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The Gentleman Stationer

Vintage Living in the Modern World.
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Thursday Drops: Yamamoto Writing Pads, Traveler's Notebook Restocks, and More!

February 6, 2025

Our massive paper restock continues, with a large shipment from Yamamoto Paper arriving this morning. First out of the box are the A5 Bank Paper and Tomoegawa Tomoe River 52gsm writing pads. We also have the entire line of Mnemosyne x Kleid spiral notebooks (featuring that tiny 2mm grid!) as well as Lochby and Traveler’s Company restocks. It’s so much new stuff that we’ve had to reorganize the displays in the Brick-and-Mortar shop!

Mnemosyne x Kleid Notebooks are here in all sizes!

Remember: We have all sorts of pencils and erasers on the shelves, recently arrived, and all items in the “InCoWriMo” section have a special promotion this month with the coupon code “SNAILMAIL” at checkout. Finally, it appears as though several TWSBI colors are being phased out in favor of new releases. If you’ve had your eye on the TWSBI ECO Heat, the TWSBI Diamond AL Mini in Grape, the ECO-T Eggplant Purple, or the ECO-T Jade and Rose Gold, we’re down to the last few units and it doesn’t appear that restocking is a possibility. Once we clear these out it makes room for more!

  1. Yamamoto Bank Paper and Tomoegawa Tomoe River A5 Writing Pads. these 100 (Bank Paper) and 200 sheet (Tomoe River) writing pads were favorites when they were in stock, and we finally have more!

  2. Mnemosyne x Kleid Spiral Notebooks. The classic Mnemosyne spiral notebook is now available in A4, A5, B5, A6, and B6 sizes with Kleid’s signature 2mm graph paper. Both vertical and landscape/wide layouts are available.

  3. Lochby A5 Field Journal Notebooks (68gsm Tomoe River). These slim A5 notebooks fit the standard Lochby Field Journal, and are one of the few remaining options that contain 68gsm Tomoe River paper, the thicker version that I personally prefer because I think it dries faster and doesn’t crinkle as much.

  4. Lochby Pocket Notebooks (68gsm Tomoe River). Similar to the A5 Field Journal Notebook, these pocket notebooks come in three different layouts and are the same size as a standard Field Notes notebook. They also fit the Lochby Field Journal Mini Cover, linked below.

  5. Lochby Field Journal and Field Journal Mini Notebook Covers. These sturdy waxed canvas covers have proven enduringly popular, and Lochby recently released a “Mini” version of the Field Journal sized to the standard 3.5 x 5.5 pocket notebook. You can read our review of it here.

  6. Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kits. We currently have all colors and sizes of TRAVELER’S COMPANY Traveler’s Notebooks in stock. Most refills and accessories are also restocked, including brass products.

  7. Clairefontaine Basics Life.unplugged Pocket Notebooks. I’ve been unable to get the two-packs of Clairefontaine pocket notebooks, but these larger 3.5 x 5.5 notebooks contain a whopping 48 sheets/96 pages, which is big for a pocket notebook.

  8. Notsu Index Cards. I’ve spent the better part of a year searching for ink friendly index cards with useful layouts, and these Notsu cards are among the best I’ve used to date. The “Centre Rise” Box Set version includes “To Do” cards and dividers that you can use for task management.

  9. Ohto Ceramic Rollerball Pens. We now have the larger version of Ohto’s “CR” series rollerball pens, the CR01. If you found the CR02 a bit slim for your taste, give this one a try in some fun camouflage colors. (Don’t worry, the CR02 is coming back at some point!)

  10. Ohto C-305 Rollerball Refill. Both the CR01 and CR02 Ohto Rollerballs use this excellent .5mm rollerball refill. I’ve also had good luck getting it to fit Lamy pens by using a spacer at the end.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.

The larger Ohto CR01 Rollerball is in stock, in three new colors!

In TGS Curated Shop Tags Thursday Drops, TGS Curated Shop

The Lochby Field Journal Mini (center) compared to a Plotter A5 (left) and Plotter Bible (right).

Searching for the Perfect Personal Notebook: How Does the Lochby Field Journal Mini Compare?

February 5, 2025

I’ve been thinking about notebooks even more than I normally do (and that’s a lot). Why? I’m in the middle of reading “The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper” by Roland Allen. This book has received a lot of attention in our circles, and for good reason. Though I’m still in the middle of the read, so far it’s a fairly comprehensive account of the role notebooks have played in human intellectual life over the centuries, and not just the work of artists, writers, and scientists, but merchants, businesspeople, and everyday readers and thinkers looking for a place to keep track of their thoughts. As someone who’s incapable of separating thinking from writing by hand, I bought this book immediately, and its given me many, many ideas for how I can better use my notebooks in my everyday life in a more systematic fashion so that I don’t lose track of ideas and merely preserve my own thoughts for posterity. You can expect to see more written on this book in the future, and some of the concepts already have popped up in recent posts on notetaking and related tools I’m experimenting with.

I use a lot of notebooks. My Plotter A5 serves as my main “working notebook.” I also keep an informal journal, which is a standard notebook that I write in regularly, as well as a Midori 5-year Diary that serves as a daily log. (You can read more about this setup here.) What I would love to find, however, is a functional smaller notebook that’s portable enough to take with me everywhere, yet still large enough to use for meaningful writing. The 3.5” x 5.5” pocket notebook, made popular by Field Notes, is the gold standard for many. My issue with Field Notes? They fall apart with heavy pocket carry unless you add a secondary market cover, and sometimes I wish I could easily carry multiples because they make great single-subject notebooks to rotate through depending on which project has your attention.

I find that the Field Journal Mini feels the best with two or three notebooks loaded into it. Four will fit, but it’s somewhat bulky and makes it difficult for the notebooks to lie flat when writing.

So is Lochby’s latest release, the “Field Journal Mini”, a possible solution? I took one of the covers with me on this past weekend’s trip to the NYC trade shows, and came away impressed with both the size and functionality. For those unfamiliar with the Field Journal layout, it’s a waxed canvas cover that includes four sets of cords, allowing you to carry up to four slim notebooks bound together “Traveler’s-style.” The larger A5 Lochby Field Journal has been around for years, and has proven to be one of the most enduringly popular item in our shop and at pen shows. Presumably in response to customer requests, Lochby recently released the “Field Journal Mini” designed to fit pocket notebooks.

The front cover features one single pocket and two card slots.

I personally like the Field Journal Mini A LOT - maybe even more than the A5 version. I currently have mine set up with two notebooks and index cards tucked into the back inside pocket. The front cover has smaller slots for cards, receipts, post-its, and more. While not traditionally “pocketable,” the Field Journal Mini slips easily into the outside pocket of a bag, and will probably fit a larger coat pocket. A full-size pen fits into the elastic pen holder, and won’t extend past the cover, which is an issue that makes smaller notebooks somewhat awkward to carry with a pen attached. All of this made the Field Journal Mini an excellent trade show notebook.

Lochby has also modified the aluminum closure - it’s lighter and not as bulky. Often with Lochby products there is a short “breaking in” period where the canvas loop needs to stretch and soften a bit for the hook-and-loop system to work easily, but I didn’t experience that at all with the Field Journal Mini.

I found it somewhat fortuitous that the Field Journal Mini was released just as I rediscovered index cards. While I don’t see myself carrying more than a couple of pocket notebooks at any given time, I’m happy to fill the rest of the binder up with index cards. 3x5 cards slip easily into the back and front covers. When I’m done with the cards I can then transfer them into a card filing system or discard them if they don’t have notes I want to retain long-term.

Lochby prices their products competitively, and this one is no exception. The Field Journal Mini is priced at $49, and comes in Lochby’s three standard color combinations of Brown/Honey, Navy/Tan, and Black/Tan. Each Field Journal ships with a Lochby 68gsm Tomoe River refill (pocket-notebook sized), and additional refills are available for purchase separately. I wanted to test these out for myself before I ordered a lot of them for the shop, but I’m impressed and will likely place a larger order in the coming weeks. As of now we still have a handful available.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.

In Notebook Review Tags Field Journal Mini, Lochby Field Journal Mini, Pocket Notebooks, Notebook Systems
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G. Lalo Vergé de France paper is now available in both A5 and larger letter-sized sheets, with matching envelopes.

New Arrivals: Happy InCoWriMo! Stock Up on Letter Writing Supplies with Our Latest Promo!

February 4, 2025

Did you know that every February is InCoWriMo? That’s short for “International Correspondence Writing Month”, and it’s been taking place since 2013. While it’s technically a challenge, where the goal is to write one piece of snail-mail correspondence every day throughout the month, you’re still participating even if you send one letter! There’s a complete InCoWriMo website with resources to help you get started, including an address exchange for those looking for more pen pals.

To help everyone kick off InCoWriMo, we’ve created an “InCoWriMo” section of our paper store, where we’ve pulled all the letter pads, envelopes, and more. This entire section will be 10% off for the month of February, using the coupon code “SNAILMAIL” at checkout! We recently received a restock of favorite letter-writing products, including Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton Letter Pads and envelopes, Clairefontaine Triomphe writing pads in A4 and A5 size, G. Lalo “Vergé de France” paper and envelopes, and many more options that can be used for written correspondence. A handful of items are sold out to start the month, but are in the process of being restocked so stay tuned.

Come visit us in person! Public hours are Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, Saturday from 10-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. We look forward to seeing you this week!

In TGS Curated Shop Tags InCoWriMo 2025, InCoWriMo, Letter Writing, New Arrivals, TGS Curated Shop

When life gets chaotic, I go to the weird stationery.

Sunday Reading for February 2, 2024

February 2, 2025
  1. Ripples Through Water: Happy Third Anniversary! (via A Fleeting Ripple). Happy third bloggiversary! That’s a huge achievement - and here’s to more long-form content and less social media.

  2. Notebook Meeting 2025 (via The Poor Penman). I love a good notebook setup post, especially ones discussing really good user-customized systems.

  3. Diggin’ These Amarillo Vibes (via Pen Addict-Kimberly). Four new inks from Amarillo Stationery! I can’t wait to check these out at a show this year.

  4. My New Weekly Review Format (via Writing at Large). I found this concept of a “weekly review” in your journal quite interesting, especially as my own weeks are getting more and more cluttered and I have a hard time making sense of them.

  5. Nahvalur Plongeur (via Figboot on Pens). A titanium version of the popular Nahvalur Nautilus, with a few different design modification. Apparently this one is limited to 365 pens.

  6. Hinze Kolbenfüller (via Figboot on Pens). A piston filler from our friends at Hinze Pens!

  7. Otto Hutt Design 07 Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Otto Hutt’s higher-end models are absolutely gorgeous, but they come at a steep price. The black finish looks sharp.

  8. A New Month, a New Plan (via Fountain Pen Blog). I believe in the whiskey world this concept is called the “infinity jar”.

  9. Pen Rotation Changes (via Rachel’s Reflections). Do you have an official system for rotating your pens? It’s something I’ve tried before but has never stuck. I kind of feel like I need a true structure in place because there are pens I love that aren’t getting used.

  10. Planner/Journal Progress: One Month In (via Well-Appointed Desk). Keep going through the January doldrums!

In Case You Missed It…

This week I reviewed a classic piece of stationery: The Field Notes Steno Pad, which alongside the classic kraft paper Field Notes pocket notebook is a relatively ubiquitous piece of stationery that is what it is and makes no apologies for its simplicity. I also updated the TGS Fountain Pen Review Archive to include recent reviews from the past year. If you haven’t checked out this resource, it’s just that - an organized-by-brand archive of all the fountain pen reviews from The Gentleman Stationer over the past decade.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: New Arrivals and a February Flash Sale on Paper

It’s February, which means all the restock orders that we placed in January are pouring into the shop almost daily! This past week we received a huge shipment of pencils from Musgrave, based down the road from us in Shelbyville, Tennessee. We also have a bunch of additional arrivals from pencil manufacturers including Blackwing, Kitaboshi, and Viarco. You can see the full list of new arrivals (including pencils, pens, and paper) in this week’s Thursday drops, with the major highlight being a massive Clairefontaine restock, nearly all of which has been listed and is available for purchase.

But the big news is that we ordered so much paper, we are having trouble making room for all of it on our shelves! Through Monday - no longer through Sunday! - while I’m at the NY Now and Shoppe Object Trade Shows (probably buying, you guessed it, more paper) take 10% off most paper orders using the coupon code FLASH10 at checkout. See this post for the full details.

Viarco
Viarco
Notsu
Notsu
Blackwing
Blackwing
Lochby
Lochby

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

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! 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!

In LInks Tags Links

Updated Fountain Pen Review Archive and a February Flash Sale (Online Only!)

February 1, 2025

Sometimes you have to take a day to do some housekeeping! I spent most of yesterday and this morning updating the Gentleman Stationer Fountain Pen Review Archive, which if you haven’t yet visited, is an organized archive of all the fountain pen reviews on the blog dating back to 2014. (There is also an Ink Review Archive, organized by color, though it’s still a work in progress and the most recent ink reviews may not yet appear.) Even though a large amount of effort and most resources went into opening the shop over the past six months, we remain committed to offering as much information as possible to users and enthusiasts. In addition to the review archive, we offer a general resources page as well as guides on our recommended “Best Pens” at certain price points and a reference on fountain pen friendly paper. Speaking of paper….

Pencil products are restocked, including the beloved Viarco pencil caps! Read on for details on this weekend’s flash sale and pencil promotion.

February Flash Paper Sale, Travel Schedule and Trade Shows This Weekend

We just received a TON of paper, and will have more on the way shortly because it’s trade show season. How about a flash sale to kick off the month of February? Through tomorrow (Sunday, 2/3) at 11:59pm US Central Time, use the coupon code “FLASH10” to take 10% off most online paper purchases (excluding Roterfaden and Blackwing). Also, any purchases that include a pencil product will include a special gift that will make you laugh. I promise. And I’m not giving you any details on what it is. Let’s just say it was one of my many “mistake buys”. :) While supplies last, but I think I will have enough for anyone who wants one. [NOTE: Apologies but we ran out of these very quickly. For those who wondered, it was a gag “Dummy” pencil that looks real but when you go to sharpen it, there is no graphite. If you placed a pencil order but got a sticker instead of a pencil, and still want one, please e-mail us and I will place you on a list to get one if I receive another box.]

Through this weekend, keep an eye on the Instagram, because I’ll be posting pictures from New York City as we visit the NY Now and Shoppe Object Stationery Trade Shows in New York. The brick-and-mortar shop will be closing early today at 2pm because I will be on my way to the airport. It’s a short trip so online orders will continue to ship in the usual timeframe.

In Editorial, Updates, Travel Tags Flash Sale, NY NOW 2025, Trade Shows, Travel
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