Sunday Reading for May 12, 2024

1. 2024 Chicago Pen Show - Not My Usual Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). It was fun attending this show solely as an attendee with no table to mind. As Kimberly points out, this show would benefit from a different hotel.

2. Thinking More on Binders (via Stationery Pizza). I love binder systems, and I’ve been exploring just how many different binder systems there are out there. (It’s quite a large number!).

3. Pineider Milano Leather Notebook (via Blake’s Broadcast). As a stationer who has traditionally specialized in paper for written correspondence, it’s extremely interesting to see Pineider make a leatherbound notebook.

4. Dominant Industry Leaf Green (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Dominant industry makes some exceptionally good dark green inks. This one is a favorite, along with the “Autumn Forest” dark green shimmer ink.

5. Scriveiner Brushed Copper EDC Pen (via Dapprman). Scriveiner has been blitzing reviewers lately with samples of their pens, and honestly, it may be working in expanding the brand’s reputation beyond “Amazon Pen”. The handful of pens I received for review have been quite nice.

6. Doodling with Fountain Pens: Circles Pattern (via Fountain Pen Love). Though I’m not a doodler, I love to watch people create these patters and show off their ink. Full pages of these doodles are gorgeous to see at shows.

7. Desiderata Pens Dumka Review (via SBRE Brown). Pierre has a new model out, and I was able to see some of his ebonite creations at the Chicago Show!

8. Lamy Violet Blackberry (via Mountain of Ink). Somewhat overshadowed by the release of Lamy Dark Lilac was this year’s sleeper hit, Violet Blackberry. This one is more of an eggplant and a nice shade of purple with sheen that doesn’t smear!

9. Lamy AL-Star Aquatic Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict - Jeff). Lamy did a great job on this year’s releases across the board. Even with their seeming fixation on blue AL-Star releases that explorer every possible shade of turquoise known to humankind, they somehow manage to make it work.

10. Ink 100: Part 5 The Final Reveal (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you’re looking for the conclusion of Ana’s “Ink 100” project, here it is!

In Case You Missed It….

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The Uni Jetstream: What’s in your multi pen?

This week I reviewed a favorite workhorse multi pen, the Uni Jetstream 4&1, which they are now making with bamboo and reclaimed wood grips! The Uni Jetstream is, to me, the quintessential multi pen refill, and a pen built around that ink formulation needs no further modification. I also did a fresh “Ask TGS” post in response to a few conversations I’ve had at the Arkansas and Chicago Pen Shows, in which people have told me that they felt overwhelmed by paper choice when putting together a notebook system for the first time. Yesterday’s post discusses three “starter” paper recommendations for refills that work well with most pens and fountain pen inks.

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

The latest Blackwing Volumes (Volume 710 “Jerry Garcia” - with a soft core!) is here, along with new colors of the one step handheld sharpener, as well as the larger handheld erasers and pencil extenders. We also have the full range of Tom’s Studio fountain pen inks that have been added to the shop, as well as restocks on the Lumos Fineliners.

Finally, the big news is that we have the Tom’s Studio Architect nibs back in stock, along with Pro Flex and Cursive Italic! These fit the Tom’s Studio fountain pens and are sold as a separate nib unit.

Blackwing

Uni Mitsubishi

Slidenote A4 Covers

Patalino Stationery Cases

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Ask TGS: Where Do I Start with Paper for Notebook Systems?

I'm regularly asked: "How do I get started?" The sheer number of different brands of paper and notebooks now available on the market can be overwhelming to those new to the world of high-end and imported stationery. Lately, it's become one of the more common questions I receive, especially at pen shows from those interested in building out a planner or notebook system but not knowing where to begin.

Any paper recommendation depends heavily on intended use, but in my experience most new users (and most everyday writers in general) are looking for a versatile, multi-purpose paper that they can use with a fairly broad range of writing instruments and, in the case of fountain pens, different inks. Most people want the ability to use their notebooks both at work and for fun. Given that, I try to direct people to paper that balances "ink-friendliness" with reasonable dry times. There are plenty of paper options out there that fall into this category, and which are relatively inexpensive to boot, so it shouldn't be cost-prohibitive to experiment with a few different brands and find the paper that works best for you.

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The Lochby Field Journal can hold up to six slim A5 notebooks, or two thicker A5 notebooks. It’s a universal A5 size allows you to use different notebooks from all sorts of different brands, in an seemingly endless universe of layouts.

A Note on How These Recommendations are Set Up

Given my personal focus on notebook systems and covers, I typically get this question from people looking for refills for their new system binder from Lochby, Roterfaden, or another similar company. The recommendations below are therefore framed in terms of slim A5 notebooks. However, the same considerations apply to people looking to try good paper in general, and all of the companies listed below make their paper in a wide range of sizes and formats, including spiral notebooks and pads. And even with notebook systems, you’re not limited to the slim A5 notebooks (as shown in the picture above). You just won’t be able to carry as many at once.

• Midori MD Paper: I usually recommend that people start here, in either the standard MD notebooks or the three-packs of slimmer MD Light notebooks. (I can't tell a difference between the paper and I think it's the same.) For those who want to carry multiple inserts in a cover system, the MD Light notebooks will work best, but if you want to stick with one or two thicker notebooks, then go with the standard MD notebook. The reason why I love Midori paper, especially for those looking to test out good paper for the first time, is because the paper is somewhat absorbent and strikes a good balance between ink-friendliness and dry times.

• Nakabayashi Logical Prime Threadbound Notebooks. I discovered Nakabayashi paper last year, and it's proven extremely popular due to the fact that it's very fountain pen friendly, ink dries quickly, and the unique multi-lined ruling is reminiscent of Clairefontaine French-ruled paper without the longer Clairefontaine dry times. The slim A5 threadbound notebooks are most popular for the various "system covers", but there are other formats in different sizes. All of the various types of paper handle fountain pen ink well, including the lighter Logical Air and the heavier Yu-sari.

• Lochby Tomoe River 68gsm Notebooks. I have always preferred the heavier, slightly more absorbent 68gsm Tomoe River paper over the lighter 52gsm version, at least for everyday use. I've found that it has a faster dry time, and also resists tearing and wrinkling, making it a preferred choice for the office. That said, I've not been able to find much information on the future of this paper. Tomoe River Paper is now being manufactured by a new company, and while Lochby still has stock of the 68gsm paper, I suspect it will eventually be phased out given that it's (unfairly, IMHO) less popular than its lightweight counterpart. Lochby does have some interesting ruling options in this format, including Wide Ruled and Undated Planner layouts, which you can't easily find elsewhere.

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But What About the Traveler's Company Traveler's Notebook?

The Traveler's Notebook system is a bit of a different animal because it’s a proprietary size. While there are non-Traveler's branded refills out there in different papers, most of the "official" refills use some version of Midori MD Paper (most of the standard refills) or 52gsm Tomoe River (Lightweight Paper). I usually recommend that people interested in the Traveler’s Notebook start with the standard MD Paper refills (one blank refill is included with your cover) and then switch to the Lightweight Paper or Sketch or Watercolor Papers if they need something different.

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All of these recommendations are just a starting point. As I mentioned up top, once you find a core paper that works for most of your everyday writing, you can experiment and start trying different specialty papers and other brands. My favorite aspect of a multi-refill notebook cover (a "notebook system") is the ability to carry many different papers at once and switch back and forth as you go. (The next thing you know, you're a nut like me, with three different systems in rotation all at once, because you know you need to use all the papers!)

For further reading, be sure to check out our guide to fountain pen friendly papers, which has an active comments section in addition to the papers I’ve personally tried.

The Gentleman Stationer is 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, we greatly appreciate your support!

Thursday Drops: Blackwing Jerry Garcia Pencils, Pencil Extenders, Eraser, and the Pentel Kerry!

I don’t know about you, but I personally think Blackwing has absolutely nailed the past handful of releases. Volume 2 featured a “cracked” glow in the dark finish, with an extra-firm graphite that I personally really enjoyed. That said, this latest Jerry Garcia-themed release features a matte finish with Blackwing’s softest core, which is my personal favorite of all the various Blackwing graphites out there so I’m loving this one as well.

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All of the Blackwing accessories look great in the new white finish!

It doesn’t stop there: We now have the Blackwing Handheld Erasers (really big and soft and erase quite nicely!) and Blackwing Pencil Extenders, as well as more of the one-step long-point sharpeners. Both the Handheld Erasers and Long-Point Sharpeners all come in three different colors (black, white, and grey) so you can make yourself a matching set. Finally, if you’re looking to try out Blackwing for the first time, or searching for a gift for a Mom, Dad, or upcoming graduate, the Blackwing Pencil Essentials Set is back in stock. It has one of each pencil from the standard line, along with a one-step sharpener and a pencil cap.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all Blackwing products.

1. Blackwing Volume 710 Jerry Garcia Pencils. It took me a while to get some of these in, but I wasn’t going to pass them up given that they feature the soft graphite, which is my favorite of the Blackwing cores.

2. Blackwing Volume 2 Limited Edition Pencils. The Jerry Garcia pencil above followed Volume 2, which not only has the awesome cracked glow-in-the-dark design but also features a specially formulated extra-firm graphite, for those who love an HB or F grade pencil.

3. Blackwing One-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpeners. Blackwing’s excellent long point sharpener, which only requires one step to achieve a nice, slightly curved point, is now available in three colors: black, grey, and white.

4. Blackwing Pencil Extender. Blackwing has been on a tear with their accessories lately, and this pencil extender attaches to the ferrule of your Blackwing Pencil, giving you a nice way to use up that jar of 1” Blackwing stubs!

5. Blackwing Handheld Eraser. Not a fan of the integrated Blackwing eraser? Or most integrated pencil erasers, for that matter? I love this new soft handheld eraser by Blackwing, in three different cases. It’s giant and refillable.

6. Blackwing “Illegal Pads”. One of my favorite legal pad products is Blackwing’s take on the classic legal pad. Available in traditional ruled (complete with the line down the middle!), graph, and dot, this paper even handles fountain pen ink well.

7. Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil. Currently only available in grey, though more colors are in the works! This .5mm mechanical pencil features a capped design that protects the tip while the pencil is in your pocket, yet still allows you to click to advance the lead when posted.

8. Pilot Explorer Fountain Pens in New Colors! The Pilot Explorer is easily one of our best selling fountain pens under $30, and we’ve added additional colors: Turquoise, Lime Green, and Silver! These all come with matte black trim and look sharp. (Full matte black pens are back in stock as well.)

9. Pilot Iroshizuku Ink Cartridges. In addition to the full line of excellent Pilot Iroshizuku bottled inks, we now have the full line of available cartridges (which are most of the popular colors).

10. Tom’s Studio Fountain Pen Inks. The Tom’s Studio line of Lumos pens has sold extremely well, as have the fountain pens and specialty nibs. But what about the inks? Tom’s Studio has nearly two dozen inks available, including a pigmented black for those who desire a micron-like experience for their Lumos.

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Be sure to keep checking our Pilot range, as we’re constantly restocking on some colors that were sold out. I believe we have all of the Iroshizuku inks in cartridge and bottle form.

Pen Review: Uni Jetstream 4&1 Multi Pen

Today's post is somewhat of a hybrid between an entry in the "Review Revisited" and "Mini Collection" series. Since I've somehow managed to collect 5 or 6 of the Uni Jetstream 4&1 Multi Pens over the years, I figured I should revisit my last review and comment some on why I enjoy this pen so much. While I consider myself a multi pen enthusiast, I really use two on a daily basis: (1) the Lamy 2000 Multi Pen, and (2) one of these various Uni Jetstream models.

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All of the various renditions of the Uni Jetstream multi pens use different materials in the body and grip section.

My Use Case For Multi Pens

Long-time readers of the blog know that I'm a fairly prolific reader and serial annotator, both in my day job and my personal life. For me, multi pens are one of the ultimate annotation tools because they allow you to mark up documents in multiple colors (different colors for different types of notes), and an added mechanical pencil option is a great bonus because it allows you to erase as necessary. The multi pen is a lifesaver when I'm traveling - particularly when I'm working on a airplane - as it eliminates the need to have multiple writing instruments available and minimizes the risk of something getting lost or falling under the seat. Multi pens are also great for when you want to read out on the patio, work on the couch, or another similar context in which you're not necessarily seated and/or writing on a flat surface.

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If I had to pick a favorite to use daily, it would probably be the versions with the bamboo grip. It’s quite tactile and I imagine they will age/patina with time. The Karimoku edition is not bamboo, but rather reclaimed wood from furniture manufacturing, if I’m not mistaken. It also features a ceramic-like coating (possibly Cerakote or something similar).

What Makes a Good Multi Pen?

For me, because I’m not necessarily using this particular pen to write a novel, it all comes down to the refill and how reliable it is. While the Lamy 2000 Multi Pen (ok, "4-Color Ballpoint") might be one of the most versatile multi pens because it accepts universal D1 refills, I find myself using Uni Jetstream refills nearly exclusively in all of my ballpoints, so I've also managed to accumulate a significant collection of the Uni Jetstream 4&1 and 3&1 multi pens. These take a proprietary cartridge, but because I’m pretty much all-in on the Jetstream at this point, I don’t care as much. The "&1" refers to the added mechanical pencil - something the Lamy 2000 doesn't have.

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The 4&1 contains four different Jetstream refills: black, blue, red, and green. All of them write smoothly. It can be extremely difficult to find decent ballpoints in colors other than black and blue, but the red and green refills here write a legible line and have been reliable over time. Jetstream refills tend to last forever without drying up, something that's especially important with a multi pen where you might not use a specific color on a daily basis.

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While some might find the Jetstream 4&1 too large for their hand, I personally find it fairly comfortable due to its light weight. Uni makes this pen with multiple grip styles, however, so be sure to choose the one most comfortable for you. For example, those who tend to grip their pen hard might want to avoid the metal section models in favor of the gel grip, while the plastic and bamboo options present more of a middle ground.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

And this brings us to the "mini collection" portion of this post. At last count, I have in my personal collection six of these Uni Jetstream Multi Pens in various finishes: two of the standard Bamboo models, one model in the limited edition Karimoku finish, one metal-grip "Tokyo Bike" special release, one Tokyo Bike 3-color (no mechanical pencil), and a standard black gel grip 4&1. Five of the six pens are the 4&1 model, so I'm pretty much sold on that version. And yes, I know there are countless more editions and releases out there, but I can only use so many multi pens, and I plan to just pick them up as I come across them "in the wild" as opposed to tracking them down via eBay, etc.

If you’re interested in hearing more about why I like this pen, and multi pens in general, check out this YouTube video that I recently released that discusses how the Uni Jetstream 4&1 compares to other favorites, including the Lamy 2000.

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From left: Sage, Mimosa Yellow, Oregano, Blue-Grey, and Gerbera Pink.

In the meantime, in the interest of making this long-time personal favorite more accessible, I did order an assortment of the Bamboo-grip 4&1 Multi Pens for the shop. I currently have them in five muted pastel shades, including Mimosa Yellow, Oregano Green, Blue Grey, Gerbera Pink, and Sage. If you've never tried a good multi pen, this is an excellent place to start, given the combination of quality and price point ($25). The four included starter refills will last you a very long time, but if you think you might want more, or need to replace refills in an existing Jetstream Multi Pen, we sell all colors, as well as .5mm Uni mechanical pencil leads.

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 Releases: Tom's Studio Fountain Pen Inks and More!

Last week we received a large shipment of additional Lumos fineliner pens from Tom’s Studio, including the Lumos Mini! But what I’m most excited about is the arrival of the entire line of Tom’s Studio fountain pen inks, including 18 different colors of water-based inks and one black pigmented ink, which I’d describe as the “Micron-like ink” many of you have been asking about. (The black ink that ships with the Lumos pens is the standard water-based black ink, and is not permanent.) I have my Lumos Mini currently inked up with “Marianas” (No. 14), a deep blue that’s a great color in a fineliner. There are some really nice colors in this line, particularly the blues and blue-greens. All inks come in 50ml bottles.

In addition to the Tom’s Studio Fountain Pen Inks, we now have a restock of the Laban Greek Mythology Inks in all colors, as well as new Pilot Iroshizuku cartridges! The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all inks sold.

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