Shop Update: Paper for Letter Writing

Even though I failed to get my act together in time to participate in NaNoWriMo last month, I’ve tried to do better with my letter writing, especially now that I have access to a ready stream of paper that’s more appropriate for casual letter writing. I’ve never been one for dedicated “stationery sets,” other than correspondence cards that people have sent me over the years, preferring to rely on standard writing pads that offer more writing space. (Hey, when I do write letters, they tend to be longer.) If you’ve ever received a letter from me, you’ll know that I prefer three types of paper: Clairefontaine Triomphe, Midori MD Cotton, and standard 52gsm Tomoe River paper (which is currently hard to source due to manufacturing changes). What do I like about these specific papers? They’re all “standard” enough to be both readily available and reasonably priced, while still maintaining that classic “vintage stock” feel that’s nicer than a standard legal pad, for both the writer and the recipient.

We’re happy to carry most of these papers in the shop, along with a few other quirky options.

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Bright-white Clairefontaine Triomphe paper really shows off the ink!

Clairefontaine Triomphe

Available in both blank and lined formats, I would call Clairefontaine Triomphe my workhorse letter-writing paper of choice, since it’s both readily available, inexpensive, and ink-friendly. I love that it’s sold in bound writing pads, so you can use it for general writing and notetaking as well as correspondence. Available now in both A4 and A5 sizes, starting at only $5 USD.

Midori MD Writing Pads (MD Cotton and MD Standard)

If you favor more absorbent paper than Clairefontaine, or if you sometimes enjoy using pencils to write your letters, Midori MD Writing Pads are an excellent option. The unlined MD Cotton Paper has the best overall feel of any writing paper out there (in my opinion) and my only regret is that they don’t make it with a ruling. At the end of the day, I’ve simply adapted to using unlined paper. As I’ve mentioned before Midori MD pads are excellent for letter writing, and they can pull double-duty as a desk pad since they are bound on two sides and can be turned into a landscape orientation to fit beneath a keyboard. Available in both A4 and A5 sizes, starting at $10 for MD Cotton and $12 for standard Midori MD.

Life Noble Note and Bank Paper

While Japanese Stationery Company “Life” sits outside the stationery mainstream, receiving less attention than peers like Midori, many people find their paper equally as good and it’s developed a cult following. Their “Noble Note” 100-sheet writing pads come in blank, lined, and grid rulings. Personally, I find Life’s standard paper to behave closest to standard Midori MD, though perhaps with a bit more texture? If you favor toothier, more absorbent paper, check out their heavier, vintage-style Bank Paper. Available in A4 size, starting at $26 for a 100-sheet pad of Noble Note, and $28 for a 100-sheet pad of Bank Paper.

WMS & Co. ColorPads

Though color-coated paper is extremely hit or miss with fountain pens, I’ve had a lot of fun lately sending notes on the ColorPads from WMS & Co, mainly using ballpoint pen and pencil. (Colored Pencil looks exceptionally good on the grey paper.) I have one of the “Large Square” ColorPads on my desk at work, which I use for both taking notes and sending professional correspondence (thank-yous, cover notes, etc.). The best part is that all of the WMS & Co desk pads contain a minimum of 185 sheets of paper, so they’ll basically last forever. Available from $25.

WMS & Co makes writing pads in a variety of shapes and sizes. I’ve been using the large square ones (center) for work cover notes and casual correspondence.

Disclaimer: The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands shown here. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Sunday Reading for March 20, 2022

1. 2022 Baltimore Pen Show Recap and Report Card (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has her own incredibly thorough Baltimore recap. I still can’t get over the number of nib workers available, and the fact that all of them stayed busy!

2. The Onoto Scholar Was Worth The Wait (via UK Fountain Pens). Onoto moves in to a lower price point, while keeping the major design touches that people love.

3. Sunday Shorts #1: Journaling (A Fleeting Ripple). If you aren’t reading this blog, give it a glance. I love these sorts of “origin story” posts.

4. Deciding What I Want in a New Gel or Ballpoint Pen (via mnmlscholar). I’ve also moved on from the Schmidt 8127, due to bleed-through issues on some paper I use. I’ve really grown to appreciate needle-tip ballpoints or hybrid gel-ballpoint pens like the Jetstream.

5. Ink Review: Monarca Part II (via Well-Appointed Desk). Arena Blanca needs to be inked up as soon as possible. I understand it was a huge seller at the Baltimore Pen Show.

6. Endless Explorer Refillable Leather Journal (via Rants of the Archer). So Endless is getting in to the Traveler’s-Style notebook game as well, sized to fit their “Storyboard” notebooks.

7. Asvine v169 (via Dapprman). For those looking to try out a “Skeleton-style” pen without breaking the bank, if you’re willing to make concessions on quality control.

8. Rhodia Goalbook Ivory and White Paper Comparison and Review (via Fountain Pen Love). The Rhodia “Goalbook” is an interesting take on their classic Webbie, featuring upgraded Rhodia “R” paper, which I’ve never tried. Put this on the experiment list!

In Case You Missed It… This Week on the Blog

My travels didn’t end at the Baltimore Pen Show. I continued on to meet my family in Washington, D.C. for a few days of Spring Break, followed by a three-day work conference in New Orleans. (No, I didn’t get a chance to visit Papier Plume, unfortunately.) I did manage to post my recap of the 2022 Baltimore Pen Show, as well as a short piece on my Travel Carry, in which I discuss my latest bag addition, which I had to pick up in D.C. since my checked luggage was overweight. (Hey, if I’m on the hook for multiple flights’ worth of overweight bag charges, I might as well have a new bag.) Upon my return, I rounded out my Baltimore Show posts with some pictures of my latest Franklin-Christoph additions, including a full shot of my Franklin-Christoph collection and the models I tend to enjoy.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is Shipping and Back to Normal!

I’m absolutely floored by the level of support you all showed when we were away, despite the delay in receiving your orders. We’re busy shipping all of your orders and I hope to be completely caught up by tomorrow morning with everything in the mail. All orders placed while I was away will include extra stickers, pencils, pins, and possibly more if you were kind enough to place a really big order! In the meantime, we received a large Midori restock that includes favorites such as the Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads in both A4 and A5, along with additional Dot Grid versions of both the A5 Notebook Journal and the A5 Codex!

Midori Pencils

Midori Paper

Caran d'Ache

Fountain Pen Friendly Paper

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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales, before whatever is left becomes available to the general readership.

State of the Collection: My Franklin-Christoph Fountain Pens after Baltimore

I’ve not written about my Franklin-Christoph fountain pens in a while, even though the brand has been a mainstay of my “daily workhorse” rotation for years now. Previously my collecting has focused on the Model 20 “Marietta” fountain pen, the slip-cap pen that’s one of my all-time favorites, especially for showing off acrylics and other materials. In recent years, however, I’ve expanded my repertoire and added several new pens in different models, including the Model 31 “Omnis”, the Model 02 “Intrinsic”, and the Model 45.

From left: two Model 31 fountain pens, four Model 20s (still my favorite), a Model 02, and a Model 45.

Even if I don’t end up purchasing anything, browsing the prototype trays at the Franklin-Christoph tables is one of my favorite pen show experiences. (It’s rare that you don’t end up walking away from the table with something.) This past weekend, I purchased the Model 02 and Model 45 shown here, both in this dark flecked acrylic with scattered gold, burgundy, blue, and green. (I believe this material is called “Cathedral,” and it’s made appearances at pen shows in the past but I was never able to snag it in a pen model that appealed to me. I’m still looking for a Model 20.)

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The Model 02 features this material on the section and finial, with the slightly blue-tinted “Antique Glass” body.

Another reason I never feel guilty about picking up more Franklin-Christoph pens is because the purchase includes a tuned JoWo nib, with numerous specialty grinds available for a small uncharge. In addition to Franklin-Christoph’s own excellent in-house nib grinds, you can opt for work done by Japanese nib crafter Yukio Nagahara. I chose Nagahara needlepoint nibs for both of the pens shown here. I haven’t inked these pens up yet, but you can expect these pens (and these nibs) will get a full write-up sooner rather than later.

Catch Up on the Rest of My Baltimore Pen Show Adventures

You can read my full recap of the 2022 Baltimore Pen Show here, and you can also view additional show photos on my Instagram, including in the Stories where the pics and running commentary are saved to the highlights. I got home late last night, so I’m still getting settled, but you can expect the blog to resume a normal schedule this week.

Finally, T.G.S. Curated Shop orders are no longer delayed and will ship within the typical 2-3 business days. All orders placed during my absence started shipping out LATE last night and will continue through the weekend. Many thanks for all your support!

Travel Carry, Part II

I rarely buy bags. I only have a handful, and bags - whether you’re referring to backpacks, briefcases, luggage, or whatever - are a “buy it forever” category for me, meaning that I tend to buy good bags and keep them until they fall apart. In terms of daily carry, I own two briefcases, a Filson Original and a leather Lambertson Truex that’s no longer made, a single backpack (a North Face Surge), and a handful of tote bags in various sizes. Over the past few years, the versatile tote bag has become my new favorite product category. My current lineup includes an early version of the Baron Fig “Roamer” bag, as well a recent addition, the Filson Zippered Tote, which is the first bag I’ve purchased in three years.

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The Filson Zippered Tote was my "I-don’t-need-fewer-notebooks-I-need-a-bigger-briefcase” purchase. This thing absolutely swallows notebooks, pen cases, legal files, and even a 16-inch laptop if necessary. While it won’t serve as my primary everyday carry bag, it will see plenty of use on days when I need to lug a bunch of stuff to work, and certainly when I travel.

Since I’m still on the road (and can’t wait to get home tonight), I thought it might be fun to do this short post on travel carry. Pics shown here have been taken in real time, and accurately reflect what I’ve been using for the past week-plus. Links below. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: None of the third-party links in this e-mail are paid affiliate links, and I am not receiving any compensation in exchange for listing them here. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

1. Filson Original Briefcase (via Filson). I have the original twill in “Otter Green”, and it’s lasted me well over five years. While not a fancy backpack, Filsons are essentially indestructible, have three compartments for files, a laptop, iPad, etc., and a few pen slots.

2. Filson Zippered Tote Bag (via Filson). As discussed above, this Filson twill tote is extremely versatile. In the short time I’ve owned it, it’s been used for everything from an overnight carry-on to a larger briefcase.

3. North Face Surge Backpack (via North Face). Though I don’t carry a backpack that often - typically only when I’m flying or at a pen show where I need something more ergonomic than a shoulder bag - I’ve loved this older version of the Surge, a classic North Face backpack that has three versatile compartments and can hold multiple laptops, sometimes a necessity for work trips.

4. BaronFig Tote Bag (via BaronFig). My first “grown up” tote bag that I purchased after they were first released by BaronFig several years ago. A great basic tote for the grocery store, library, and sometimes work. It’s also my “pen club” bag when I’m carting pens, paper, and products for local delivery.

5. Traveler’s Notebook Standard Size. My go-to work notebook, and overall my favorite notebook system that I appreciate for its customization options. I have the blue, and you can see exactly how I’ve customized my notebook with my most-used refills and accessories in this post from last year.

6. Lochby Field Journal. The rugged Lochby series of notebook covers and cases serves as the perfect complement to my Filson gear when traveling. The Field Journal notebook cover holds as many as six A5 notebooks (depending on thickness, of course). For maximum capacity opt for the Lochby refills, which come in a variety of rulings and feature exceptional Tomoe River 68gsm paper.

7. Lochby Tool Roll. While it’s currently sold out (more on the way!) the Lochby Tool Roll made it’s debut as my primary pen show travel case, and I don’t see it being dethroned anytime soon. The Tool Roll holds at least a dozen pens, plus it has additional pockets to stow notecards, post-its, and more.

8. Lochby Pocket Journal. Another excellent Lochby item that I carried at the Baltimore Pen Show this past weekend and used to test pens and nibs. In addition to holding two regular-size pocket notebooks (or a notebook plus passport), the Lochby Pocket Journal has an exterior pen slot for a larger fountain pen, plus smaller items like cards. You could easily use the Pocket Journal as a larger wallet.

Baltimore Pen Show 2022 Recap: This Time, It Felt Like Pen Shows Might Be Back

Even if things aren’t necessarily “back to normal” (whatever the “new normal” is), this past weekend’s trip to the Baltimore Washington International Pen Show finally had the energy and level of engagement that I remember from 2020. Sure, this past year’s DC Pen Show and San Francisco Pen Shows were good, but they were the first large shows in more than a year, and you could sense the nerves and a degree of (warranted) anxiety not just due to COVID, but how the show circuit would spring back and whether all the various pen shows around the country would even survive. I attended the Chicago Pen Show in October, and saw a lot that gave me concern. After Baltimore, things feel back on track.

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Festivities kicked off early with a Friday morning “prototype rush” at the Franklin-Christoph table. Every morning at opening, Franklin-Christoph sets out trays of pens in one-off or experimental prototype materials. These are quite popular!

The Baltimore Pen Show Is a Great Show for Both New and Experienced Attendees

Baltimore is one of my favorite pen shows - in fact, it’s in the running for my overall favorite, up there with San Francisco. It’s not the biggest show, but for its size, Baltimore has an excellent balance of new and vintage vendors, large retailers, custom pen makers, and hobbyists showing off their handmade accessories and other crafts. Best of all, Baltimore attracts a large number of talented nib grinders and pen restorers, so if you fancy a custom nib grind or otherwise need a pen worked on, there’s no shortage of options. There are plenty of seminars on a diverse range of topics from calligraphy classes to nib tuning, as well as organized after-hours events featuring socializing and giveaways.

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Dromgoole’s brought the ink this year!

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Les at Stylosuite brought his full array of pens fitted with his custom-ground flex and italic nibs. I had the chance to write with all of his various grinds and customizations.

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Evan and Julian of Penquisition were in attendance, with their signature Retro 51 “The Susan” decked out in Maryland colors.

Key Vendors in Attendance

The vendors at this year’s Baltimore Pen Show skewed towards the smaller/mid-sized end of the spectrum, meaning that there weren’t many large retailers present but the overall mix was more than adequate. For example, Dromgoole’s, Crazy Alan’s Emporium, and Federalist Pens were the primary “general purpose” retailers stocking pens, inks, and paper, since Vanness Pens and Lemur Ink did not attend this year. Custom makers included Schon DSGN, Kanilea Pen Company, Ryan Krusac Studios, Carolina Pen Company (Jonathon Brooks), Hinze Pens, River City Pens, Ironfeather Creative, and Hardy Penwrights. There were dozens of other eclectic vendors, both vintage and modern, and as usual it would be impossible to name them all here. Highlights included Lucky Star Pens and Toys from the Attic, along with show show stalwarts Franklin-Christoph and distributors like Kenro Industries (Esterbrook, Montegrappa, Tibaldi, etc.).

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Cary Yeager of Kenro Industries (Esterbrook, Montegrappa) and the founder of Fountain Pen Day.

Need Nib Work Done? Baltimore’s Your Show

This year, I didn’t purchase so many pens as I had pens modified and/or picked up pens I had sent to various people for nib work. For example, I sent four pens to Gena Salorino at Custom Nib Studio, who delivered some exceptionally good grinds including a medium “Perspective” (Naginata-style) grind, a medium cursive italic, and two 14k flex nibs that I’ll be showing off soon. At the show, I had J.C. Ament (The Nib Tailor) grind a Naginata on a rather boring Parker Duofold Centennial medium nib, and Josh Lax (J.J. Lax Pen Co.) ground an extra-fine architect onto my new Schon Design Full Sized Fountain Pen in an as-yet-unnamed matte-black/magenta pattern.

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J.C. Ament of the Nib Tailor hard at work. He stayed busy all weekend!

In addition to the three mentioned above, Kirk Speer (Pen Realm), Damien from All in the Nib, the legendary Richard Binder, Les at Stylosuite, and Jack Hairston (working through Bertram’s Inkwell and also performing vintage pen restoration) were all set up and working. That’s at least eight different vendors offering custom nib grinds, and nine if you count the fact that Franklin-Christoph will tune a pre-ground specialty nib for you at the time of purchase. In my experience, it’s nearly unheard of to have so many quality nib technicians on site at a pen show. While some vendors filled up their time slots (especially on Saturday), many still had walk-up capacity.

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Jack Hairston of Bertram’s Inkwell ground a cursive italic nib for me, and also too a couple of my vintage vacumatics for sac replacement and restoration. It was great to see someone doing vintage pen restoration at a show.

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Testing out my new nib grinds and my new inks!

Other than nib grinds, I didn’t overdo it on the shopping. I did pick up basically the entire series of Laban “Greek Mythology” inks, since I’m a mythology nerd and the inks are excellent. (The only ink not pictured below is Athena Grey, which I already own.) As mentioned above, I purchased a Schon DSGN Full-Sized Fountain Pen, and two Franklin-Christoph pens (Model 45 and Model 02) in prototype materials. I plan to photograph these pens as soon as

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Takeaways and Upcoming 2022 Pen Show Schedule

Once again, the highlight of any pen show is the people. Baltimore saw a great mix of locals and people traveling in from out of town to attend, which gave the show a much better energy than Chicago, the last show I attended. That’s not a knock on the Chicago Show - it speaks more to the increased willingness of vendors and attendees to travel, combined with the loosening of local restrictions as Covid cases decline in certain locales.

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Kanilea Pen Company display - Pen Shows are a great place to see custom and small-batch pens in person before making a decision.

Going forward, my personal plan is to fully re-engage in the pen show community and I’ll be attending shows throughout the year. While personal and work reasons may prevent me from having a table at any shows this year, I currently plan to be at the Atlanta Pen Show (April 1-3, 2022); the D.C. Pen Show (August 4-August 7, 2022); and the San Francisco Pen Show (August 26-28, 2022). Depending on how travel restrictions evolve, I would love to throw an international show into the mix, possibly the fall London Pen Show (October 9, 2022) or the Tokyo International Pen Show (October 28-30, 2022) later in the year.

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Shop orders will resume shipping Friday upon my return from traveling, and all orders placed during a “pen show week” always receive extra freebies.