Happy Tax Day: Olive Traveler's Notebooks Have Arrived!

Hopefully everyone is having a not-so-stressful (and fully refundable) Tax Day, at least for those of us here in the U.S. To “celebrate”, we received an initial shipment of the new Olive Traveler’s Notebook Covers in both Standard and Passport sizes, along with the matching pen holders. Note that the Olive notebooks are available as options under the general listing, as they will be part of the standard lineup going forward and are not limited editions. We did not receive a large initial allocation, so apologies if they sell out quickly, but we have ordered more and expect a second batch, hopefully soon. (We also restocked on the Standard size in Blue, so those are available if you’ve been wanting one but found them out of stock.) Enjoy!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all products sold, including Traveler’s Notebook products and accessories.

Currently Inked for Monday, April 17, 2023: A Demonstration on Swapping Lamy Nibs

Happy Monday! As I mentioned last night on Instagram, I wanted to do a quick video demonstration of how to change the nib on a Lamy Safari/AL-Star/Studio/LX. It’s typically a pretty straightforward process, using the technique of wrapping a small piece of cellophane sticky tape (Scotch Tape for those of us in the states) around the nib and pulling it off. I say “typically,” because as you will see in the Youtube video, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. On one of my Lamy Studios, the nib simply would not come unstuck, so I ended up pulling the entire nib/feed assembly and sliding them together into the section of another Studio. (It’s not as scary as it sounds. You really have to manhandle any of the lower-priced Lamy pens in order to break them. All of my gold-nibs survived the process shown in the video, but for good measure do practice on the stainless steel version first!)

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The Lamy “Cursive” Calligraphy nib features narrower downstrokes and slightly wider cross-strokes, similar to an architect grind.

Lamy Replacement Nibs (Including the Cursive Calligraphy nibs) Are Now Available in the Shop

Yesterday I announced that the T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized Lamy retailer! We carry the full line of Lamy 2000 models (fountain pen, ballpoints, rollerballs, multipens, and mechanical pencils), select pens from the Safari and AL-Star lineup, and all of the refills. Look for us to add additional items in the future. As I note in the video, we stock stainless steel Lamy replacement nibs in most sizes, as well as the Cursive Calligraphy nib, which is ostensibly intended to write cursive script such as Chinese and Japanese characters, but is ground similarly to an architect/Kodachi/Naginata-style nib. If you’ve been interested in trying one of these nib styles, but have hesitated to sacrifice a pen on a nib grind that you don’t know you’ll like, one of these nibs could be a relatively inexpensive experiment. I’ve enjoyed it enough to swap the cursive nib onto two of my personal pens and will be definitely writing more in the weeks to come.

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

Pen Review: Tibaldi Bononia Vintage Fountain Pen (Oblique Medium Nib)

Funny story - I was initially drawn to this particular pen at the Arkansas Pen Show, having been “forced” to sit next to the Vanness Pens table and eye these two Tibaldi Bononia vintage fountain pens all day on Saturday and most of the day on Sunday. Specifically, I kept eyeing the “Pomegranate” version, with its wine-colored crushed ice/stone acrylic, but I couldn’t get past a perceived problem with the nib. At least three different vendors looked at the tipping, and all of us concluded that while it wrote “OK,” the tipping on the nib was lopsided. Deflated, I walked back to the table and put the pen back in the box, at which point I noticed the large “OM” (Oblique Medium) on the price tag. (It also appeared on the nib, but none of us noticed that either.) I dipped the pen, angled the nib as intended with an oblique, and the pen wrote perfectly.

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The two materials shown here are “Pomegranate” (left) and “Honeycomb” (right).

Self-deprecating humor about us “pen experts” notwithstanding, this story is also revealing simply because it never occurred to me that a modern company, much less Tibaldi, would release a pen with an oblique medium nib. Once fairly common stock nib options, but increasingly rare, oblique nibs are useful for those who angle their pens as they write. This particular nib is a “right-footed” oblique, with the nib tipping angled on the right side (like a right foot) to accommodate someone who rolls the pen to the right as they scribble away.

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The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage is available in stock oblique medium nibs (shown at left) and a factory stub, which I believe is 1.1mm (shown at right). You can see how the tipping material on the oblique is slightly angled.

It’s a fun lead-in to a review of an excellent pen with well-executed vintage styling. Italian penmaker Tibaldi has a long history, and in recent years has mounted something of a comeback, reissuing modern versions of pens from its archive such as the “Bononia” model. (“Bononia” is the Latin form for “Bologna”, though Tibaldi is not headquartered there, was founded in Florence, and is now headquartered in Bassano del Grappa near Montegrappa, with which the company shares common ownership.)

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I love the low threads on the section, which make it easier to grip the pen comfortably. These threads are also short, and allow you to cap/uncap the pen quickly.

Of all the pens in the Tibaldi lineup, the Bononia holds the most visual appeal for me personally, but with relatively sparse distribution in the U.S., I’ve never had the opportunity to see one in person. I ended up borrowing two of the limited edition “Bononia Vintage” models from Vanness for review, mainly because there’s an open spot in my own collection for a streamlined/torpedo-shaped pen that hasn’t yet been filled, and I like the size of this particular pen more than something like an Oldwin, which while gorgeous, is probably too big for me to use regularly.

What I love about this design:

• The short barrel threads are located at the end of the grip section, down near the nib. Not only is the pen quick to cap/uncap (1-1.5 turns!?), but there’s little to no contact with your fingers as you write, unless you grip the pen VERY close to the nib.

• The piston-filling system feels high quality and holds an adequate amount of ink. I’ve been writing regularly with this pen for the last week or so, and it still writes a wet line with no sign of slowing down. I’d estimate it holds 1-1.5ml of ink in the barrel.

• The Bononia posts deeply and sits well in the hand posted or unposted. The acrylic is gorgeous, with a lot of depth. Despite some added heft from the piston system, which feels like brass, the pen is well-balanced even when posted.

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Back to the nib: One complaint I’ve heard about modern Tibaldi is that the nibs tend to dry out, and write on the drier side in general. This was my experience with the steel nib N.60 I reviewed a couple of years ago. I had no such issues with the oblique nib on the Bononia Vintage, which is 18k gold and is paired with a plastic feed that delivers steady ink flow. I’ve written with this particular nib on multiple papers using Caran d’Ache ink, and had no problems - the nib lays down a wet line, generally smooth with just a touch of tactile feedback. (Note: I also wrote with the stock stub, and found it a less appealing drier writing experience, though stock stubs can be temperamental with my handwriting, especially if I’m trying to write fast.)

I love the line this nib writes. The writing sample shown here is done in Caran d’Ache Klein Blue (limited edition) Ultramarine, which is no longer available. I’ll be writing more on Caran d’Ache bottled inks soon, as we intend to add them to the shop. The paper is a Midori MD Cotton notebook, which has become my preferred paper for ink testing, if not for writing in general.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage is currently still available from select retailers, including our friends at Vanness Pens. Priced at $695 MSRP / ~ $495 retail, this isn’t an inexpensive pen by any means, but at the same time the price isn’t outrageous for a piston filler with an 18k nib. Personally, I’m torn on whether to go ahead and purchase this pen. It’s a gorgeous piece, and I’ve long wanted a medium oblique nib in my collection, but at the same time I’ve bought a TON of pens lately, and I’m somewhat drowning under the weight of my current collection, bothered by the fact that exceptionally good pens simply aren’t getting used. That doesn’t change the fact that I love what Tibaldi has created with the Bononia Vintage, and look forward to seeing more higher-end pens from this manufacturer that draw on their rich archive of classic designs.

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The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage (left) compared against a Pilot Custom 74 (center) and a Lamy 2000 (right), two commonly available fountain pens for size reference. Also, you may notice that I’m writing with a Midori MD Cotton Notebook inside a MD A4 Paper Cover. The F3 size fits the A4 cover - at least the paper one.

This pen was loaned to me by my friends at Vanness Pens for review purposes, at no charge. I have not otherwise been compensated for this review. The Gentleman Stationer is currently supported entirely by purchases from The T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoy our content and wish to support us, please help us stay ad and affiliate free by shopping with us or becoming a member.

Thursday Drops: Caran d'Ache and M+R Restock, Plus the Lamy Pico!

Many of you have been requesting a restock on Caran d’Ache goods (especially the Black Code and Original ballpoints), as well as M+R Sharpeners like the long-point Castor & Pollux and the refill blades. They’re all here and ready to go as of this morning, in addition to new everyday carry ballpoints from Anterique Stationers and Lamy. Enjoy!

P.S. - Don’t forget to check out the “Best Pens” list, updated for 2023!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

What’s your favorite color of the Lamy Pico? Maybe the eye-searing Neon Pink?

1. Caran d’Ache 849 Black Code Ballpoint Pen. Even though it’s not specifically made for our shop, the Black Code Ballpoint was the first product that I regarded as a “signature” T.G.S. design. I love the look of this pen and it’s a great everyday carry.

2. Caran d’Ache 849 “Original” Ballpoint. Second only to the Black Code among T.G.S. Curated Shop top sellers from the Caran d’Ache line! This ballpoint features a brushed aluminum finish, yet it’s coated so you don’t get the raw metal feel (or smell).

3. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball. The 849 Rollerball is a versatile pen that ships with a Parker-style Caran d’Ache Rollerball refill, but can easily be transformed into a larger version of the 849 ballpoint using any Parker-style ballpoint or gel cartridge.

4. Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pens. The Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen makes another excellent everyday writer, and fits in many notebook and planner “pen slots” due to its slimmer size. The stainless steel nib is unique in that it can have just the slightest bit of spring to it, especially in the narrower nib sizes. Additional Caran d’Ache ink cartridges sold separately.

5. Lamy Pico Pocket Ballpoint. One of the best pocket pens on the market, in my opinion, the Pico expands from palm-sized to a comfortable full-sized ballpoint pen. The M22 refill writes a smooth dark line.

6. Anterique Stationers “Mach Ball” Ballpoints. One of my favorite new discoveries from the past several months, especially if you love finer-points. Be sure to check out the Brass Edition.

7. M+R Castor and Pollux Long-Point Pencil Sharpeners. The Castor is more of a traditional long-point pencil sharpener, but the Pollux creates the signature “concave” curved point that so many people love. Though they typically require you to use good graphite, you can’t get this long of a point from many handheld sharpeners.

8. Caran d’Ache Fixpencil 884. The colorful Fixpencil 884 features the same 2mm graphite lead as the standard black Fixpencils. Though it’s sometimes referred to as the Fixpencil “JR”, it’s the same size.

9. Caran d’Ache Infinite Mechanical Pencils. I managed to grab a handful of these in a couple of the remaining standard colors, plus the Swiss Cross motif. I’ve been told the pencil is now discontinued.

10. Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 Ballpoint Pens. This inexpensive, yet high-quality, pen from Caran d’Ache made the T.G.S. Best Pens list this year. As far as standard ballpoint refills go, the one in this pen is great.

The Best Pens List, Updated for Nine Years of T.G.S.!

I can’t believe that next year (2024), The Gentleman Stationer will be ten years old! Each year, to celebrate our “blogiversary,” I update the “Best Pens” list. While this list hasn’t changed much over the past couple of years, I always find one or two things to add, and this year mainly features some surprise additions to both the “Disposable Pen” section and the “Refillable Ballpoints” section. Be sure to check them out, and as always, past lists remain available so that you can see how my preferences and recommendations have changed over time.

So why do I think the lists have remained the same? Probably because as far as mainstream pens are concerned, there really hasn’t been much in the way of true innovation, but rather a focus on fine-tuning existing designs. In my opinion, much of the creativity these days comes from independent makers, who I’ll never include on a “ranked” list like this simply due to the highly individualized, bespoke nature of their work. I plan to write more on this in the future. Happy reading!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. To the extent third parties are linked to in the Best Pens list or elsewhere, it is being done on a non-affiliate basis.