Sunday Reading for November 27, 2022

November 27, 2022

Still So Much To Be Grateful For (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). As a community, we do indeed have so much to be grateful for! And while I don’t spend a lot of time on Twitch, this list resonates with me.
Pelikan Hubs 2022 - Philadelphia: A Recap (via Pelikan’s Perch). I had a blast hosting this year’s Nashville-area Pelikan Hub, and have enjoyed reading about the different Hubs around the world. I will echo that finding a suitable location has become difficult as the event grows in size and popularity.
Slowing the Shopping (via Rachel’s Reflections). While this one may come too late for many of us (myself included), it’s still the holiday shopping season, with the temptation to overindulge.
A Case Against Black Friday (via Caroline Finds It - Caroline Weaver). If you’re not subscribed to Caroline’s newsletter, and are interested in reading about not just thoughtfully curated products in various categories but small business in general, you should subscribe ASAP.
Cosmo Air Light B6 Slim Notebook (via Well-Appointed Desk). I never got much into Cosmo Air Light as a paper, though I did enjoy the samples I used. If its properties interest you, get the notebooks while you can!
Kakimori B6 Bank Paper Planner Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). With changes to Tomoe River and, at least for now, the impending demise of Cosmo Air Light, people are looking for alternatives. Bank Paper has emerged as a favorite for many.
Heavy Duty: A5 Rhodia Notepad (via A Fleeting Ripple). I’ve been reading a lot in the pen community about how Rhodia is overrated. While there is definitely inconsistency among the different products, as a general matter I still consider it very good for the price point, especially for paper you plan to use in higher volume, such as at work.
Curating Towards Custom (via mnmlscholar). My own collection as a whole is starting to curate towards custom, and I’m very happy with that!
Meet Your Maker - Meg Blackburn, Black Robin Pens (via Pen Addict - Caroline). I always love reading about new (to me at least) makers, and I have a running list of makers whose pens I want to try. Add Black Robin Pens to the list!

In Case You Missed It…

Since this week was a holiday week here in the States, and one that traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping craziness, the focus was on a lot of sales. While there didn’t seem to be as many insane 30-50% off promotions (which hopefully signals a healthier approach to these types of things on the part of both businesses and consumers), it’s still a good time to pick up items you’ve had your eye on at a slight discount. That said, remember to support your independent shops and makers, who due to economics may not be able to offer the same type of discounting as big box or major online outlets. I published this “Indie Gift Guide” to complement my own annual shop Holiday Gift Guide (discussed below), focusing on those independent makers I have supported over the past year. I did also write a piece on my pencil “mini-collection,” which I’ve trimmed down over the years but still brings me a lot of joy.

Don’t Miss the T.G.S. Curated Shop Cyber-Week Sale - Use “GIVETHANKS” for 10% Off Most Items

Through Monday, use the coupon code “GIVETHANKS” at checkout to take an extra 10% off most items in the Curated Shop (excluding TWSBI). It’s our way of thanking readers and repeat customers, and hopefully gives you a little help with a head start on your holiday shopping. This week we had a major restock on most Caran d’Ache items, including the arrival of the “Colour Treasure” limited editions and the 10th release of the Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache.

Caran d'Ache

Field Notes

Opus 88

Desk Accessories

Consider T.G.S. Patreon - New “Gently Used” Items in the Patreon Shop!

For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation via shop purchases, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5 (with a discounted annual option) and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. (Reminder that those items which made it through Patreon become available to the general readership, and this week you can get an extra 10% off Gently Used items with the coupon code referenced above!) Many thanks to all of you who already decided to back via Patreon. Your support means the world to me!

Most of my recent Schon DSGN acquisitions!

Happy Holidays 2022: The Indie Gift Guide

November 26, 2022

As we enter not only the 2022 holiday shopping season but the final month of the year, I’ve been pulling together my plans for both the annual gift guides and the 2022 year-end recaps. Today’s post, on the Saturday after “Black Friday”, is going to be a bit of both. I’ve been encouraged by a much greater focus this Thanksgiving on supporting small and independent businesses, both inside and outside the pen community, and honestly, that’s how it should be, because independent makers and retailers are what make this hobby great. When you’re considering how to spend your hard-earned dollars on gifts for yourself or others, consider setting aside a portion for smaller retailers and makers who can offer truly exclusive products and a more personalized shopping experience.

The format for this “guide” might strike some as unusual. I’m not going to simply list all of the different independent makers out there - there are too many to do that in any coherent fashion - but rather will spend today’s post discussing my own acquisitions from the past year, the makers from whom I’ve personally purchased, and why I enjoy their pens and the reasons you might enjoy them too.

Schon DSGN

Ranked purely in terms of number of pens acquired this year, Schon DSGN tops the list, as I picked up two of the Full-Size fountain pens and a hammered copper Pocket Six with added patina, to join the three pens from the Engineered Plastics collection that I purchased towards the end of 2021. Known not just for original, ergonomic designs but dedication to quality, Schon DSGN pens are among my favorite everyday writers.

My two most recent Kanilea Acquisitions: a Lewa Lani and a Kai Huli.

Kanilea Pen Company

The second-most represented independent maker in my personal collection is Kanilea Pen Company. For more than six years now, Kanilea has been producing pens themed around places and locations in Hawaii. You can read more about the background of this brand in my prior reviews, but I love their clean design and ergonomics (particularly the “Classic Flush” shape), in addition to the unique materials chosen to match a specific image. I recently acquired the Lewa Lani fountain pen, as well as a pen show-exclusive “Kai Huli” in a coral and yellow-veined material, pictured below.

Three “Navigator” Models from Penzbydesign.

Stacy Robinson (Penzbydesign)

A long-time penmaker, Stacy Robinson brought ebonite and Conway Stewart acrylic versions of his “Navigator” fountain pen to this year’s Atlanta Pen Show. I ended up purchasing three: one in striated beige ebonite and two in relatively uncommon Conway Stewart acrylics that I had been looking to add to my collection for years. The workmanship on these pens is excellent, and the size nearly perfect for my hand, as with the Schon DSGN Engineered Plastics and Full-Size fountain pens. While Penszbydesign has a storefront, it may be easier to inquire via e-mail or social media, since some photos were posted recently of new Navigator pens similar to the ones I purchased, and they don’t currently appear on the website.

Kasama Pens

Currently sold only directly via Instagram and social media, Kasama is based in the Philippines and, to my knowledge, makes two models of pens: the larger “Una” and the more streamlined “Tala”. I’ve acquired two Una fountain pens, one in Ultem and another in a combination of Peek and anodized titanium. While not inexpensive, Kasama fountain pens are unique - there’s nothing quite like them on the market, in terms of design or material combinations.

My Hinze Pen in “Five O’Clock Somewhere” Acrylic

Hinze Pens

Hinze Pens made perhaps my favorite - and most unpredictable - acquisition of the year, my “Five O’Clock Somewhere” pen in this wild acrylic from Starry Night Resins. Like the Kanilea Classic Flush, this is a well-balanced pen with a comfortable section, and what makes Hinze Pens particularly unique is their anodized nibs, available in a range of colors.

Newton Pens

Ryan Krusac Studios

Pens by Pasquale in Primary Manipulation

Other Makers to Consider

As I mentioned above, I can’t list everyone (nor can I buy from everyone, because, well, $$$), but I do want to mentions several makers who do excellent work, some of which are on my “short list” of pens to acquire in 2023, for review or otherwise. Also, while some of the makers listed here do custom/bespoke work, many also have inventory currently available for purchase, which you can purchase, and which they will likely be wanting to sell, heading into the holiday season.

Newton Pens (Shawn Newton). A fixture on the pen show circuit and the creator of some truly unique designs (such as the Prospector shown here), Shawn Newton usually has a healthy stock of pens ready to go.
Pens by Pasquale (Nicholas Pasquale). A relative newcomer to the bespoke pen scene, Nic is local to me and I acquired a pen in dark “Primary Manipulation” at this year’s Nashville-area Pelikan Hub. I love supporting new makers! Check out his Instagram (linked here).
Edison Pens (Brian Gray). Like Shawn Newton, Brian Gray is a longtime penmaker whose production-line Edison designs are now widely available at many major pen retailers. I have my eye on the new Collier Grande featuring a No. 8 nib.
Ryan Krusac Pens. One of the few penmakers whose work with wood truly appeals to me, Ryan Krusac combines wood with other materials such a stone and antler. His scrimshaw work is incredibly detailed.
Mayfair Pens. Pens with a “Lord of the Rings” theme? Count me in. Lately I’ve been more interested in penmakers who are exploring different shapes and contours, and I had the opportunity to handle these at the 2022 D.C. Pen Show.

Please Consider Supporting T.G.S. This Holiday Season

We’re also a small business, and entirely supported by purchases from our shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Last week, we launched our own 2022 Holiday Gift Guide, focused on products from our own shop, which makes an effort to focus on and carry products that might necessarily be overlooked by larger stores. We appreciate your support, as it allows us to remain independent and advertiser/affiliate free! Through Monday at 11:59pm, take 10% off all TGS Shop orders with the coupon code “GIVETHANKS”!

Thanksgiving Thursday Drops and Cyber Week Promotions

November 24, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! We’re eminently grateful for all of you, our readers and customers. Take 10% off most items store-wide through Monday at 11:59pm, US Central Time using the coupon code “GIVETHANKS” at checkout. As always, domestic U.S. orders over $75 ship free. (Yes, the code should still work in the “Gently Used” section, though technically it’s not part of the main shop!)

This year’s finish on the Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache includes two natural-finish pencils.

A bunch of new items hit the site this week that you won’t want to miss, primarily the launch of the Caran d’Ache “Colour Treasure” collection and a general Caran d’Ache restock, ranging from 849 fountain pens to bicolor pencils to the newly released set of Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache. The promotion extends across categories, not just writing instruments, so be sure to check out our selection of Curated Notebooks and Paper, Desk and Reading Accessories, and Washi Tape and Pins. If you’re getting a head start on gifting prior to December, you may find our 2022 Gift Guide helpful, and we’ll have additional content through the weekend.

Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint “Colour Treasure” limited edition. This year’s holiday edition from Caran d’Ache comes in two different variants, a warm tone featuring shades of red, yellow, orange, and pink, and a cooler tone focusing on blues and green. The design is intended to evoke Caran d’Ache’s iconic colored pencil sets.
Caran d’Ache “Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache, Edition No. 10. This year’s release is scented with “Patchouli’s Wood,” the latest collaboration between Caran d’Ache and Swiss Parfumier Mizensir. This year’s set includes some gorgeous pencils - always an eagerly anticipated release!
T.G.S. Exclusive Penwell in “Aged Red”. Looking for a gorgeous gift for the fountain pen enthusiast in your life? Check out this T.G.S.-exclusive edition of the Penwell, in a special “Aged Red” finish designed to evoke the look of urushi lacquer.
Opus 88 Fountain Pens. There’s never been a better time to test out an Opus 88 fountain pen, what with a holiday discount and all. We have both the “Minty” and “Jazz” Japanese-style eyedroppers in stock, as well as a selection of fountain pen inks to fill them with.
Nahvalur Nautilus Ebonite Fountain Pens. I plan to write more on ebonite as a material in the near future, but what spurred me to explore this category was the Nahvalur (formerly Narwhal) Nautilus fountain pen, which we currently stock in the “Stylophora Berry” finish, along with the Nahvalur “Original Plus” vacuum filler.
Hightide Attaché Marbled Fountain Pen. This small, lightweight pocket fountain pen features a clip and a smooth fine nib. I’ve been enjoying using this for portable planner carry, and shockingly have been loving the basic black version.
Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pen. Certain of the primary colors have been out of stock for a while, but we recently received a new shipment just in time for the holidays.
Caran d’Ache 2022 Limited Edition 849 in Dark Violet and Pastel Yellow. Don’t pick up just one, get both, since the colors complement each other nicely. The “Dark Violet” finish features yellow writing, and vice versa.
Caran d’Ache “Claim Your Style” Edition No. 4. I don’t necessarily know why, exactly, but this year’s Claim Your Style colors feel fall-ish, and since we’re just now getting “Fall” weather here in Tennessee, these feel especially timely.
M+R Brass Pencil Sharpeners. We have the Pollux back in stock, as well as most of the other M+R Brass sharpeners, including the brass bullets with and without the keychain holes.

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

An assortment of fancy “dipped” pencil caps currently in rotation.

Mini-Collections: Fancy Pencils are a (Relatively) Inexpensive Guilty Pleasure

November 23, 2022

We’re inching towards the close of 2022, and soon I will have to take stock of my progress on a major personal goal from this year: thinning out my stationery accumulation. And I’m not talking about adopting a “one-in, one-out” stance, where I have to get rid of something to buy something new. I started this year with the intention of significantly reducing the footprint my collection/accumulation occupies in my home. As I worked my way back through “the stash,” it wasn’t so much the fountain pens that shocked me, but rather the paper and the pencils.

Why So Many Pencils?

For starters, they’re easy to accumulate. I got back into pencils shortly before the Blackwing relaunch back in the early 2010s, when I picked up a dozen blue Palomino HB pencils based off the recommendation of Johnny over at Pencil Revolution (which is, by the way, no longer a blog but now a publisher and bookbinding company - check them out). To be fair, I do use a lot of pencils - just not at the pace at which I purchased them, especially before prices started to rise. I had a Blackwing Volumes and/or a Baron Fig subscription for a couple of years, and between the quarterly subscription deliveries and regular visits to C.W. Pencil Enterprise, it started to add up. Remodeling my office this past summer forced me to pull everything out of storage, get it into the open, and see how bad the problem was.

I have a “healthy” stash of jumbo pencils, but honestly probably not as many as I could use. Good ones are rare and hard to find.

So What Pencils Do I Actually Use?

Highlighter and Annotation Pencils. By far the type of pencil I use the most is the highlighter pencil (or “drylighter” or “dryliner”), either as a stand-alone pencil or as a double-ended highlighter/graphite combo. I also use a lot of the red/black double-ended annotation pencils and go through these at a fairly good clip while I’m working or reading. I prefer highlighter pencils over the liquid-ink version because they smear less, don’t bleed through thin paper, and you don’t have to wait for them to dry.
Capped Pencils with No Erasers. I’ll discuss this a bit more below, but I’ve come to appreciate the lighter weight and balance of “capped” pencils without erasers, and I especially love the aesthetics of a finished pencil cap. Of course, I still use pencils with integrated erasers, but at the end of the day I think I enjoy the classic round ferrule over the Blackwing.
Jumbo Pencils. They’re not just for kids. Like an oversized fountain pen, a quality jumbo pencil offers increased comfort and control over your writing. If you find a good one, there’s nothing quite like a smooth jumbo graphite core.
Natural Wood Pencils. Probably the most “elemental” writing experience you can get, a natural wood pencil (finished or unfinished) puts little more in your hand than wood, graphite, and sometimes a little varnish. When I want to get back to basics and write with something that’s not distracting, I’ll pick up one of these.

Do you know what I don’t find myself writing with frequently? Blackwings. This is not a knock on the quality - they’re very good pencils, but so many of the special editions I have include the “Pearl” that’s too waxy for my taste. The Blackwings I prefer are either the original extra dark or the extra-firm. Plus I’ve come to feel that the larger ferrule throws the balance off on the pencil, but again it’s all personal preference. For that reason I’ve sold off the bulk of my stash over the course of the past year.

Highlighter pencils are just as legible, in my experience, as their liquid-ink counterparts.

Why I Probably Won’t Stop Buying Pencils

Even though I have more pencils than I personally could ever use in a lifetime, I probably won’t stop buying them. Why? Well, for at least the next few years I have an elementary school-aged child, who churns through them at the pace of two or three a week (either from use or loss). If I need to thin the herd, I’ll simply give them to her, or alternatively donate a bunch of pencils to local school-supply drives. The second reason I won’t stop buying woodcase pencils is that they tend to be a relatively inexpensive luxury, that doesn’t take up space forever. Even the most expensive pencils, such as Blackwings, Caran d’Ache Swiss Woods, or the Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache, cost $3 to $10, and due to the quality of the wood and graphite they will give you a lot of mileage for your money. When you use them up, they’re gone, and they don’t leave behind waste to go to the landfill. Therefore, if I see a well-done pencil that’s either of high quality or seems super unique or creative, I’m probably going to buy it without thinking much of it if the package costs $50 or less. (Of course, I’m talking new pencils. Some people pay crazy per-pencil prices for vintage stock, and that’s an entirely different calculation.)

Back before prices started rising, I was not immune to stocking up on some relatively rare vintage pencils.

Pencils Should Not Be Thought of as a Cheap Commodity

Sustainably sourced wood, quality graphite, consistently good construction and an attractive finish (often in small-batch production) cost money, which is why today the price of good pencils is inching upwards, and due to the added impact of inflation and supply chain constraints, in some cases skyrocketing. That said, I don’t necessarily understand why the some people will pay $30-50 for a single bottle of fountain pen ink yet balk noisily at paying similar prices for a pack of good pencils. Both are luxury items, both are consumables, yet the pencils are more apt to be derided as an “overpriced” “cash grab” than the ink, despite the fact that the manufacturer’s profit margin on the 30-50ml bottle of liquid is almost certainly higher. Today’s consumers have been trained to think of pencils as an inexpensive commodity item that shouldn’t cost more than $0.25 per pencil, which is a key reason why so many of the school pencils readily available in stores are so cheap - and offer such a terrible writing experience.

Caran d'Ache Jumbo Pencils — Two favorite jumbo pencils that sadly aren’t made anymore: the Caran d’Ache “Black Wood” and the “Klein Blue” Maxi. While Caran d’Ache has released a jumbo pencil set in their current “Colour Treasure” limited edition series, they’ve sold out and I’m scrambling to get more.

Takeaways and Where to Start

As for me, I plan to keep buying and selling quality pencils. If I stopped purchasing today, I would have more than enough good pencils to last me for the rest of my life, but we all know that’s not going to happen ;) For those of you looking to experience a good pencil for the first time, you can absolutely do so with out spending a lot of money. We stock a range of woodcase pencils, mechanical pencils, and lead holders in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, ranging from classic yellow Tombow office pencils that cost around $1.50, to higher-end Caran d’Ache Swiss Woods and house specialty pencils geared towards enthusiasts and collectors.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases through the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links.

New in the Shop: Caran d'Ache Colour Treasure Collection

November 22, 2022

Just in time for the holiday rush, we received our initial allotment of Caran d’Ache’s new 849 Ballpoint and Maxi HB Pencil Set from the limited edition “Colour Treasure” Collection. Designed as an homage to the rainbow of Caran d’Ache’s classic colored pencils, the Colour Treasure ballpoint is available in two gradients: “warm” (yellow, red, and orange) and “cool” (blue, green). The Maxi Pencil set features five of Caran d’Ache’s coveted “jumbo” size pencils that are always extremely popular, and typically sell very quickly. Finally, we have this year’s “Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache” (Edition No. 10), an ultra-luxury set of scented woodcase pencils produced in collaboration with Swiss Parfumier Mizensir. This year’s scent is “Patchouli’s Woods,” featuring a combination of patchouli, cedar, and burnt caramel. Check out these and more in our “New Arrivals” section, as well as those products highlighted in the 2022 Holiday Gift Guide.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all products sold, including the full range of Caran d’Ache offerings.