Thursday Drops for August 1, 2024: More Tokyo Edition Traveler's Notebooks, Cactus Leather Roterfadens, and More!

Well, maybe more like Wednesday night drops, but we’re traveling bright and early tomorrow to the D.C. Pen Show, which runs August 1 through August 4 (Thursday through Sunday). In general, Thursday is a trader day, primarily vintage, though there are some people who do set up in the afternoon. I will be next to the Vanness Pens table, and also assisting in the Vanness Pen Lounge where I’ll be hosting a course on notebook systems and generally visiting through the weekend. I’ll have samples from various systems including Traveler’s Company, Lochby, Roterfaden and more, as well as product available for purchase back at the table.

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Of course, if you can’t join in the fun at the D.C. Pen Show, as always you can take 10% off most shop orders through 11:59pm Sunday on August 4 using the coupon code “PENSHOW10” at checkout. Some exclusions apply due to brand restrictions, including TWSBI, Roterfaden, Pilot, and a few others. We currently have a fresh shipment of the limited edition Tokyo Traveler’s Notebooks, some new Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters that include a Cactus Leather A5 version (entirely vegan!), and a fresh shipment of nearly all Maruman Mnemosyne Notebooks and Life Paper. Happy shopping and I hope to see you starting tomorrow!

Many thanks to everyone who has supported us this week as we moved to our new shop. We look forward to welcoming you in person soon!

1. Tokyo Limited Edition Traveler’s Notebook. Featuring a black standard cover adorned with symbols of Tokyo, this is a gorgeous edition that comes with two elastic bands: one in standard black and one in a sakura pink. Guess which one I went for!

2. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter KL_24 Cactus Leather Edition. This latest release from Roterfaden is 100% vegan friendly, featuring a soft cactus leather exterior, vegetable felt interior cover, and a waxed cotton lining that contains both pockets and a zippered pouch. Be sure to check out the pictures on this one as it’s quite unique. It also features an elastic to hold the notebook cover closed.

3. Life Typewriting Paper. Tokyo-based Life Stationery makes some of the more unique paper formulations out there, including this typewriter paper that not only stands up to a typewriter but also handles fountain pen ink.

4. Life Airmail Paper and Envelopes. Almost as thin as true onionskin, don’t be fooled because this paper will handle a fountain pen quite well, though you will be able to see through to the other side, so write on one side only.

5. Midori MD Letter Writing Paper. Available in both standard MD Paper and MD Cotton Paper, this popular lined paper (with matching envelopes sold separately) is a favorite among those who enjoy written correspondence and we’re glad to have it back in stock.

6. Maruman Mnemosyne Notebooks. These fountain pen friendly (and relatively cost-effective) notebooks are a favorite. Perforated pages for the win and they come in multiple rulings!

7. Hightide Folding Metal Book Stands. Available in nearly a dozen different colors, we’ve restocked these favorite desk accessories as we build out our physical shop. Read more about how I incorporate these into my own office workflow in yesterday’s post.

8. Hightide Sandglasses. Nearly all colors and sizes of the popular Hightide Sandglasses are back in stock. Read more about how you can incorporate analog timers into your everyday workflow.

9. Caran d’Ache Nespresso 849 Ballpoint Pen. This year’s Nespresso 849 special edition is a gorgeous matte midnight blue, with the pen’s body made partially from recycled Nespresso capsules.

10. Caran d’Ache “Claim Your Style” 849 Ballpoint Pens (Matte Gradient Editions). Caran d’Ache went all-in on the matte finishes this year, with the Claim-Your-Style 2024 releases also incorporating a two-color gradient.

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Everything will have a place in the new shop, including these NJK Pencil Sharpeners which we have on display!

Choosing Accessories and Arranging Space: Starting an Office from Scratch

While building out and stocking a brick-and-mortar store space is certainly exciting, and I’ve enjoyed the process every bit as much as I expected, designing an office involves an entirely different set of considerations and decisions. Informational content, instructional and educational resources, and online sales will always be a key focus of The Gentleman Stationer as a business, and that side of site operations requires their own space. For years, I’ve made do by running TGS out of my home office, which is a smaller home library-style space not designed to accommodate product storage, photography/videography, and the overall level of organization required to run a growing business.

The new T.G.S. location includes a back office area that takes up approximately 1/4 of the overall floorplan - not huge, but about twice the size of what I have now, which gives me a lot of additional space considering that the office area won’t have to share space with product, which will be held in the warehouse/storage area. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to lay this space out and how I want to use it. For example, I not only need dedicated digital workspaces (i.e., a place for a computer and a large monitor for photo and video editing), but also table space for analog work, including adequate room from spreading out books and papers as I draft a lot by hand. Finally, T.G.S. now requires a dedicated photograph and video “studio” (i.e., a corner of a room where I can stage/light photos and video, and then leave all of the equipment set up and not have to take it down when I want to work at my desk).

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One of my new photography backdrops in natural wood, along with one of the new cactus leather Roterfadens that just arrived in our recent shipment. Stay tuned!

Today I want to talk about five specific office components and how I’ve incorporated them into the new T.G.S. office thus far:

1. Two Desks, or a Desk/Table Desk/Credenza Combination. When I want to work on the computer, I want to work on the computer. When I want to work in a notebook and draft something by hand, I don’t want the computer sharing desk space because it’s distracting. Until now, I haven’t had the space to divide these into two separate areas, but now I have an entire room to build exactly what I need. I managed to find a very nice writing desk and credenza combination that someone was willing to let me have for the cost of moving it out of their house. (Pro Tip: Hire someone to move furniture this heavy.)

2. An Ergonomic Chair. I know there are super-expensive versions out there, and many of them may be worth the money depending on your exact needs, but since the pandemic-era work-from-home boom there are more-than-serviceable generic versions. I found a nice mesh ergonomic chair with a headrest for around $200. When “bargain shopping” for this kind of office furniture, be sure to read the reviews carefully and look for ones with photographs, so that you can see in real-time how the product looks when assembled. Ergonomic seating is helpful not only for your back, but also for issues with arm fatigue and RSI from typing and writing by hand, as a good chair lets you adjust the height of the chair and armrest positions. I’ve gone through many ergonomic chairs over the years, and in my experience, the more adjustment options the better.

3. A Standing Desk That I Can Raise and Lower for Photography. This allows me not only to adjust the angle of the table for better lighting, but also mix-up the backdrop that I’ve used for T.G.S. product photography over the years. Like ergonomic chairs, standing desks and tables have come down in price due to increased demand, and you no longer have to shell out $1000 for a decent model. In my opinion, you can’t have enough table space in an office, and as someone who tends to pace and move around when I’m thinking, having another workspace where I can stand helps my focus and concentration.

4. LOTS of Pen Trays and Holders. Some people might call it “clutter”, but since my job depends on having multiple pens and other writing instruments easily accessible for reasons other than actually writing with them, such as comparison purposes, repair, photography, etc., I need space in the office for visible pen trays and cases to keep things from getting lost. The current T.G.S. setup presents a huge problem, as I have next to no open desk space and am constantly tucking pens into cups, boxes, albums, and cases only to be unable to locate them when I actually need them. My go-to pen tray is the Toyooka Craft 6-pen tray, and I’m looking at investing in larger 10/12-pen versions for shop display purposes. Good thing they’re going to be at the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows because I need more!

5. Space to Incorporate Book Stands. One of my favorite “practical” products that we sell in the store is the Hightide Folding Metal Book Stand. It folds flat, so when not in use, you can easily tuck it into a drawer or store it vertically in a filing cabinet. It also travels well in a bag or briefcase. How do I use it in practice? When I’m typing up handwritten drafts, I’ll set my notepad, notebook, or e-ink tablet in the bookstand next to my computer while I’m working. If I’m summarizing research or entering passages into a commonplace book, I can use it as an actual bookholder next to my journal.

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In a world where most offices are being downsized to cubbies, or even eliminated entirely in favor of shared desk space, I’m fortunate enough to have this bonus space to actually build out an office that’s more traditional than what most people use today. I promise to post photographs of the finished space, but for now it’s still a work in progress. You can see a shot of the “blank canvas” below, and if you’d like to follow along with how the physical storefront is coming together, be sure to check out both Instagram and YouTube, where I’ve posted videos of what I’ve been up to for the past couple of weeks.

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The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We greatly appreciate your support, especially as we grow the business and expand with a physical location!

New Arrivals: Pre-D.C. Restock on Traveler's Notebooks, Maruman Mnemosyne, and Life Specialty Papers

The post-move restock has commenced! This morning we received 12 giant boxes containing a long-awaited restock of Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks and pads in most formats and rulings, as well as a restock of Life paper including Bank Paper writing pads and letter pads, Typewriter Paper, Airmail Paper and more. For those of you who have asked about the Midori MD and MD Cotton Letter Writing Paper, that arrived as well with a shipment of Traveler’s Notebook starter kits in all colors and sizes. Keep checking back, and I plan to post more progress photos of the shop as it comes together. Many thanks for all your support, and I hope to see many of you at this week’s upcoming D.C. Pen Show!

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Life Typewriting Paper always sells out quickly, so I bought a lot this time.

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The shop shelving and displays are starting to go in and we’re thrilled!

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

Sunday Reading for July 28, 2024

1. The Best Paper of the Last 1500 Years (via Inky Rocks). Fans of washi won’t want to miss this video! What a cool trip.

2. 2024 Pacific Northwest Pen Show - Recap and Report (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). This show received mixed reviews from vendors and attendees. It has some promise, given the location, but I gather logistics need to be improved.

3. Alabaster and Orange and no Immediate Clarity (via A Gathering of Curiosities). These are three beautiful acquisitions. I love the deliberate nature of this collection.

4. Two Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoints Limited Editions: Keith Haring and Nespresso Kazaar Editions (via Writing at Large). I agree that these are two of the better 849 limited releases from the past few years, and very well executed. (We have limited stock of both remaining.)

5. Rulers & Fountain Pens (via Stationery Pizza). I use rulers with my fountain pens all the time, though you do have to be careful with the nib. Rulers are one of those somewhat-overlooked pieces of stationery kit that can be very useful to have on hand.

6. Digital Is Ephemeral (via Analog Office). I’m a big proponent of keeping both digital and hard/physical copies of important documents.

7. The Wing Sung 601a (via Left Hook Pens). Wing Sung’s vintage-style clone pens can be fun to play around with, and an easy way to decide whether you like a certain style before you commit to a vintage version. Quality control is all over the map.

8. Asvine V200 Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Asvine finally made their true Conid Bulkfiller clone. I’ve handled one of these - it’s pretty close but the edges are sharper.

9. Kaweco Sport Carmine Fude Nib (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli reviews the latest Galen Leather exclusive release with a customized fude nib.

10. Sticky Note Day: Midori MD A7 Sticky Memo Pad (via Well-Appointed Desk). Looking for sticky notes that don’t feather or bleed? Midori MD Paper makes one of the better fountain pen friendly options.

In Case You Missed It…

The big news this week is that we’ve been moving - you can read some on the details here and in additional forthcoming posts later this week. We did introduce a new feature - the “Ask TGS” Resource page, which is the first step towards refreshing some of the Archival and Informational content on the website. Think of this as a standard “FAQ” (Frequently Asked Questions) Page that I plan to update and add to as we go along.

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It’s incredibly satisfying to finally have all of my stock out and readily visible. For example, inventory was showing that the TWSBI 700R Vac Iris was completely out of stock, but I actually have a lot of them.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - We Are Now In Our Physical Location!

First of all, a huge thank you to all the readers and customers who have supported us over the years and made the move to our new space possible! (And especially those of you who have supported us by ordering this week during our move.) We took possession on Monday of a physical brick-and-mortar warehouse/shop space, which will allow us to (1) ship faster and more efficiently, (2) stock a greater variety of products, (3) produce more content, and (4) open a couple of days a week to customers in the Nashville area so that you can shop in person!

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We have all sorts of new Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters in stock, including two different black and red versions in leather and vegan-friendly danceflooring material.

We’ve continued to receive new stock over the past couple of weeks, including a fresh restock of Roterfaden binders in the A5 size (with 4-clip options!), as well as the new Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e limited editions and a bunch of new Caran d’Ache releases, including the new Claim Your Style Pens and Nespresso 849 releases. We have access to all of our inventory despite the move and are shipping orders on our regular schedule.

Platinum Pens

Endless

Caran d'Ache

Pilot

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

We’ve recently shared some news regarding our continued growth with our Patreon members. If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. 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! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. 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!

Shop Update: Today, We Move!

I thought I’d be able to post some regular content that I’ve had in the works, but quickly figured out that is insane. I’m up bright and early with a rented cargo van moving fixtures and, hopefully, most of the remaining T.G.S. inventory from my old warehouse to the new location. But first, coffee.

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I did manage to get most of the ink unloaded this week!

Just a reminder, we are not closed and still shipping orders within our usual 2-3 business day time-frame, which I’m trying very hard to stick to given that the D.C. Pen Show is coming up this week. If you would like something delivered before I leave for the show Thursday, please try to get your orders in by Tuesday (Wednesday morning at the latest.) Many thanks for all your support, especially those of you who have made a special effort to patronize our little business as we endeavor to grow it and bring a new pen and stationery experience to the Nashville area!