Thursday Drops: Inkvent Starts Tomorrow! Plus a Few Remaining Holiday Markdowns

Tomorrow is Inkvent, so you can guess what I’ll be doing today! We have a couple of Inkvent Calendars remaining from our allocation, so if you’d like to play along this December, now’s the time! Other colorful gift items include the new Caran d’Ache Keith Haring series, the Caran d’Ache “Colormat-X” set of new matte-textured 849 ballpoints, and the “Kaweco Collection” Kaweco Sport fountain pens! Finally, we recently received a restock of Write Notepads items, including the popular writing pads and the Classic Hardcover Notebooks.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Update: As of this evening, we received our shipment of Kaweco Art Sport Fountain Pens, in four unique Italian resins!

Just a reminder that in order to ensure domestic U.S. delivery by December 25, it’s important to get your orders in within the next two weeks. For Holiday gift ideas, check out the 2023 edition of the T.G.S. Holiday Gift Guide! Also remember that we offer a gift card option.

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

1. Diamine Inkvent Calendar. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be opening doors 1-25 of the 2023 Inkvent Calendar, and swatching a 12ml sample of ink up until December 25 (where we open the 30ml bottle). Want to play along? Pick up an Inkvent Calendar. It will probably have you set on ink for the year.

2. Caran d’Ache Keith Haring 849 Ballpoint Pens. These collaborations with the estate of pop artist Keith Haring (whose artwork was featured on the “Very Special Christmas” album covers back in the late 1980s, early 1990s) would make an awesome gift for art fans, as well as for those who just enjoy a cool design on the 849. While the black pen is my favorite, the red is probably more classically Haring?

3. Caran d’Ache Keith Haring Colour Set. This set of 10 special edition water-soluble colored pencils also comes with a Fibralo brush pen. The pencils are engraved with Keith Haring’s signature. Pair this with the Colour Pad for a great gift idea!

4. Caran d’Ache Keith Haring Colour Pad. This A5 pad features 20 different Keith Haring drawings that you can color in to add your own twist on the original artwork.

5. Write Notepads Classic Hardcover Notebooks. A hardcover journal makes an excellent gift for pretty much anyone interested in reading and writing. These Write Notepads look great on a shelf once finished, and come in either lined or dot grid paper. Blue, grey, and cranberry (dark red) color options available.

6. Camel HB Pencils in Natural Wood Lacquer. Camel Pencil from Japan makes some of my favorite woodcase pencils on the market. The HB graphite is dark and smooth for an HB core, and these sharpen extremely well.

7. Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Edition No. 4 Swiss Wood Pencil Set. We still have a handful of these Caran d’Ache x Nespresso pencil sets from last year, as well as the standard Swiss Wood Pencil Set that includes a sharpener and eraser.

8. M+R Brass Pencil Sharpeners. Camel pencils serve as an excellent platform for the M+R brass sharpeners, including the long point Castor & Pollux sharpeners.

9. Lamy Pico Pocket Ballpoint Pens. The Pico is up there as one of my favorite all-around pocket ballpoint pens, and we have a fresh shipment ready to go. I’ve given these as stocking stuffers for years and people have enjoyed them - even “non-pen” people.

10. Laban Greek Mythology Ink Series. This is a bit of a random addition, but if you’re looking for a gift for a fountain pen person and don’t feel comfortable with a pen, this epic ink series based on 10 different ancient Greek gods and goddesses

Personal Collections: The Three Most Worn Stationery Items in Regular Rotation

I’ve been doing some pruning and sorting lately, as I often decide towards the end of the year what stationery items and other “gear” I will keep in rotation, and what I plan to move on from. Given the nature of what I do, I cycle through stuff often, and the items that truly get “used” to the point where they show signs of significant wear are few and far between. That said, three particular items jumped out at me, and none of them are fountain pens.

View fullsize

1. Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, San Francisco Pen Show 2022 Limited Edition in Olive Green. I pre-ordered this pen at the same show where I purchased the Plotter Mini-5, and once it arrived a few months later, I clipped it directly to the pen slot in the Plotter and it’s been in my pocket ever since. The “bullet pencil” has never really caught on with me, mainly due to having to carry a hand sharpener, but this pocket ballpoint uses the same convenient format with an excellent needle-tip refill. I do wish that Traveler’s made the color versions part of their regular lineup, but the standard brass develops a warm patina with age.

2. Lamy 2000 Ballpoint, “W. Germany” Edition. Ok, so this one may be cheating a bit, as it had some history on it when I bought it, but my early 1980s-era Lamy 2000 ballpoint pen showcases what the black Makrolon Lamy 2000 can look like after decades of regular use. The grooves are more or less worn completely smooth, lending the pen a shinier appearance, but the knock still functions with a solid click and this one remains a workhorse. For those looking for a sharp gift for a non-fountain pen user - particularly someone who might work in a stuffy office and therefore prefers something fun yet understated - the standard pens and mechanical pencils in the Lamy 2000 line are excellent options and will last a very long time.

3. Plotter Mini-5 Binder/Wallet. Believe it or not, this used to be grey leather. Compare the photo shown at the top with the photo below, taken immediately after I purchased it. All of the grey leather products I’ve owned over the years transition to a greyish brown, which may or may not be your preference but I enjoy the patina. This Plotter Mini has gone in my pocket nearly every day, and in addition to serving as my emergency notebook, I use the card holder for my work access pass and a couple of credit cards.

View fullsize

What’s your most “well-loved” stationery item? I’m interested to hear different stories, as everyone’s daily users vary depending on individual needs and preferences.

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 third-party affiliate links or paid advertising.

T.G.S. Cyber Monday! Last Chance for the "GIVETHANKS23" Promotion!

Happy Cyber Monday everyone! While I enjoy the hype and excitement (as much as anyone can), I’ll certainly be ready to get back to the “normal level of craziness” of the holiday season. Just a reminder that the “GIVETHANKS23” promotion will expire today at 11:59pm US Central Time. The other promotions will run through Friday, December 1!

• Take 10% off most brands using the coupon code “GIVETHANKS23” at Checkout. Brands including TWSBI, Roterfaden, and Allex are excluded.

• Automatic 15% off at checkout for brands including Nahvalur, WMS & Co., and Mazzuoli. No coupon code necessary. (Through Friday, 12/1)

• Starting today, Traveler’s Notebook 2024 Standard and Passport Diary Refills have been marked down, and this price reduction can be combined with the “GIVETHANKS23” coupon code. (Traveler’s Company 2024 Diary Markdowns will run through the end of the year.)

I’m also in the process of getting ready for Inkvent 2023! For those who haven’t yet picked up a Diamine Inkvent Calendar, there are only a couple remaining. It’s a great way to use your Cyber Week Discount!

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

Sunday Reading for November 26, 2023: Cyber Week Edition

1. 10 Things I’m Grateful For, the Fountain Pen Edition (via a Gathering of Curiosities). I’m thankful we have posts like this one.

2. Using an A4 Organizer on a Daily Basis (via Philofaxy). Sure, it takes a bit more planning and slightly more complicated logistics to carry every day, but count me a fan of the A4 organizer.

3. 2023 Hannukah Gift Guide (via Penquisition). Looking for Hannukah gifts? Start here! (And check out Evan’s new Benu collaboration!)

4. Plotter Alternatives (via Rachel’s Reflections). Interested in a binder system like Plotter, but don’t want leather, want a slightly thicker binder, etc.? Here’s a comprehensive series.

5. Splitting the Difference (via mnmlscholar). Part of the fun with inks is finding one equally suited for work and fun.

6. Best Sale - FPD v Black Friday v Boxing Day (via Dapprman). This is an interesting post from a UK perspective. Here in the U.S., what I’ve noticed is that many larger retailers are simply running sales for the entire month of November.

7. Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Sketchers (via Writing at Large). This is an interesting new twist on the gift guide, from a different perspective!

8. Cleaning Tips That Will Help Keep Your Fountain Pens Writing Great (via Fountain Pen Love). It’s almost time for the great year-end fountain pen cleanout! I’m slowing the pace at which I’m inking pens, in the hopes of starting fresh on 1/1/24.

9. Reflections on Some Currently Inked Pens (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). The TWSBI Classic is the one TWSBI I’ve never tried, believe it or not….

10. Find Those Black Friday Deals! (via Well-Appointed Desk). Yes, go ahead and get that pen you’ve been eyeing, but remember to support smaller retailers as well.

View fullsize

Three years’ worth of Camel Pencils from my personal collection

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I reviewed one of my favorite woodcase pencils of all time, the Camel HB Pencil. I also wrote the first post in a contemplated series: “From the T.G.S. Mailbag,” in which I answer three frequently asked questions that I receive from readers.

View fullsize

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

Through tomorrow, take 10% off your orders with the coupon code “GIVETHANKS23” at checkout! There are also markdowns throughout the store, including automatically applied 15% discounts on certain items. You can see the details here, including any exclusions.

We’ve recently added Allex Scissors and Camel Pencils to the shop, which are two of my favorite all-around stationery products. We also have special editions from Caran d’Ache, a Write Notepads restock and more!

Allex Scissors

TWSBI

Book Darts

Anterique

How to Support TGS!

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), there are several ways that you can support us. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop, especially during the upcoming holiday season! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes early access to quarterly gently used sales. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

TGS Responds: Questions from the TGS Mailbag!

So I had grand ambitions to finish a couple of reviews in-progress this weekend, but the combination of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, shipping, etc. didn’t leave me enough time for the photography stage. So, I decided instead to jump-start a project that I’ve been wanting to do for some time: answer questions I receive via e-mail, DM, etc.

I do get a lot of mail, and unfortunately there just aren’t enough hours in the day for prompt responses. I try to get back to everyone eventually, but as the readership grows logistically it may not be possible to do personalized responses (though please do know that I read everything that comes my way). I figured a happy medium might be to take some of the more common or interesting questions and publish the responses in a new series of posts. Enjoy the first three!

View fullsize

From artisanal correspondence cards to a simple A5 or A4 writing pad, there are many different options for letter writing.

Question 1: What is the best paper for written correspondence, such as letter writing?

I get this question at least twice a week. It’s by far the most frequently asked, and to answer categorically, since people respond to letters in different ways. For example, some people love to adorn their letters with calligraphy, ink washes, mixed media, etc. - which necessarily requires thicker art paper - and some people simply like to respond to letters with postcards, especially if they receive a lot of mail and can’t respond at length to everybody.

That said, generally speaking, I offer three specific recommendations. For standard A4/A5 writing paper, the gold standard is Clairefontaine Triomphe, which is bright white, fountain pen friendly and showcases ink well. It’s also fairly inexpensive. Fans of laid paper enjoy both G. Lalo and Original Crown Mill, both of which are excellent though I’d recommend trying textured paper once or twice before stocking up, as it can be an acquired taste. For something special, check out the lightweight onionskin Life Airmail Paper. Of course any quality paper works for writing letters - you don’t need to limit yourself to “letter writing paper” - but these are good options specifically advertised by their manufacturer for that purpose.

View fullsize

Question 2: Where is the best place to sell used pens?

This is a question I get all the time, but is another hard one. Certain resellers (Peyton Street Pens and Chatterly Luxuries are two that come to mind) sometimes purchase secondhand pens for trade or resale, but given that retailers need to maintain a margin, you will nearly always get less money selling to a dealer or retailer than by selling to an end-user directly online. Whenever I look to offload pens, I first try to sell directly to friends and acquaintances at pen shows or my local pen club (so they can see the pens in person), but barring that I use direct channels such as the Pen Addict Slack Group, my Patreon, and the Gently Used page here. In the past, I have sold via forums such as FPGeeks and Fountain Pen Network, but it’s been years and can’t vouch for them as current options. Many people use r/pen_swap on Reddit and/or Discord Channels, but I have no personal experience.

View fullsize

I still have a LOT of “old” Tomoe River Paper, shown here in my Nanami Paper Cafe Note

Question 3: Which notebooks still use “old” Tomoe River Paper?

Right now, it’s safest to assume that nearly all notebooks being sold are the new Sanzen Tomoe River paper unless expressly stated otherwise by the seller in a product listing. While I’ve heard that the 68gsm paper currently on the market is “old” paper (i.e. non-Sanzen), I’ve also heard rumors that there is a “new” 68gsm paper being made. Most makers don’t specify because they either have mixed stock or don’t want to create expectations when they can’t be guaranteed a supply of the old paper going forward.

Submit Your Questions to TGS!

I’ll plan to do this periodically, and keep a running list of questions that might make for interesting responses. You can submit questions through the “Contact” link on the header, which is by far the easiest way for me to keep track. While I do read and sometimes respond to comments, those get buried and are hard to manage, especially recent comments to posts published years ago.

Note: All Thanksgiving Weekend Specials run through Monday, November 27 at 11:59pm. Many thanks to everyone who has supported us so far this 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.