to mail-in work and pen shows, J.C. occasionally grinds nibs in-store at Bertram’s Inkwell, and I believe he will be there this weekend. Check out his Instagram for details.

Disclaimer: This is NOT a paid advertisement. That said, I can’t recall whether J.C. gave me these nibs for free, or whether I paid for them. Either way, he’s a friend of mine but I still think he does good work. Given the increased demand for nib work, especially at pen shows, it’s great to see new faces entering the market. It keeps nib work accessible, and ensures that future generations will have the same opportunity to enjoy customized writing experiences!