Thursday Drops: Mnemosyne A4 Notebooks, Midori Multi-Year Diaries Back in Stock!

I had hoped that a few of these restocks would arrive before the San Francisco Pen Show, but as it turned out, I wouldn’t have been able to fit much into my already-overweight bags anyway! We once again have Mnemosyne spiral-bound notebooks in A4 size, as well as B5 and A5, in most rulings. Also, Midori 10, 5, and 3-Year Diaries are available. Several new shop arrivals are queued up for later this week or early next, including the new TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue with Bronze Trim that’s now available for pre-order. Happy shopping!

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TWSBI’s latest ECO release features bronze trim.

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

1. Maruman Mnemosyne Spiral Bound Notebooks. Stocked in A4, A5, and some B6, Mnemosyne spiral notebooks are among the best out there in terms of fountain pen friendliness. The pages are perforated, which is a huge plus for me personally.

2. Midori MD 10-year, 5-year, and 3-Year Diaries. These excellent hardbound multi-year diaries allow you to view easily view your prior-year’s entries. As you record the events of the day or previous day, you can review what you were doing on the same day as far back as 10 years ago.

3. Laconic Tokyo A5 Notebooks. These slim softcover A5 notebooks come in an array of specialized layouts, ranging from calendar formats to oddball (yet versatile!) rulings such as “Spreadsheet” and “Gantt Chart”. These notebooks will fit standard A5-sized notebook covers such as the Lochby Field Journal.

4. Traveler’s Company Notebook Covers and Refills. We have Standard-sized Traveler’s Notebook Covers back in stock in nearly all colors, including the newly released Olive. Specialty Paper refills such as Lightweight (Tomoe River), Sticker Release, Watercolor, and Sketch are also available.

5. Nakabayashi Notebooks. We’ve gone all-in on Nakabayashi’s excellent paper, including the Logical Prime, Logical Air, and the Yu-Sari variants, all of which handle ink beautifully and feature unique rulings. Their lined ruling is reminiscent of French-Ruled (Seyes) paper!

2023 San Francisco Pen Show Recap: Could It Get Even Bigger Than D.C.?

Apparently it can get really darn close. If you read my recap of the 2023 D.C. Pen Show, I described it as the biggest pen show I’ve ever attended, both in terms of number of vendors and number of attendees. While I don’t think this year’s San Francisco Pen Show ended up being larger than D.C., it was extremely well-attended and, as always, featured a unique selection of vendors different from any other show.

A Wide Range of Worldwide Vendors, Especially from Japan

The San Francisco Pen Show features more Japanese vendors than any other U.S. pen show, and probably any other worldwide pen show other than the Tokyo International Pen Show. Attendees included Urushi Studio Bokumondoh, Bungubox, Cute Things from Japan, Toyooka Craft, Stylo-Art, Eboya, and Nagasawa Stationery, among others. Many people remarked that this show was much more heavily focused on paper, washi, stamps, and other stationery goods than most pen shows, which is a bit of a welcome change and certainly made the show unique. (There are some crazy haul spreads being posted on Instagram!) San Francisco is also an excellent opportunity to attend workshops, classes, and free seminars, with a robust list of offerings that I had the chance to sample last year.

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An early morning view down the hallway outside the main ballroom, which included Vanness Pens, Schon DSGN, Bungubox and more!

Dozens of U.S. vendors and makers were also in attendance at San Francisco, including Vanness Pens, Enigma Stationery, and more. Vanness re-released their collaboration with Rickshaw Bagworks and Leigh Reyes (I picked up a pen roll and a Sinclair), and Distributor Luxury Brands USA hosted the master engraver of Waldmann at their table, who spent the weekend engraving custom Xetra Vienna fountain pens in a fascinating demonstration of skill.

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In addition to the Musubi Notebooks, I picked up samples of Neue Gray paper, which as far as I know is a new product out of Japan that was selling organizer refills in A5 and Bible sizes.

Of course, Atelier Musubi also set up around the corner from us, and brought both a new series of pocket notebooks featuring Spica Bond paper, as well as their new in-house “Rasa” paper. I have samples, and will offer my thoughts as soon as I’ve had an opportunity to test them out.

The SF Pen Show Continues to Be a Well-Run Event

The hallmark of the San Francisco Pen Show is that it’s incredibly well-organized. The cost of an expensive city adds to the difficulty in pulling off a show like this one, requiring periodic adjustments such as this year’s hotel change, but the show experience itself didn’t suffer. While I slightly preferred the old location (I think the space was a touch nicer), and the after-hours scene initially felt a bit scattered with attendees split between two hotels, by Saturday night people seem to have found their crowds and by all accounts the auction and live recording of the Stationery Cafe podcast were both well-attended.

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Our table setup this year!

Views from Behind the T.G.S. Table

I enjoyed visiting with everyone who stopped by the T.G.S. table! I understand that we were somewhat difficult to find, especially when the show was shoulder-to-shoulder crowded on Friday afternoon and most of the day on Saturday. The fun thing about exhibiting in both D.C. and San Francisco is the fact that attendees are interested in wildly different things - best sellers from San Francisco included Anterique Pens, Penwells (we have two left!), TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pens, Lamy 2000 Multi Pens, and the Lamy Pico, as opposed to Lochby cases in D.C. I was thrilled to bring mostly empty suitcases home with me.

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The last remaining pen from the T.G.S. x Hinze Pens collaboration, including our last remaining bottle of Summer Sangria ink. While this pen currently features a black 1.1mm stub, I have a few different nib options still available. Message me if you’re interested.

I have mixed feelings about having a table at pen shows. While it offers a central location for people to come find you, and it can be nice to have some respite from the crowds (as well as a way to pay for the cost of attendance), I miss the exploration, the ability to visit with other exhibitors, and the opportunity to learn about new and upcoming products that I can in turn use to create content and pass on knowledge to readers. (This also helps me to make more informed decisions about what to stock in the shop.) While I’ve enjoyed exhibiting at a handful of shows this year, next pen show season may have a more balanced approach, with T.G.S. tables at a few shows, classes and after-hours events at others, and a few I attend for fun.

I picked up pen No. 40/50 from the Kyuseido table, opting for the PVD Black Titanium finish.

My Pen Show Haul

As noted, I sadly didn’t have much time to explore the show until Sunday afternoon when I managed to run by the Kyuseido, Gravitas Pens, Neue Gray, and Bungubox tables. For someone who “didn’t have much time to shop,” I still managed to do a lot of damage, and it sort of scares me to think what might have happened if I had a full three days to roam! My pickups from this show included:

• Kyuseido Tokyo Pump Piston Filler with Sankakusen (Kodachi/Naginata-style) nib. Kyuseido Tokyo is the relatively new company started by C.Y. of Tokyo Inklings, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on this unique pen, which features a filling system similar to a syringe filler / “bulk filler” mechanism.

• Gravitas Pens “Ultemate” Vac-filler. I’ve been wanting to pick up a Gravitas Vac for some time, in polished Ultem. I opted for a steel extra-fine nib and it writes very well.

• Schon DSGN Fine Monoc. The fine version of Schon DSGN’s in-house Monoc nib debuted in D.C., and offers a different writing experience from the medium version. Not only does it offer a finer tip size, but the inverse writes like an architect. Ian continues to amaze me with his creations!

• Micarta from Skogsy Pens. I’ve been on an Micarta pen kick recently, and I had to be quick to grab one of the last three from Zach and Amy’s table on Saturday morning! (Yes, they went that fast. The San Francisco Pen Show is known for having a very active Friday crowd. If you want the rarer stuff, buy a weekend pass and be sure to line up Friday morning!)

• Enigma Stationery Special Edition #3. Dan and I swapped Hinze Pens at the show, and I was happy to provide him with one of the T.G.S. Special Editions in exchange for one of these gorgeous pens in a house-made Enigma blank.

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My first show acquisition came on Saturday morning, with this Black Micarta pen from Skogsy Pens!

A Note to Vendors and Attendees: As Pen Show Attendance Grows, Thefts Are More Common

Unfortunately, there has been at least one major theft at nearly all of the bigger pen shows over the last couple of years, sadly the inevitable result of these shows growing in size and profile. This year in San Francisco, a man was caught stealing several thousand dollars worth of merchandise, ferrying it back and forth between his bag and his car. Fortunately, all stolen merchandise was recovered, but it serves as a reminder to vendors and attendees to pay attention to your bags and personal items. Pen Shows are public events, and you can’t simply assume that everyone there is trustworthy.

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After hours washi tape sharing!

Overall Show Impressions and Takeaways

While many had expressed concern that post-pandemic pen shows would never return to what they were before, dare I say that the last two I’ve attended turned out better than ever? The crowds are unbelievable, and the fact that the pen community continues to grow is a great sign going forward. San Francisco specifically is the pen show to attend if you’re a fan of Japanese pens and stationery, and it could be the next best thing to a trip to Japan itself. See you next year!

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

Return from San Francisco and TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue + Bronze Pre-Orders!

As of (very) late last night, I’m back from the San Francisco Pen Show and, despite the physical tiredness, totally energized from getting to spend time with the members of this wonderful community in person! I will have a full show recap tomorrow or Thursday, and while I didn’t get out from behind my table as much as I would have liked, I still brought home fun stuff to share. More to come. :)

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TWSBI Indigo Blue and Bronze Pre-Orders Are Now Live

Pre-orders for TWSBI’s latest ECO release - the Indigo Blue with Bronze Trim - are live as of August 28, 2023. I expect the pens to arrive later this week, potentially early next, and they will ship as soon as I have them in stock. You can reserve yours now!

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

Sunday Reading for August 27, 2023 (SF Pen Show Edition)

1. Not Science: Comparing Esterbrook’s JJ Lax Scribe Nib to Another Architect (via Line Variation). This is a great post, which demonstrates why you will often have a much better experience having a nib ground in person as opposed to purchasing pre-ground nibs, especially with somewhat more finicky grinds like architects that are highly personal and dependent on things like writing angle.

2. Explorer Pocket Journal by Endless Stationery (via KraftyKats). I’ve yet to “explore” one of the Endless Stationery notebook cover systems. Over the past couple of years, they’ve been in the process of switching over from Tomoe River to their new “Regalia” paper, and I need to get caught up.

3. On Pens and Pensions (via Fountain Pen Blog). How do you put a value on the enjoyment you get from this hobby? It goes far beyond enhancing your productivity and/or collecting for investment.

4. My “Lucky Catches” (via Rachel’s Reflections). I have a couple of these as well - pens that you fortunately happen to acquire or purchase almost by chance, and maybe not realize your good luck until later?

5. Overthinking my Under-Thought Indexing Routine (via mnmlscholar). Now that I’m moving into a new role at my day job and expanding my duties here, I’ll need to overhaul my own planning and journaling system.

6. The Superior Labor - Flap Pen Case (via Scrively). Extremely popular a few years ago, The Superior Labor leather products seem to have dropped a bit in visibility, and I’m glad to see another review. I have one of their leather pen rolls that I really enjoy.

7. Ink of the Week - Yoseka Green (via Fountain Pen Love). Need to get a bottle of this!

8. Watercolor Sets (via Notebook Stories). I’m now collecting links to reviews and articles about adding watercolors as a companion to notebooks and journaling. It’s something that’s always interested me, and I finally plan to take the time to learn more.

9. NY Now and Shoppe Object - Definitely NOT Pen Shows, But Almost? (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Pen shows live in this sort of hybrid world that combines trade shows, conventions (“PenCon”?), and local meetups. There’s definitely a “to the trade” aspect, as retailers and manufacturers set up in part of get visibility with each other while simultaneously using the show to educate enthusiasts about their products, but NY Now and Shoppe Object are strictly distributors-manufacturers-retailers-only. (And they’re a ton of fun.)

10. Tale of a Vandal Pen User: It Came Through the Crack - Part I (via Peaceable Writer). Aurora’s repair service receives high marks!

Our 2023 Table Setup!

In Case You Missed It - This Week on the Blog

I’ve spent this week attending the San Francisco Pen Show, set up as an exhibitor for the first time! Before I left, I reviewed the Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil, the last of the Lamy 2000 range that I had yet to write up. I fly back on Monday, but until then you can read a bit about my first impressions of Friday in San Francisco (it was crazy)!

This Week in the Curated Shop - And a Pen Show Weekend discount

The big news is that Traveler’s Notebook Standard-sized Olive Notebooks are back in stock and will be ready to ship upon my return. Some of our Traveler’s Company products have been backordered, and a restock arrived while I was out. Orders placed during travel will start to ship Monday and Tuesday - If you’d like to see what I brought to San Francisco, check out this particular post! Finally, for those of you who couldn’t attend the show, take 10% off your shop orders using the code PENSHOW10 at checkout! (Certain brands such as TWSBI are excluded).

Pilot Pens

Anderillium

Traveler's Notebooks

Desk Accessories

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in early access and a right of first refusal for the periodic sales, consider T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Everything that didn’t sell to Patreon members, including some older limited edition Baron Fig items and notebooks, is now available for general purchase on the “Gently Used” page, and I recently reduced prices on certain items to continue the clear-out!

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! I’m working on something new - Guests for the monthly meetups! This past week we had J.C. Ament of The Nib Tailor on for a discussion of how he got into nib grinding, how he learned, and his personal favorite techniques.

Pen Show Report: Friday at the San Francisco Pen Show!

Because there are so many special vendors traveling in from around the world to attend the San Francisco International Pen Show - mainly vendors from Japan - Friday morning features the classic rush of early attendees lined up outside the show before the doors open to weekend pass holders at 8 a.m. Big draws at this year’s show include Urushi Studio Bokumondoh, Bungubox, Cute Things from Japan, Toyooka Craft, Stylo-Art, Eboya, and more! Long lines lasted through the morning, though things calmed down a bit mid-afternoon.

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The only shot I managed to get down the Foyer hallway outside the main ballroom!

Given that I’m holding down a table solo this weekend, I didn’t have much of a chance to scope out what other people were selling. (Hopefully there will be some stuff left on Sunday afternoon, but after D.C., my wallet won’t complain if that doesn’t pan out.) Please come by the table today! I’m located between Enigma Stationery (Source of the Cinnamon Roll plushy procured for daughter) and Vanness Pens! We have plenty of stuff still available, given that I brought two massive suitcases full of stuff after I ran out in D.C., though we are out of or running low on certain colors of Lochby cases and Anterique pens. Be sure to hit us up early if there’s something specific that you have your heart set on!

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My sole purchase yesterday. :)