Thursday Drops: New Notsu Notecard Sets, Notecard Holders, and More Desk Accessories!

Notsu Notecards Sets are back, including several new designs! In addition to more of the popular “Centre Rise” vertical to-do index cards, we have the “Centre” Set that features a horizontal card layout, and which is compatible with both “To Do” and “Weekly Planner” cards sold separately in packs of 50. Nakabayashi paper has been fully restocked in most formats, and of course we have the Levenger writing pads that we reviewed yesterday. Happy shopping!

Come browse our wares in person! We are open in-store today and tomorrow from 1-6pm, and Saturday from 9-3pm (closing a bit early but opening early to compensate), so please come by and check out all of our new stuff!

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The new Hightide Bicolor Sandglasses feature 30-minute and a new 10-minute interval.

1. Notsu “Centre” Notecard Set. Notsu’s ink friendly notecards/index cards were a big hit when we brought them in last month. These vertical “To Do” notecards are scored so that you can fold them for easy carry in a wallet or shirt pocket, plus the box transforms into a magnetic stand for your desk. (I have some pictures of how it works here.)

2. Notsu “Centre Rise” Notecard Set. The popular Notsu “Centre Rise” is back in stock in black, with only limited quantities available at this time but more on the way. If the magnetic stand is not important to you, a hard box of the vertical “To Do” cards is separately available.

3. Notsu Notecard Holder. Looking to streamline your workflow and carry just a few notecards plus a pen? This vegan leather notecard holder features a magnetic clip and a pen loop, plus a back pocket to hold notecards and business cards.

4. Notsu Notecards. We have Notsu index cards in a variety of formats, including dot grid 4”x6” and 3”x5”, horizontal and vertical “To Do” layouts, and a useful “Weekly Plan” layout.

5. Exacompta Index Cards. Featuring Clairefontaine paper, Exacompta is known for making fountain pen friendly index cards in various rulings. Multi color versions available as well.

6. Levenger Freeleaf Notepads. Looking for an annotation ruled legal pad that won’t break the bank? I’ve long been a fan of Levenger’s versatile layouts, and I have what amounts to a lifetime stash of these pads in my personal archive.

7. Nakabayashi Paper Restock. We recently received a full restock of the Logical Air, Logical Prime, and Yu-Sari papers, in clothbound, spiral, and looseleaf formats.

8. Hightide Sandglasses and New Bicolor Sandglasses. Hightide Sandglasses are longtime shop favorites, and we’ve recently added three new bicolor glasses in 30-minute and 10-minute variants.

9. Levenger Bomber Jacket Leather Pen Cases. These started selling on-site in the store as soon as I took them out of the box. Featuring seven pen slots and a zippered pouch in the middle, these pen cases make for a carry solution that’s both practical and luxurious.

10. Levenger Canvas Stationery Pouches (Set of 2). These carry-all pouches come in a set of two, allowing you to hold notecards, small notebooks, page markers, pens, pencils, and more.

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Levenger Freeleaf Paper: A Brand That Started It All for Me

Back in the early 2000s, Levenger was one of the more readily available sources of quality, yet reasonably priced, stationery and desk/reading accessories, and I fondly recall spending hours browsing their original factory store when my parents lived near Delray Beach, Florida. (I would also visit the old Tysons Corner, Virginia location when I attended the D.C. Pen Show at the old Sheraton location.) The Levenger Circa disc binder system still plays a role in my personal carry, and I love that I can hole-punch any letter or A4-sized looseleaf paper and organize notes by sheet, much the same way as I have used William Hannah.

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Levenger paper is more absorbent, so it doesn’t show off sheen or shading as much as coated paper. It does, however, dry fairly quickly. I love these pads for notetaking in meetings, using the ruled areas to take actual notes and the shaded “annotation” section to summarize talking points and follow-up questions.

While Levenger has long advertised their paper as “ballpoint, rollerball, and fountain pen friendly”, I’ve found it to be somewhat inconsistent over the years. I suspect they’ve changed the sourcing more than a few times. In the early 2010s, I acquired a large batch of Circa notebook refills, Oasis desk pads, and annotation legal style pads which I would describe as “relatively” fountain pen friendly. The paper was certainly usable (especially for the price point), but it still suffered from some feathering and pinpoint bleedthrough with especially wet pens and nibs broader than a fine, and sometimes a medium. The current generation of Levenger paper, I’m happy to report, performs much better.

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The grey-shaded annotation pads feature a monthly/weekly date function that allows you to date your notes by circling a specific day or a range. The color shaded annotation pads do not feature the calendar.

I’m still working through that original giant bulk order, sp I’ve not had much of a chance to sample any of Levenger’s latest releases until recently, when I acquired a large batch of their “Freeleaf” notepads from an estate sale. I’ve been using them for about six months or so, and have been so pleased with the quality that I not only bought more but decided to bring them into the shop. To me, what makes Levenger products fun to use are their diverse array of layouts, ranging from their classic “annotation ruled” paper (a version of Cornell-style formatting) to this new “Vintage Library” pad that looks like a giant library card. The annotation pads are definitely the most fountain pen friendly of the bunch, and I’ve had no issues with this paper bleeding or feathering even with very wet nibs and grinds like architects and kodachi/blade grinds that can dig into the paper a bit. I hope Levenger keeps this source and begins to use this paper across their entire product line, because in addition to performing well with ink it has a pleasant texture and tactile feel when writing.

Ever wanted to write on a giant library card? Well, now you can live that dream.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As a shop owner, I’m constantly paying attention not only the best-performing paper, but paper that performs well at a price point that’s accessible to those of us who use it every day and, as a result, burn through a lot of it. While all the specialty Japanese papers out there can be interesting to use and often perform superbly with fountain pens, they tend to be too pricey for me to use on more mundane office tasks where the paper often has to end up in the shredder. The Levenger “Freeleaf” legal pads handle fountain pen ink quite well, and can cost as little as $8 on a per-pad basis, making them a great office resource. I love that the pages are formatted on both sides to maximize usability and minimize waste.

We currently sell the Freeleaf pads individually and in a pack of five, in three different layouts. We also carry a curated selection of Levenger accessories, including some newly arrived leather pen cases and canvas stationery pouches. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve tried so far, and definitely plan on adding as much as Levenger will make available to independent retailers.

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.

New Arrivals: Levenger Cases and Desk Accessories, Plus Hightide Sandglasses

If I had to pick a true “favorite” section of the shop, it would be the desk and reading accessories, because this entire product segment has become a personal curation of items that I use regularly. We’ve recently brought in additional items from Levenger, ranging from the simple (Aero Clips and Page Nibs) to the more luxurious (bomber jacket leather pen cases that hold up to seven pens AND feature a zipper pouch). And we’ve added additional layouts of Levenger’s “Freeleaf” notepads, which come in grey and color-shaded annotation layouts, as well as a “vintage library” style that looks like a giant library card. Levenger was one of the brands that got me into stationery many years ago, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer it in our own shop.

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Hightide Sandglasses have also returned, including new bicolor versions in 30-minute and 10-minute variations. These hourglasses were one of our first big hits, and they’re a perennial seller around the holidays (though they’re also fun to gift year-round). These new colors stand out, especially the larger version which makes a statement on your desk.

Finally, it’s last call for the InCoWriMo special! February is International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo), and for the days that remain, take an extra 10% off certain letter-writing supplies using the code “SNAILMAIL” at checkout. Note that our brick-and-mortar hours will be slightly modified on Saturday, with the store opening an hour early and closing at 3pm.

Sunday Reading for February 23, 2025

1. Pavlov’s Stationery Dog (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I loved this post, and second so much of R.B.’s philosophy of notetaking.

2. 2025 California Pen Show (via Olive Octopus). An epic CA Pen Show recap from Lisa! I’m really sad to have missed some of the shows so far this year, but shop duty calls!

3. 2025 California Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Here’s Kimberly’s CA Pen Show recap, with a ton of pictures. I’m missing the whole pen show after-hours experience.

4. Pen Show Wrap-Up: California Pen Show Adventures (via Well-Appointed Desk). On second thought, maybe it was best I sat this one out. I don’t do particularly well on bumpy flights, and literally everyone commented on how bad their flight into LA was.

5. New Series Idea: What Works (via Line Variation). We need more content like this. People actually using their stationery! I’m looking forward to reading this series and hope that it comes to fruition.

6. How I Use My Notebooks: Twitter Replacement Field Notes (via Writing at Large). Replace Twitter with Field Notes!

7. Vazir Meteor Shower (via Figboot on Pens). A really cool finish on this pen, and I especially like the detail on the nib.

8. Inky Pursuits: February 2025 (via Fountain Pen Blog). Oh, to live in a city where you can take a pen repair course by the local Writing Equipment Society…

9. Retractable Fountain Pens: More Reviews Coming (via Dapprman). That is an impressive array of retractable fountain pens!

10. The More Things Change… (via Penquisition). I love seeing blogs expand. We need more long-form content, and I’m so glad to see Eric onboard.

11. Nolty Assymetry A5 Notebook Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). I have never used a Nolty notebook, but I keep seeing them and feel like I should try them out at some point.

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In Case You Missed It…

I’ve been increasingly focused on the practical lately, mainly because I’ve been trying to stay offline (as much as my online business allows), so I don’t feel particularly caught-up on social media and the latest pen releases. I’ve spent much time over the past two months journaling, reading, and taking notes, and one of my favorite companions has been the Jetstream Lite Touch 3 Multi Pen, which I reviewed on Wednesday. (Don’t worry, I know it’s out of stock but not forever, as I just placed an order for a ton of them, not in the least because I want one of each color). I also answered a couple of more practical questions from readers and customers, including one about freezing ink and whether you should place ink orders in the dead of winter.

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The TWSBI Breakfast Collection coffee-themed pens are back in stock, including the latest release, Espresso Bronze.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Don’t Miss the Last Week for the InCoWriMo Discount!

We’ve been running an InCoWriMo special for most of the month of February, where you can take an extra 10% off letter writing supplies using the coupon code “SNAILMAIL” at checkout. We have a new shipment of G. Lalo paper and envelopes, as well as Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton Letter pads. We also have a huge array of new Lamy pens, desk and reading accessories from Levenger, including a new leather pen case, canvas pouches, and annotation notepads. Finally, Hightide is restocked, including Bicolor and standard sandglasses, as well as the Penco pocket drafting pens and pencils.

Lamy Pens

Levenger

Blackwing

Washi Tape

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!

Practical Points: Freezing Ink and Cleaning Fineliners

We’ve had a huge blast of cold here in Tennessee. We only occasionally get “real” winter weather, but when it arrives it tends to cause trouble. So, it comes as no surprise that more than a few people have asked me for my recommendations about ordering ink in the winter. Namely, should you do it?

How much Should You Worry About Ink Freezing?

I’ve read many different takes on this question. There are people online who will tell you that they pause ordering ink entirely from December through April. Others (myself included) don’t pay much attention to the issue, as it will take a pretty significant, prolonged exposure to cold in order for most inks to freeze. But if that happens, there is a chance that a plastic cap, or the glass bottle itself in some cases, will crack as the frozen ink expands and make a huge mess as the frozen ink thaws.

The right answer here depends on your personal risk tolerance and the weather where you live. If the temperature in your area is well below freezing for multiple days (or weeks or months) at a time, I probably wouldn’t risk it. Your ink will likely sit in a postal service storage unit or non-climate-controlled truck prior to delivery, and this is where stuff tends to freeze. If you are worried about a specific ink selling out, or find yourself needing to place an ink order despite the weather, most retailers (us included) will hold ink upon request. Please call or e-mail to request such a hold - we simply can’t monitor the weather at every destination we ship to and the waypoints in-between, and if you order ink, we will ship it ASAP absent instructions to the contrary. The one exception is the weather here. If it’s below freezing and forecasted to remain that way for more than a day or two, we may hold ink orders until it warms up because we don’t want packages to sit in the cold at our shipping service waiting for collection. If this hold extends beyond our normal shipping time, we will reach out and let you know.

I’ve ordered a lot of ink over the years, and have had exactly one ink bottle freeze in transit. That’s a pretty good track record, so freezing ink isn’t something I tend to worry about too much. That said, if you live in a perpetually cold area (the Northeastern US, Canada, the Rocky Mountains), or the area you live in is experiencing a deep freeze, it may be wise to hold off until it warms up.

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The internal wick shown here was filled with black fountain pen ink for almost a year, and still rinsed clean. I reloaded with Dominant Industry Romania Red.

Can You Clean the Tom’s Studio Lumos and Wren Fineliner Refills/wicks?

This is an easier question to answer: Yes, you can! I’m often asked how hard it is to change colors with the Tom’s Studio Lumos and Wren refillable fineliners, or whether you have to replace the cotton wick. Yesterday I swapped out the black ink that I had loaded into my Lumos and rinsed it completely clean. (See the photo above.) How did I do this? Simply submerge it in a sink full of water and squeeze it until it’s white again. Any non-permanent, water-based fountain pen ink should rinse out easily from both the cotton reservoir and the replaceable tips, though in this case the year-old fineliner tip I had been using was starting to wear down so I replaced it. If you want to rinse the tip, I’ve found that it works best if you hold it under the faucet and then dab the tip into a paper towel until all residual ink leaches out.

I hope you all have found these periodic “Q&A” sessions helpful. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback and have tried to keep doing them regularly. If there are questions you’d like me to answer, feel free to reach out via the Contact page or drop a comment.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’re in the Nashville area, you can now come pick my brain in person! You can view directions and up-to-date hours for our brick-and-mortar shop here.