Classic Products are Classics for a Reason: Clairefontaine and J. Herbin

February 28, 2023

While we enjoy exploring new releases, limited editions, Kickstarters, and other experimental offerings, our main interest has always been the so-called tried-and-true “workhorses” of the stationery world. Think the type of products that just work whenever you need them, without having to think much about it. Often, the companies themselves have been around for hundreds of years.

Clairefontaine Paper: An Inexpensive, Rock-Solid Choice for Everyday Writing

Clairefontaine paper is what got me interested in fine writing in the first place, as a student in France, experiencing something other than cheap American student-grade writing paper for the first time. Clairefontaine paper handles pretty much any fountain pen ink available without feathering or bleed-through, and is available in multiple formats, ranging from the classic spiral bound notebooks to the “Triomphe” series of writing tablets to the composition-style “1951” series, now available in both cloth and staplebound versions. Sibling company Quo Vadis uses Clairefontaine paper in the dot grid version of their “Habana” journal, a product that in my opinion is grossly underappreciated by the broader community. If you haven’t yet used Clairefontaine paper, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a try! Our shop stocks much of the Clairefontaine lineup, in addition to Quo Vadis Habana and a selection of Rhodia.

J. Herbin Inks: Safe, Inexpensive Fountain Pen Ink Available in a Wide Array of Colors

Today’s fountain pen ink market is arguably oversaturated (pun intended) with so many brands and colors that it’s easy to get lost, not to mention caught up in testing and trying all the various shades and formulations in an effort to find that “perfect” ink that doesn’t really exist. I’ve always enjoyed the inks made by Herbin and Waterman because these inks tend to just work. They don’t clog, dry relatively quickly, are easy to clean, and available in interesting colors (both bright and muted). We’ve decided to stock the standard J. Herbin inks in both the 30ml bottle size as well as the 10ml “sample” size, to make it convenient for you to test as many different colors as you want without running into storage issues or accumulating ink you’ll never use. Our initial selection features personal favorites from the line, with more on the way!

Please visit the shop to view our full selection of pens, inks, paper, and assorted fine writing and desk accessories! The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

A #killwinterwithorange pen and ink pairing!

Sunday Reading for February 26, 2023

February 26, 2023

Endless Observer Notebook Review, Regalia Paper (via Blake’s Broadcast). I’ve been hearing great things about Endless’s Regalia Paper, which is their in-house option they plan to use to replace old Tomoe River. I need to get my hands on a sample, as well as the new “Observer” notebook.
Retro 51 Winnie-the-Pooh Set Review (via Writing at Large). I love these pastel colors, and the finial labels on the pencils? Brilliant.
Ink of the Week: Iroshizuku Yama-Budo (via Fountain Pen Love). Yama-Budo was one of the first “nice” fountain pen inks I ever purchased, and it remains a favorite.
Meet Your Maker - Greg Hardy, Hardy Penwrights (via Pen Addict - Caroline). I’ve not had the opportunity to try a pen from Hardy Penwrights, but I’ve viewed Greg’s work at shows and he has some beautiful pieces featuring metalwork.
Early Thoughts on the Waterman Emblème Fountain Pen (via Fountain Pen Blog). I’ve not used the Emblème, but it reminds me of the Phileas, particularly on the grip section.
Postcode Envy: Jinhao 80 (via A Fleeting Ripple). I’ve seen the Jinhao 80 in its various colors, and for a Lamy 2000 clone, it’s interesting, though the ethical dilemma here is real.
Writing Through a Mood (via From the Pen Cup). I love it that Mary is posting frequently again. This particular post struck me as timely, given that I’m playing a “waiting game” myself in several regards.
Kyo No Oto #03 Koke-Iro (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This dark yellow, mustard color has turned into a personal interest. I need to check out this particular ink.
Odyssey A5 Cosmo Air Light Notebook (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love this design from Odyssey (as I love all of their motifs). I’m curious to see what they do as certain Tomoe River and Cosmo Air Light papers are phased out.
Conid Kingsize Bulkfillers with Montblanc 149 Nibs - Totally Ridiculous and Fun (via Gourmet Pens). I promise, I’m working on my own Conid Kingsize review, but I won’t be able to top the ridiculousness (in a good way) of this particular pairing.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I reviewed two inks from Laban’s Greek Mythology Series, Athena Grey and Artemis Blue. Athena Grey has become a favorite and Artemis Blue isn’t far behind. I also wrote a bit of a longer piece on my tortured history with handwriting, pen/pencil grips, and so-called “triangular grip” fountain pens. I’m really happy with the reception this article has received so far!

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

I hope to have some big news for you all soon, but in the meantime, check out our weekly drops post featuring newly arrived import products from Midori such as the Kurashiki Canvas pen cases, as well as range of desk accessories. This week, we’ll begin our preparations for the Baltimore and Arkansas pen shows, so if you would like something brought to a show for delivery, or shipped out before travel starts on March 9, I’d encourage you to place your order in the coming week.

Laban Greek Mythology

Midori Desk Accessories

Kurashiki Canvas Pen Cases

New Washi and Pins!

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

I shared some exciting news about projects I’m working on for an expanded T.G.S. on last night’s Patreon meetup. T.G.S. Patreon is the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content, including the potential return of Digital Divide, which I’ve been working on and hope to relaunch in the coming months. 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!

Triangular Grip Pens: Love 'em or Leave 'em?

February 25, 2023

In the world of pens, there are a handful of highly polarizing products, and I’d place “molded grip” or “triangular grip” pens in the top five. The most well-known, of course, is the iconic Lamy Safari, with the Lamy AL-Star, TWSBI ECO-T, Kaweco Perkeo and others falling into this category. So why do pen companies opt for this type of design? How big of a “real world” issue is it? And how has it affected my own ability to use these pens?

The Lamy Safari’s grip gives rise to strong opinions.

Triangular Grip Pens: Origins and Purpose

Before they went hipster mainstream (j/k), pens like the Lamy Safari were intended for students - particularly students learning to write with a fountain pen for the first time. Most molded grip sections are shaped similarly to those slide-on pencil grips that teachers in the 1980s would force on those of us who refused to hold our pencils “correctly,” in order to guide our hands into the “proper” position. These days, Lamy markets the Safari/AL-Star pens to a market beyond students, billing the section as an “[e]rgonomically shaped grip area to enable writing for long periods of time without tiring,” but as with most things ergonomic, these pens don’t work for everyone. While I’ve not done any sort of survey, anecdotally, lefties tend to have more issues with the grip, since they’re designed with the right-handed majority in mind. And even those righties with nontraditional finger placement can have a difficult time with a shaped section.

The Lamy AL-Star grip section, left, vs. the TWSBI ECO-T. The AL-Star features a grip similar to the Safari, but due to the difference in materials doesn’t feel quite as sharp, at least to me. The TWSBI ECO-T has a subtly triangular shape that I don’t really notice much at all, though it is there.

My Own Personal Handwriting Struggles and Preferences

I have a history of handwriting struggles. Until I entered college, I used what could charitably be described as an “unusual” pencil grip. Nobody could understand how it worked, how I learned it, and why I continued to write that way. Despite the fact that I was generally a good student, with visually excellent script, I regularly received a “C” or “D” in “handwriting” on my report card, solely due to how I held my pencil. I had one elementary school teacher dub my grip “The Claw”, and made it their personal mission in life to change it. They failed.

I had another teacher in high school “jokingly” offer to break my right hand so that I could relearn how to write as a lefty. (I went to an all-boys high school. It was a different time.) Honestly, I’m really not sure how I ever wrote like this, much less for hours at a time. I certainly would never have been able to use a fountain pen like this.

At some point The Claw became a matter of personal pride, not to mention practicality. If you grip your pen or pencil a certain way for years, you reach a point in high school where you can’t change it because to do so would sacrifice speed. (To add some context, I graduated from high school in 1998, which dates me but it’s necessary here. I was probably one of the last classes where e-mail and internet access was available to us, but not required, and all of our examinations and most of our homework, including research papers, had to be handwritten as opposed to typed. Handwriting speed was therefore a factor. I understand that this changed at my school a couple of years after I graduated.) It wasn’t until late college/early law school, when I started transcribing most of my lecture notes on a laptop, that I was able to change my grip because I had the luxury of slowing down.

So why did I change? RSI issues in my hand and wrist, as well as a semi-deformed right ring finger that had a huge, painful callous that only completely disappeared three or four years ago - nearly 20 years after I changed my handwriting style. While my current grip isn’t “textbook,” it’s closer to what’s contemplated by most molded-grip pens, and if I’m honest, probably could have saved me a lot of trouble over the long-term if I hadn’t been so stubborn.

My new grip works fairly well with the Safari and most other molded-grip pens.

How to Use a Triangular or Molded-Grip Pen

Unfortunately, the truth is that unless you’re willing to change your grip, these pens either work for you or they don’t. Some pens, like the TWSBI ECO-T and the Kaweco Perkeo, feature a “softer” triangular grip that’s much more forgiving. The sharper edges of the Safari and AL-Star tend to cause more problems for people. While the Lamy pens aren’t a perfect fit, and for this reason have never become “favorite” everyday writers, they’re not incompatible with my current grip because I can rest my index finger on the top ridge, similar to how I’m able to rest my finger atop the clip of a Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo. The good thing is that these pens are relatively inexpensive to test out, coming in at $35 or less. If you’re considering a more expensive pen like one of the retractable nib Pilot pens, I’ve found that how one’s hand holds the Safari approximates how you would have to grip a Vanishing Point or Decimo, so if you can’t get to a pen show and try one of these in person, picking up a less expensive pen with a triangular grip might save you from a more costly mistake.

A shot of the TWSBI ECO-T (right) vs. the standard TWSBI ECO (left). You can barely make out a ridge (more like a ripple) on the ECO-T, which shows you how subtle the shape is. Honestly, I might prefer the ECO-T to the ECO, but again that’s personal preference.

I’m interested in hearing: How many of you can’t use these types of pens at all? Also, I rarely hear from anyone who purchases a pen with a shaped grip specifically for that section, but does anyone particularly enjoy this feature? Personally, I’ve really been enjoying the the ECO-T, which has a much more subtle grip shape, and I have plans to get my hands on another Kaweco Perkeo soon.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. While this post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising, the Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of certain brands discussed in this article. Please view the shop for the full range of brands sold, which is subject to change.

Thursday Drops: Introducing Midori Kurashiki Canvas Cases, High-End Desk Accessories, Washi and More!

February 23, 2023

Even though it’s exciting to expand the shop, I could use a bit of a breather! As of right now, I’ve finished updating our new arrivals in the Inks & Refills shop, a slew of new Washi Tapes and Enamel Pins, and some excellent desk accessories, including new arrivals from Midori. Shown here are the Midori Kurashiki Canvas pen/pencil cases, which are import items from Japan that recently arrived. These are beautiful, and the neutral colored canvas will age differently depending on how you use it. We’ve also added more Midori desk tools such as scissors and more XS Stationery Kits, to help you create the perfect desk space for at home or on the go!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program, and is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Midori Kurashiki Canvas Pen Cases. We had these in the shop last year for a VERY brief period before they went out of stock. This waterproof canvas will soften and patina with age, as will the leather zipper pull. These are available in flat and gusseted formats, the latter of which will stand up on their own to form a pencil case. (Pictured above.)
TWSBI ECO-T Saffron Fountain Pens. In addition to the recently released (and absolutely gorgeous) ECO-T fountain pen, we now have nearly all of the standard ECO and Diamond 580 fountain pens available for purchase.
Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads. We just received a huge restock of Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads, along with fresh stock of MD Cotton Notebooks.
Midori Soft Color A5 Notebooks. As I wrote last week, I’ve been on a personal quest to locate some fountain pen friendly colored paper to use for written correspondence. During that search, I came across these Midori A5 “Soft Color” notebooks in grey, blue, green, and purple.
G. Lalo Laid Writing Paper. This fine writing correspondence paper is available in white, ivory, and pale blue tablets.
New Washi Tapes and Pins from iLootPaperie. Some of our favorite products currently in the shop are our array of washi tapes and enamel pins from the team at iLootPaperie (particularly the snail mail-themed pins and buttons).
Midori Portable Multi-Scissors. These portable multi-function scissors have a curved blade to cut paper, a serrated edge to help open boxes, and a notch to cut wire. If you always find yourself looking for a convenient cutting instrument, consider these. I personally carry a set in my car.
Midori XS Stationery Kit. I’ve taken to carrying one of these compact clamshell stationery kits in my briefcase, which basically allows you to bring a full desk setup with you wherever you go, whether that’s working remotely or otherwise.
Hightide Sandglass in Large “Slim” Format. Hightide has released the 15-minute version of their classic hourglass in a “Slim” format, which has a slightly taller, more modern silhouette than the version we’ve been carrying. It will be interesting to see whether this is a permanent change
J. Herbin “Shogun” Ink. We recently started carrying the J. Herbin writing inks, and so far have added a single “shimmer” ink to our offerings. Shogun is a grey/brown/black with subtle gold and red shimmer - reminiscent of Samurai armor - and it looks great!

Ink Review: Laban Greek Mythology Athena Grey and Artemis Navy Blue

February 22, 2023

Because I have so many inks in my collection, it generally takes either an unusual color or an interesting story to prompt me to make a purchase. If I’m inspired to buy the entire line, the ink must be really special, and that’s where I found myself at last year’s Baltimore Pen Show, visiting multiple vendors trying to put together a full set of Laban’s Greek Mythology-inspired inks.

This one is all about nostalgia for me: I’m a huge history fan, was an even bigger fan of Greek/Roman mythology as a child, and I now have a child who loves history, including the ancient myths. While there’s nothing particularly unusual about most of the ten colors in this series - they’re all fairly standard riffs on inks you would expect to find in a lineup made by a pen manufacturer - each ink writes really well, and the color has been paired with a god or goddess from ancient Greek mythology. (While the colors themselves are different than what is typically associated with each of the specific namesakes, only a hardcore mythology nerd will catch this, and frankly these colors are far more practical and will appeal to more people than gold or silver, for example.)

Athena Grey

Athena Grey was the Laban ink that I first jumped at, not necessarily because of the color but because of the association. The Greek goddess of wisdom (Roman equivalent: Minerva), Athena holds a special place for me because my hometown hosts a full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon, complete with statue of Athena. You can read more about the backstory here, but a version of the Parthenon was first built for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition before being made permanent, with the Athena statute added later in the 1990s. The venue serves as an art museum located in Nashville’s Centennial Park.

Athena Grey is a very dark grey ink, which some might even consider black, especially when writing with fine or extra-fine nibs. In a wetter, wider nib, the ink will show as more of a dark grey with purple undertones, similar to a dark, more concentrated Sailor Chu-shu. I’ve found this particular color to be an excellent ink for everyday office work, as the color is conservative while still remaining interesting enough to intrigue fountain pen users looking for those slightly offbeat shades of classic tones.

Artemis Navy Blue

A true navy ink is surprisingly (and somewhat frustratingly) hard to find. Artemis Navy Blue is a dark, rich blue with a touch of sheen - think the now-discontinued JFK Navy Blue from Montblanc, only darker (I would say “richer”) and with less grey. Named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of animals and the hunt (Roman equivalent: Diana), the artwork features the classic motif of Artemis reaching for her bow and arrow, only to find that her bow is a fountain pen! (See the gallery below for the images from the packaging, which I find really well done.)

Like Athena Grey, this ink is a bit of a sleeper and actually one of the last inks I tested from the lineup because I thought it would be a “boring” blue. As it turns out, it has become one of my favorites, and was the surprise hit at pen club a couple weekends back when I brought it for people to test in person.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

It’s rare that I’ve purchased all of the inks in a given series of releases, much less in a single weekend, so that should tell you something about how much I enjoy what Laban has done here. In fact, I liked these inks so much that I put them on the short list for inks I wanted to sell in our own shop, and we’re happy to be able to offer the Laban Greek Mythology inks directly as of last week. Each ink comes in a 50ml glass bottle, priced at $25.