This year we’ll be returning to the Baltimore Washington International Pen Show, and will be next to our friends at Vanness!

Spotlight On: Write Notepads Paper

February 7, 2023

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Write Notepads was one of our original brands - actually, one of the only brands - that we carried when we launched our shop at the 2020 Baltimore Pen Show in March of 2020. (Great timing, right!?!) Three years later, it remains a personal favorite and a top seller. Why do I think it’s so great? In addition to the “modern traditional” design, the paper is both fountain pen friendly and slightly absorbent, so that it dries quicker than many other options. You can read more on what this paper is capable of here.

Even with a very wet pen like a Conid Bulkfiller (with a medium titanium nib), the paper holds up to the ink flow. I’ve been using one of the roughly A5 Paper Notebook Journals in my Lochby Field Journal, where it fits comfortably.

Last week we received a full restock of most Write Notepads notebooks in the colors that are currently in production, including the Landscape-style ruled notebooks, the Reporter Notepads, and the Paper Notebook/Journals. We also have what might be my personal favorite of the Write Notepads products: writing pads that are sold in packs of two, in either lined, dot, or “meeting”-style rulings. Finally, we picked up what might (?) be a final order of the limited edition “Chesapeake” pocket notebooks from a few years back. Many thanks to Write Notepads for supporting us all these years!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold. We are constantly updating our shop so check back often to see new arrivals in pens, paper and notebooks, desk/reading accessories, and smaller items such as washi tape and enamel pins!

Many thanks to the team at Yoseka Stationery for making my visit so enjoyable (and warm, since it was so darn cold out)!

Sunday Reading for February 5, 2023 (NYC Travel Edition)

February 5, 2023

Year One: First Anniversary! (via A Fleeting Ripple). Congrats! Often the first year of blogging is the hardest, just in terms of maintaining a steady stream of posts and a reliable presence. A huge accomplishment, especially when the content is so high-quality.
InCoWriMo, AKA International Correspondence Writing Month (via Pen Addict). It’s February, so you know that it’s InCoWriMo time! Brad provides a nice overview of what InCoWriMo is all about. More on InCoWriMo below, and how we’re set up to help you with all your letter-writing needs.
Sailor Yurameku Inks, Round 2 (via Well-Appointed Desk). During my visit to Yoseka Stationery, I almost picked up a few of these, but then realized that I already had probably exceeded what I was capable of carrying home, and I’m already looking at having to purchase a second suitcase.
Platinum Curidas Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). While it certainly doesn’t get as much attention as Pilot’s Vanishing Point/Capless series, the Curidas is still a legitimate option for those looking for a retractable fountain pen at a lower price point.
Further Thoughts on the Jinhao X159 Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). I dove in and purchased one of these as well, and I can confirm that the nib I received was very, very good. Now swapping parts between different colors? That’s something I didn’t think of. More details soon.
PhoenixPenStands 12 Pen Holder (via KraftyKats). This does seem to be the year of the 3D-printed pen stand, and since this one’s in red and black, I automatically like it!
Ink Review #752: TWSBI Blue-Black (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’m probably biased, but I love TWSBI Blue-Black as a standard blue-black ink. It’s got a nice vintage-style tone, some shading, as well as some water-resistance.
Jacques Herbin Gris de Houle (via Fountain Pen Love). I’ve been wondering lately what’s the difference between the “Jacques Herbin”-branded inks and the “J. Herbin”. This is a nice grey, though possibly a bit light for my own use.
My Seven-Notebook Writing System (via Pen Addict - Sarah). As I’ve said before, I always love looking at how others organize their writing projects. If you work in multiple notebooks, you may find something like the Lochby Field Journal helpful!
A No-Buy Year. Really. (via From the Pen Cup). Congrats to Mary on her progress so far. (Finishing a bottle of ink! In our world, that’s like running a marathon!)

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I reviewed a pen that’s been in my collection for some time without a write-up: the Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Macassar fountain pen. I also posted the various pens and carry items I took with me to NYC as I travel to the National Stationery Show for a few days. Keep an eye on Instagram for more on my travels!

Airplane carry: I don’t just write about this stuff or sell it for kicks: I DO use it myself!

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Expansion and Exciting announcements coming!

It’s no secret that I’ve been rapidly expanding the T.G.S. Curated Shop and working on a couple of semi-secret projects, which necessitated me traveling to NYC this week to meet with vendors, etc. New items are rapidly arriving, which I’ll be posting as they land. You can check out this week’s shop announcements here, which includes not only the arrival of Nahvalur’s Limited Edition “Year of the Rabbit” pens, but also full restock’s of Clairefontaine, Rhodia, and Write Notepads, as well as fun new desk accessories from WMS & Co., like these customizable stamps.

Also, if you’re participating in InCoWriMo, please check out our special letter-writing section, set up especially for this month! (If it’s popular, we may make it a permanent fixture.) Also, if you’re into stickers, stamps, and washi tape to use with your written correspondence or otherwise, we maintain a large and growing selection!

Nahvalur

Composition Books

"Philosophical" Stamps

G. Lalo Paper

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

This year, I’m trying to be more visible and intentional with T.G.S. Patreon and how the support/membership program will expand in 2023 to include not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content, including the potential return of Digital Divide. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support!

Travel Kit: National Stationery Show Edition

February 4, 2023

So I’m kicking off an extended period of pen-related travel with a trip to New York City to attend NYNow and Shoppe Object, two of the largest stationery trade shows in the country. Hopefully I’ll come back not just with lots of fun stories but new finds for the T.G.S. Curated Shop, which I have plans to expand. (See yesterday’s post for the latest arrivals, and I’ll be spending some of my “down time” this weekend updating inventory and listing a few stragglers that arrived yesterday.) Shoppe Object is where I first discovered my friends at WMS & Co. back in 2020, and while I don’t know that they’re attending this year, the ability to meet with these brands in a somewhat more laid-back setting where there’s no immediate pressure to buy (unlike at a direct-to-consumer pen show) is invaluable in finding new additions that might be a good fit for our business.

From left: Conid Bulkfiller Kingsize; Schon DSGN Full Size; Pilot Custom 823; Traveler’s Company Fountain Pen; TWSBI Precision Mechanical Pencil (.5mm Retractable); and Montblanc Classique Fineliner.

Enough Shop Talk, What’s the Travel Kit?

While it could be just a by-product of working primarily from home for the past few years and getting out of a “travel mentality”, the act of prepping for a trip has started to cause me a greater degree of stress than it used to. I decided to keep it simple this time, sticking my journals and an A5 Tomoe River notebook into my Lochby Field Journal, and pulling together some airplane-friendly pens into my Lochby Tool Roll. My Plotter A5 is coming with me as the notebook I plan to carry around the city and to the shows. I just realized I forgot my headphones, but hey, at least I have my stationery!

This is a pretty compact carry for three notebooks and seven pens.

Send Me NYC Stationery Store Recommendations!

It’s been three years since I’ve been to New York City, so my stationery store list is hopelessly out of date. I’ve shockingly never visited Yoseka Stationery, so that’s on my list as a “go visit right away” trip as soon as I hit the ground. CW Pencil Enterprise has sadly closed, and Fountain Pen Hospital is not open on the weekends. I have some time to kill, so give me a hand here!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Thursday Drops: 2023 Shop Expansion, National Stationery Show, and More!

February 2, 2023

You may have noticed a flurry of activity around the T.G.S. Curated Shop. That’s because after a brief pause in mid-2022 to evaluate our chosen product lines and tweak our focus, we decided to move forward with expanding several of the brands we carry and bringing additional lines on board. This coming weekend, we’ll be attending the National Stationery Show in New York City, one of the largest stationery trade shows in the world! I’ll keep you updated on anything fun we fine, so keep an eye on Instagram!

This Week’s New Arrivals

Many of you have been asking when favorite core brands such as Write Notepads, Clairefontaine, and Rhodia would restock, and I’m happy to announce that nearly everything is currently in-stock and ready to go! As usual, I’ll hit the highlights below as I do every Thursday morning, but be sure to check out the New Arrivals for both Pens/Pencils and Paper, as well as our constantly updated InCoWriMo-themed page, with letter writing supplies selected for International Correspondence Writing Month!

Nahvalur Pen of the Year Year of the Rabbit — The Nahvalur Pen of the Year is a collaboration with Starry Night Resins, who created the material for my Hinze Pens “Five O’Clock Somewhere” fountain pen.

New Pens, Pencils, and Inks!

Nahvalur “Year of the Rabbit” Limited Edition Nautilus Fountain Pen. Nahvalur (formerly Narwhal) recently released a 14k gold nib, and it’s featured in their latest limited edition “Year of the Rabbit” release which pairs the Nautilus shape with a white pearlescent acrylic from Starry Night Resins. These are extremely limited and we only have a couple in stock as the initial batch is going fast.
Nahvalur Nautilus Corydoras Bronze and Cephalopod Black. The original Nahvalur Nautilus designs are still some of the sharpest, pairing black ebonite with antiqued bronze or black trim.
Nahvalur Explorer Fountain Pen Inks. Nahvalur has chosen four initial ink colors to match their “Original Plus” Vacuum-Filler fountain pen (also back in stock in all colors).
Anderillium Inks (including 8-Bottle Sample Sets). The most popular colors of Anderillium Inks are now available, including “Colossal Squid Dark,” “Green Kingfisher Green,” and “American Goldfinch Yellow”. We’ve also brought back the 8 bottle sample sets, where you can get eight .5ml bottles containing each color from both the Avian and Cephalopod series.

Newly Arrived Paper and Notebooks, Including Lalo, Midori, and Clairefontaine Letter Writing Paper!

G. Lalo Correspondence Pads and Envelopes. This high-quality French-made laid paper comes in three different colors: light blue, white, and ivory. Both writing pads (A5) and matching envelopes are available.
Rhodia Composition Books. A core shop favorite from the early days is back in stock after being distributor-backordered for quite some time. These durable composition books feature a classic cloth binding and Rhodia paper.
Clairefontaine 1951 Clothbound Notebook. Similar to a composition book, these A5 notebooks are slightly smaller than the classic size but feature a vintage-style cover and Clairefontaine’s exceptionally fountain pen friendly paper.
Quo Vadis Habana Notebook Journal. In my opinion, Quo Vadis makes one of the best “faux leather cover + elastic” notebooks out there. These feature white dot-grid Clairefontaine paper, perfect for fountain pens. These are hard to keep in stock because they’re relatively difficult to find and I have a core set of customers who snap them up as soon as they arrive.
Write Notepads Memo Pads. Probably my favorite paper for everyday writing, these letter-sized memo pads are sold in sets of two, and feature either dot grid, lined, or meeting-style layouts.
Write Notepads “Chesapeake” Pocket Notebooks. They’re back! These PUR-bound pocket notebooks are another personal obsession, and we’re glad to have them back in the shop for at least one more round!

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

Pen Review: Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Macassar Fountain Pen

February 1, 2023

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned during my near decade in the pen world, it’s that sometimes you enjoy things that you shouldn’t enjoy. What do I mean by that? Well, as a general rule, I tend not to like slimmer pens that don’t post. While there are exceptions, I typically find slim, non-posting pens unbalanced (posting the cap can give an otherwise too-skinny pen a necessary bit of heft), and in any event it can be a hassle to keep track of the loose cap while writing. Did I mention there are exceptions…?

I’ve previously reviewed the Graf von Faber-Castell Classic fountain pen, and enjoyed that pen when I had it on loan, but ended up returning the review sample due to concerns about the dimensions and how well those would work for me as an everyday writer. Since posting that review (back in 2018), I’ve acquired two Graf von Faber-Castell fountain pens, and after a longer test period, held on to both of them in my permanent collection. Of the two (a Guilloche and the pen featured here, the Classic Macassar), the larger Classic Macassar is my favorite.

Graf von Faber-Castell makes fountain pens in a range of sizes. The Classic series, which features most of their wood barrels, is larger than the Guilloche series, shown on the right.

I have a fair number of black-trimmed pens in my collection, ranging from Sailor’s Pro Gear Imperial Black and Black Luster to the Montblanc 149 Ultra Black release from a few years ago, so if I was every going to invest in one of Graf von Faber-Castell’s flagship pens, it would be this one. Featuring an 18k ruthenium-plated nib and PVD-coated titanium trim, the Classic Macassar is stunning to look at. The darker trim perfectly complements the darker Macassar Ebony wood, and like pretty much every other pen I’ve ever tried from Graf von Faber-Castell, the nib writes perfectly. The Company states that each of these nibs is “run-in by hand,” which I take to mean that it’s hand-tested and tuned before it leaves the factory.

The PVD coating on the metal section gives it a nice grip, and the elongated concave shape is exceptionally comfortable.

As I mentioned, design-wise, I shouldn’t love this pen as much as I do. The cap is extremely impractical, but I love the oversized, top-heavy look, and the spring-loaded clip works wonderfully. That said, this pen absolutely does not post. While the Graf von Faber-Castell website shows a photograph of the Classic Macassar posting relatively deeply, my pen barely posts at all, to the point where I don’t even want to post the pen for photography purposes because I don’t want to risk damaging the threads or internal cap. If posting is an absolute necessity for how you use pens, I’d consider the Graf von Faber-Castell Guilloche series, a slightly smaller, slimmer fountain pen that posts more securely.

Graf von Faber-Castell Guilloche Posted — For comparison purposes, I’ll show a photograph of my Graf von Faber-Castell Guilloche fountain pen, which is a slimmer pen that posts, even if the end result is a touch long for my taste.

Personally, I find that the Classic Macassar is just heavy enough for me to comfortably use unposted, and while the inability to post the cap will likely leave this particular fountain pen outside the “daily Workhorse” category, I’ve had a hard time putting it away. Even though I’ve told myself I should sell it, because it’s not an everyday user for me, I can’t. Do you have pens in your collection that you have some sort of inexplicable draw to, that you enjoy using even though it’s a pen that your experience tells you that you absolutely shouldn’t like, but you do anyway? Well, this is one of those for me.

Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Macassar Posted — The Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Macassar in-hand.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though an exceptional fountain pen with a unique look, like most GvFC products, the Classic Macassar retails at an extremely high price point. As of the time of writing, MSRP on this pen is $685 as shown on the Graf von Faber Castell US website, with most retailers having it priced around $550. That’s expensive, but then again, on par for a ruthenium-plated nib pen with blacked out titanium parts. (Compare with the Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black, which now lists for $472, or the Montblanc 146 Ultra Black, which apparently has a secondary market value north of $1200?) Whether the pen is "worth it” to you goes far beyond practicality - for me, the combination of black trim and dark wood, as well as the wonderful writing experience offered by the Graf von Faber-Castell Classic pens in general, keeps this one in my collection.

For this review, I chose to ink this Graf pen with Ferris Wheel Press Roaring Patina Black, and the review paper is the excellent Life Noble Note.

I acquired this pen years ago, and can’t remember exactly where (though it was probably either Appelboom or the now-closed La Couronne du Compte). This post does not contain third-party affiliate links or advertising. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.