Year-End Review, Part III: 2023 Best Sellers from the T.G.S. Curated Shop

This post is always the easiest year-end post to do because it’s straight-up math. For me there were also very few surprises: the items I thought would do the best were actually our top sellers, and I probably could’ve named the Anterique ballpoints and Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 pens off the top of my head. What surprised me somewhat was the popularity of the Lamy 2000, as well as how many Roterfaden organizers we’ve sold in so short a period of time. Stay tuned as we’ve already started on the buying for 2024. We also have several new arrivals from the past couple of weeks, including Profolio Notebooks, a Nakabayashi restock, and a fresh round of Caran d’Ache pencils!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of all brands sold. Check out the rest of our Year-End Review content, including Part I (Favorite New Acquisitions from 2023) and Part II (Favorite Products Reviewed in 2023).

1. Anterique Ballpoint Pens. This one came as no surprise to me, given how many different variations we carry and how well these vintage-style ballpoints write. My brass pen in Pearl Grey is always with me, and I have multiples of the standard pens and mechanical pencils scattered around my various workstations.

2. Laconic Bookmarkers. I’m continuing to look to resource the full range of the bookmarkers, because they ended up being insanely popular (as expected). For now, I’ve managed to get three or four of them in regular stock.

3. Midori MD Cotton Paper. Apparently my favorite all-around paper for fountain pens is also yours. Midori MD Cotton Paper handles ink well and comes in several formats, including writing pads, notebooks, letter pads, and at least for now, even a “B-Sides and Rarities” Traveler’s Company refill.

4. Lochby Field Journals and Refills. For those looking for a non-leather A5 notebook cover option, the Lochby Field Journal remains extremely popular, and the A5 refills continue to feature 68gsm Tomoe River Paper.

5. Hightide Sandglasses. A TGS Classic! The 30 and 15-minute increments remain the most popular iterations of Hightide’s analog timing device. For more information on how I use these and how you can incorporate them into your routine, I refer people to this post.

6. Lamy 2000 Pens. All of the various iterations of the Lamy 2000 (and recently, the Lamy Studio) have sold well, probably because it’s one of the best workhorse pens out there. Unassuming, reliable and with a timeless design, you can’t really go wrong with a Lamy 2000.

7. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Organizers. Honestly, these would probably be No. 1 on the list if we could keep them in stock. We have a restock order in the works, and hopefully it will arrive in time for the New Year. We currently have a couple of A5 and A6 covers in stock, in limited color options.

8. Traveler’s Notebook Standard Size Starter Kit. We recently restocked on the standard size Traveler’s Notebook in all colors except the recently released Olive version. Now is a great time to pick up a Traveler’s Notebook, especially if you plan to use it as your 2024 Calendar, as our dated Calendar refills are marked down.

9. Caran d’Ache 849 Paul Smith Special Edition. The fourth collaboration between Caran d’Ache and designer Paul Smith tops our Caran d’Ache sales list for the year, as these editions always do when they are released. We recently received a shipment of the British Racing Green version, which is by far the most popular though all the colors are excellent.

10. Caran d’Ache Infinite 888. One of the great unsung heroes of the pen world, the sturdy and inexpensive Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 features a standard ballpoint refill (the Swissride) that in my opinion rivals the Goliath. Now if they would only bring back the mechanical pencil…

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Year-End Review, Part II: Five Favorite Products Reviewed in 2023

As with my favorite acquisitions, my favorite reviews from 2023 leaned heavily towards small-batch and independent makers, and also reflected my efforts to branch out a bit and explore different aspects of the stationery world beyond the “workhorse” or “daily driver” pens, ink, and paper that have formed the core of my review content in the past. While people may be tired of hearing about the Schon DSGN Monoc :), there’s no denying that it’s one of the more influential and talked-about pens to have been released (and expanded upon) over the past year. Moreover, Toyooka Craft has cultivated a significant presence at U.S. pen shows, bringing their expansive range of accessories for attendees to peruse in person (and in my case, take home). I’ll talk a bit more later this month about my intentions for 2024 and how I plan to approach content in the New Year!

1. Schon DSGN Full-Sized Fountain Pen and Monoc Nib First Impressions. The Monoc nib, developed entirely in-house by Ian Schon and his team, might be the most talked about piece of stationery in 2023 (at least in the fountain pen world). I’ve enjoyed writing with my Monoc(s) throughout the past year and exploring the intricacies of this unique nib and feed system. I know it was linked in my “Five Favorites” installment from Saturday, but the follow-on review of the fine-nib Monoc fountain pen can be found here.

2. Pen Trays and Accessories: Toyooka Craft and the Beauty of Simplicity. I didn’t acquire that many pens in 2023. Instead, I focused on accessories and those things which enhance my enjoyment of the pens I already own. As items I interact with every day, my Toyooka Craft pen trays easily make the list of favorite discoveries, and I look forward to reviewing additional Toyooka Craft products in 2024.

3. The Cortex Brand Sidekick Notepad: Hype or Innovation? A Bit of Both. The Cortex Brand Sidekick Notepad straddles the online stationery and digital productivity communities, and it’s been interesting to see this product take off in popularity. I’ve enjoyed using mine - it’s a very well-thought-out product and I’m excited to review Cortex Brand’s expanded lineup as they’ve recently announced a new calendar version of the Sidekick that’s currently available.

4. TWSBI Precision Ballpoints and Mechanical Pencils. In addition to reviewing new products, I delved into the “new to me” category. The TWSBI Precision lineup of ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils has been around for years, but for whatever reason I stuck to TWSBI’s fountain pens. That’s a shame, because the Precision line is an excellent take on technical pens and pencils. I even added the Precision fountain pen, which shares the name but sports a slightly different design, and I plan to write about that in the future.

5. The Good Blue R615 “Titanium Blue” Vanness Exclusive Edition Fountain Pen. While people have had mixed results with the Good Blue pens, I’ve enjoyed using both their flex and “Zoom!” nibs. This review was more about breaking out of my own comfort zone than it was about the pen itself - I’ve traditionally shied away from flex nibs as “impractical”, but lately I’ve incorporated them into regular use. They’ve allowed me to enjoy different types of ink, and have also encouraged me to slow down and focus on improving my cursive handwriting.

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Each year in December I recap the prior year, including favorite acquisitions, favorite products I reviewed, and more. Stay tuned throughout the next two weeks for additional recap content.

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

New Arrivals: Profolio Oasis Notebooks and New Field Notes!

I have a thing for offbeat notebook rulings, especially things like Clairefontaine’s “Seyes-ruled” paper, the Nakabayashi “Logical” series, and now, the Profolio “Oasis” series. Available in three different sizes (B5, A5, and A6) and five different colors (Charcoal, Avocado, Wintergreen, Brick, and Sky), Profolio notebooks feature fountain pen-friendly paper and sit at a reasonable price point. They have a similar multi-lined/dot combination ruling similar to Nakabayashi, and the sewn binding allow for the notebooks to lie flat. These are available now, priced from $9.99 to $15.99.

Just (barely) in time for the holidays, we also received a restock of most Field Notes editions, including several of the new(er) limited editions and the full range of the National Parks series. Be sure to check these out as they make for excellent stocking stuffers and versatile options for gift-exchange parties.

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Consider combining the new Field Notes “Streetscapes” edition with one of the limited edition Keith Haring x Caran d’Ache Colour Sets!

We will continue to ship right up until December 23, and are still offering pickup in the Nashville, Tennessee area for last-minute shopping. The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

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Sunday Reading for December 17, 2023

1. Year in Review: 2023 Stationery Highlights (via a Gathering of Curiosities). There’s less than two weeks left in 2023, meaning…it’s time for year-end review pieces! I love seeing how everyone spent their year, whether that means acquiring, consolidating, or a bit of both.

2. My 2023 Brand “Discoveries” (via Rachel’s Reflections). The number of new brands constantly emerging in the pen industry, especially independent makers, never ceases to amaze me. 2024 was a great year.

3. Sailor x Nagasawa Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue - A Tale in Three Acts (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Interested in how the three versions of this pen compare? Check out this review.

4. Diamine Inkvent 2023, Day 14: Rainbow’s End (via Cheryl Lindo-Jones). Even though I’m doing my own Inkvent this year, I’m still following along with others working their way through Diamine’s annual set. Rainbow’s End (I insist on inserting the apostrophe) is one of my favorites from last week.

5. Like I Thought I Was Going to be a Famous Artist (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Out of all the toxic mindsets that emerged from the 1990s (and possibly other eras, but speaking personally here), the worst was parents/teachers/others telling their kids that “if you’re not immediately really good, and if it’s not going to make you rich or famous, you shouldn’t waste your time doing it”. Applicable to art and other things, and I suspect it’s a big reason why many of us are coming back to pens/inks/art supplies/journaling/[insert here] relatively late in life.

6. The Golden Rules of How to Use the Philofaxy Diary Inserts (via Philofaxy). Make your own Filofax (or Plotter) diary refills? A brilliant idea if you find yourself needing a non-standard layout.

7. Aurora 88 Blue Mamba Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). Lots of people love the Aurora 88 “Mamba” series. I personally don’t have a thing for textured barrels, but these do look stunning in person.

8. Quality Urushi for Under $400? The Ensso Piuma Urushi (via Figboot on Pens). Urushi lacquer at a sub-$500 price point is rare due to the time needed for proper application.

9. Diplomat Elox (via Scrively). A Diplomat Aero, but at a higher price point. I like the looks of the Elox but Aeros have never stuck in my collection for some reason.

10. M205 Rose Quartz (2023) (via Pelikan’s Perch). I had the opportunity to see one of these at pen club yesterday. I know it’s controversial, but I love the white finial.

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Has anyone else noticed that shimmer inks are getting better these days? Not just better-looking, but more consistent in how they behave in terms of bleedthrough and dry times?

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I published another installment of my “Ask TGS/TGS Responds” series of posts, which I will likely incorporate into a larger FAQ resource for the site at some point. This one looked at shimmer inks and best practices for getting the best writing experience out of these and other specialty, higher-maintenance inks in general. I also published the first installment of this year’s Year-End Review, in which I take a look at five favorite acquisitions of 2023. If you’re interested in following along on this week’s Inkvent journey (where I open up the 2023 Inkvent Calendar), check out the YouTube Channel! Currently the channel is focusing on Shorts where I swatch the various Inkvent inks, but I have some longer videos in the works once I get through December. There’s also a lot of back content that I’ve made as I grow the channel.

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We just received another shipment of the special release Fixpencil “Creative Nomad” sets, designed with Swiss lettering artist Rylsee!

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

Holiday shipping is still underway, and we’ve managed to stick with a 2-business day turnaround time for most orders. Since we’re about a week out from Christmas, the timeliness of any delivery is in the hands of the carrier and strongly dependent on things like weather, distance, etc. If you’d like to arrange for overnight or expedited delivery of any packages, please reach out separately via the “Contact” link on the site, and for Nashville, Tennessee-area folks, we do local pickup and delivery!

This week we received a restock of Caran d’Ache items, including the Rylsee Fixpencil Limited Edition lettering sets, additional 849 Colormat ballpoints, and more. We also are fully stocked on most Traveler’s Company and Midori MD products, in preparation for the pre-New Years last-minute planner rush that I know is coming!

Caran d'Ache

TWSBI

Craighill

Penco

Support T.G.S. and Get the Rest of our Inkvent Content via Patreon!

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. This month, Patreon supporters have access to additional Inkvent content, including commentary on my favorite Diamine Inkvent inks and more. The first of these Inkvent posts is public, so please check out Patreon to learn more!

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Year-End Review, Part I: Five Favorite Acquisitions of 2023

Every year towards the end of December I take some time to reflect on some of my favorite content from the previous year, as well as on favorite new acquisitions. Today I’ll start out by mentioning five of my favorite pick-ups from 2023, which includes four pens and one paper product/organizer. These are in no particular order - I review and acquire a fair bit of stuff throughout the year, all of it different, so it’s nearly impossible to do a fair ranking beyond a “Top 5”. Enjoy!

1. Schon DSGN Monoc (Fine Nib). One of two big purchases from this year’s San Francisco Pen Show, the fine-tip Monoc features an architect-like grind on the reverse side, making it an extremely versatile writer (in addition to being a stunning visual piece, especially with the anodization).

2. Kyuseido Kakari Fountain Pen. Kyuseido’s take on the syringe filler, designed in partnership with Ben Walsh at Gravitas Pens, has been perpetually inked since San Francisco. Yes, San Francisco was an expensive show for me. And yes, I have a review of the Kakari in the works. It’s a somewhat complex review to write of a very specialized pen, but if you love highly engineered filling systems you will enjoy this one.

3. Montblanc 149, Studio Bokumondoh Edition. Earlier this summer I sent my plain black Montblanc 149 to Tokyo for an urushi treatment at Studio Bokumondoh, and received it back around two weeks after returning from San Francisco. (Did I mention August/September hurt my bank account?) I will likewise plan to write up this one in the coming year, with more details on the design, etc. The link is to my original review of the 149.

4. Kaweco Art Sport in “Terrazzo” Acrylic. I was thrilled to see this year’s Art Sport fountain pen released with the same integrated clip from the older (and now discontinued) “Sport Luxe” collection. While I enjoy all four colors, The Terrazzo and Hickory Brown spoke to me the most, and I added these two to my personal collection alongside my original Navy Blue Art Sport from several years ago.

5. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter A4 Portfolio. I’ve had an A5-sized Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter for years, but I’ve always wanted a larger portfolio that can hold both an A4 or letter-sized pad as well as an A4 notebook. This has been an excellent solution. While we are mostly sold out of the larger Taschenbegleiters at the moment, we plan to bring them back and restock around the end of the month.

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Stay tuned for more Year-in-Review content! I’ll be doing favorite my 5 favorite reviews from 2023 next week.

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