Sunday Reading for May 25, 2025

1. Battle of the Notebooks: Mnemosyne vs. Spiral Note (via dwrdnet). I don’t know that one is truly “better”, as these are somewhat different products with different intended purposes.

2. Conid Kingsize vs. Kyuseido Kakari vs. Pen BBS 355 (via Inky.Rocks). A nice comparison video walking through the similarities and differences of the three major “syringe filler” fountain pens out there.

3. Visit to KOKUYODOORS in Tokyo, Japan (via Inkredible Colours). I love seeing all of these stationery specialty shops - and brand-specific shops, no less - in Japanese airports.

4. How to Use a Notebook When Your Life Isn’t Busy (via Notebook Stories). Oh to have this problem again! :)

5. A Trio of 2025 Chicago Pen Show Inks (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). The Chicago Pen Show always has some great Chicago-inspired show-specific inks. Kimberly walks through the 2025 editions.

6. Dominant Industry 2025 Little Craft Fest 2025 Exclusives (via Well-Appointed Desk). Last month saw the inaugural “Little Craft Fest” in the Houston area, and Ana takes a look at two exclusive inks, one with shimmer and one without.

7. Hobonichi Techo 2025 Cover A5 Tragen Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). Whether you’re a Hobonichi user or not, this is a nice-looking A5 notebook cover. I love the integrated zipper pouch.

8. Tool Review: Dominant Industry Ink Muddler/Glass Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). An interesting little tool for testing and sampling inks, but given how small it is, whether or not you enjoy it probably depends on how you test and do your swatches.

In Case You Missed It….

This week published two posts, both from a new series I’m trying out titled “Joe’s Picks.” The first looks at five different stationery items that I think are underappreciated, across different product categories that include fountain pens, inks, paper, and more. The second looks at five inks of choice from within the Pilot Iroshizku lineup. There are some old standbys in there, as well as a couple of relatively new additions. Building on this week’s theme, I published a YouTube video walking through this quarter’s curated stationery box that was offered to our Patreon supporters, with the theme for this month being often overlooked items that I wanted to put out there. Patreon supporters should stay tuned for news about the next round of curated boxes, which should be available mid-summer, before pen show season starts.

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This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - PLUS Memorial day weekend promotions

This week’s highlights included a few big restocks: Notsu notecards, writing pads, and notecard sets are all back in stock, along with Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens, and the latest colors from the Pilot Iroshizuku line. Don’t forget that through the end of the month, we are running a pencil sale: Use the code “PENCIL10” at checkout to claim 10% off all pencil and pencil-related orders, excluding Blackwing and TWSBI. We also have items in the Clearance section at 20% off, with the discount added automatically at checkout. Be sure to check out “Thursday Drops” each week for updates on new arrivals, restocks, and more.

Iroshizuku Ink

Zebra

Maruman

Notsu

NEW T.G.S. Patreon Features - We’ve started a discord community!

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 (including the Taschenstift “Violet Tendencies”), the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. As noted above, we’ve recently started a Discord community for all paid Patreon supporters.

Joe's Picks: Five Favorite Inks From Pilot's Iroshizuku Lineup

I had someone come into the shop the other day and ask: “All these inks are overwhelming. If you could pick five to show me, what would they be?” That’s a hard question to answer, especially for someone who’s been into fountain pens and inks for well over a decade and have had so many inks rotate through my pens that they all start to blur together! It’s easier for me to point people to one or two preferred brands, based on their experience level and specific needs, and recommend a handful of inks within those lines. Pilot’s Iroshizuku line is one of my go-to overall recommendations for experienced and novice users alike.

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I’ve been using Iroshizuku inks for over a decade now, and even after all this time it remains one of my favorite workhorse fountain pen inks, with reliable performance and an interesting range of colors. Generally regarded as a safe, low-maintenance ink that works well in nearly all fountain pens, you could live comfortably in the Iroshizuku line without exploring much else, especially since Pilot has also issued a large number of the inks in cartridge form. See below for the five colors that have carved out a permanent role in my personal collection, which I was somewhat surprised to discover has a pretty good variation across the range, and actually includes some brighter tones as opposed to my preferred muted shades. Wherever possible, I’ve linked to past reviews of each individual ink, which may contain additional photos.

1. Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo. The first Iroshizuku Ink I ever purchased remains a go-to workhorse that I usually have loaded into at least one pen. At first glance, it appears like a simple blue-black with hints of teal, but on certain papers you can get a bit of red sheen, and the ink has some depth that I still find myself admiring 10 years later.

2. Iroshizuku Yama-Budo. Another classic that was my “signature” ink for a couple of years before I went through a dark red phase. Yama-Budo defies characterization. Many people call it a purple, some call it a magenta/dark pink. I’m a fan of of these off-red shades, so however you describe it, it’s really nice to use to mark-up or annotate documents when you don’t necessarily want an eye-searing red.

3. Iroshizuku Sui-Gyoku. One of the newer Iroshizuku inks, from the second-most-recent batch of releases, Sui-Gyoku rapidly became my favorite teal. Leaning more bright green than blue, it’s easier on the eyes than a pure turquoise and still dark enough for me to use professionally.

4. Iroshizuku Kon-Peki. The first cult favorite from the Iroshizuku lineup, Kon-Peki topped many “best of” ink lists for years. A bright cerulean blue, it became popular because it offered a safer alternative to certain vivid, heavily pigmented blue inks that caused clogging issues for fountain pen users.

5. Iroshizuku Syun-Gyo. I was shocked to see Pilot add a red-black to the Iroshizuku line in their most recent refresh. Like Yama-Budo, Syun-Gyo defies characterization, with some people seeking more brown than black, and more purple than red. Either way, I love these muddy, muted shades because I find that they add character to my handwriting.

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All Pilot inks show a lot of depth, but Tsuki-yo (second from top) remains a favorite, because it has so much depth.

If you’re interested in exploring the Iroshizuku line for yourself, we carry the full lineup of inks in our shop, in both bottle and cartridge formats, and we also stock a curated selection of Pilot fountain pens. Our brick and mortar store is open this weekend from 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday.

Thursday Drops: Notsu Restock, Zebra Sarasa Grands, and Memorial Day Weekend Sale and Clearance

You all really can’t get enough of the index cards! We were basically sold out as of yesterday afternoon, but today I picked up a fresh box in the mail from Notsu, which included not just additional Centre Rise notecard sets but also 3x5 Dot Grid Cards with rounded corners. Other new arrivals include a restock of the Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage gel pens (the upgraded anodized models) in most of the popular .5mm tip size, as well as additional TRAVELER’S Notebooks in Olive and Camel. (The Camel has been backordered for a long time, and I know people have been waiting for it.)

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Oh, and a bonus: The “New” Iroshizuku colors are back in stock! Syun-gyo, Rikka, and To-ro are all available in relatively limited quantities, but hopefully they will be easier to restock going forward.

For Memorial Day Weekend, all items in the Clearance and Sale section receive an automatic 20% off, instead of the usual 15%. Our pencil sale continues through the end of the month (excluding Blackwing and TWSBI products). Use “PENCIL10” at checkout to claim your discount. The physical store will be open Thursday and Friday 1-6pm, and Saturday from 10am-6pm, with potential Sunday hours given that it’s a long weekend. Stay tuned.

1. Notsu Centre Rise Card Sets. You all keep buying them, so we’ll keep restocking them for as long as we can, in whatever colors we can get! The Notsu Centre Rise includes 50 Vertical “To Do” Notecards, dividers, and a magnetic carrying case that doubles as a notecard stand for your desk.

2. Notsu 3x5 Dot Grid Index Cards. The standard Notsu 3x5 Dot Grid Index Cards with rounded edges are back! These cards likewise fit the Centre Rise cases, and can be used interchangeably with the “To Do” system.

3. Notsu Dot Grid Writing Pads. Notsu also makes letter-sized and A5-ish Dot Grid writing pads, which are great general-use desktop paper pads.

4. Notsu Index Card Holder. These vegan leather card sleeves hold a handful of 3x5 index cards, with a magnetic “portfolio” feature to hold one card while writing, along with a pen loop.

5. Zebra Sarasa Grand Gel Pen Restock. These excellent gel pens are back in stock in the upgraded “Sarasa Grand” style, which features a textured anodized metal barrel with a matching refill. Extra refills are available separately. The .5mm had almost completely sold out, but is now available in all shades.

6. Maruman Spiral Note Basic Notebooks. These simple, utilitarian notebooks from Maruman feature slightly lighter paper than the flagship Mnemosyne lineup, but handle fountain pen ink just fine and are an excellent economical option for everyday writing. Multiple rulings available in both A5 and B5 sizes.

7. Traveler’s Notebooks in All Colors. All colors are back in stock as of yesterday, including the Standard Size in Camel and Olive. Get ready for your summer adventures with a brand new Traveler’s Notebook!

8. Lochby Field Folio. If the narrower width of the Traveler’s Notebook doesn’t suit your needs, consider the A5 Lochby Field Folio, which is a zippered version of the classic Lochby Field Journal minus the hook-and-loop closure. The Field Folio also contains an interior pen loop.

9. Lochby Field Journal and Pocket Journal Refills. We recently received a massive restock of the Lochby A5 and pocket-sized notebooks, all of which contain 68gsm Tomoe River paper. These can be used with the Lochby cases, or with any similarly sized notebook system.

10. Lochby B5 and A5 Slim Notebooks. AND, Lochby has recently released a larger B5 version of their slim notebooks, as well as an A5 Slim Version which should fit Travelers and other similarly sized A5 Slim/Personal notebooks.

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AND the last TGS x Sunderland Special Edition is in the case. Anyone want it?

Joe's Picks: Five Underappreciated Stationery Items Across Five Different Categories

For today’s post, I thought it might be fun to offer five different “picks” from five different stationery categories, highlighting what I’d consider to be underappreciated products that don’t get as much attention as they perhaps should. Most aren’t trendy, and some have been around for quite a while. Someone asked me this question the other day when I was in the shop and I thought it might make for an interesting exercise on the blog.

Some of these picks highlight a specific product, while others name a brand or product line if the individual items are heavily dependent on personal preference (i.e., ink color). Note that this isn’t a “best of” list, but rather my response to the question: “What should I try that often goes overlooked?”

1. Fountain Pens. Pilot Kakuno. No, it’s not just for kids! (Though it’s a great first fountain pen to give anyone, regardless of age.) Because of the smiley-face nib, the Kakuno tends to get written off as a novelty, but it features the same excellent nib as the Pilot Explorer, Metropolitan, and Prera. I have one of the red and grey models, and for a no-nonsense cartridge pen that comes in at under $20, the Kakuno should get way more mainstream attention than it does.

2. Fountain Pen Inks. Anything by Taccia. I won’t pick a color here, but I’ve repeatedly discussed here how Taccia inks are criminally underrated. While certain Ukiyo-e inks (such as Sabimidori and Aomurasaki) receive most of the attention, the standard Taccia line is excellent and competitively priced. The offbeat “Jeans” line has some interesting blacks and blue-blacks.

3. Notebooks. Quo Vadis Habana. One of the brands from within the Exaclair family, the Quo Vadis Habana is a go-to for personal journaling. Slightly larger than standard A5, the Habana contains Clairefontaine paper, but be sure to opt for the bright white dot grid version, as I’ve had mixed results with the ivory lined version in recent years. Featuring a leatherette cover, I’ve always considered this particular notebook higher-end than the Rhodia Webnotebook. The “Webbie” is also good, but I prefer the Habana’s slightly larger page and better paper.

4. Ballpoint Pens: Bic Cristal. I always get criticized for being a proponent of this mass-produced pen, but I consider it a classic of modern consumer design and actually like how it writes. I’m not alone: The original creator of Spoke Design used to make the “Baux Pen”, which is an aluminum upgraded barrel for the Bic Cristal refill that I still love. I guess there’s not enough of a demand to keep these going full time, though the website says they might be coming back in 2025?

5. Rollerballs/Gel Pens: Anything by Ohto. Ohto is a Japanese company that specializes in lower-cost rollerballs and needle-tip gel and ballpoint pens. I also strongly suspect that they are the “white label” manufacturer for many similar products on the market. The pen bodies themselves are nothing fancy, but the refills are always fantastic and the overall price makes for an attractive value proposition. Examples include the CR01 and CR02 Rollerballs, as well as the Jotter-inspired Flash-Dry gel pens.

Unpacking Our First Curated Stationery Box: Check Out T.G.S. on YouTube

We recently did something special, and offered our Patreon supporters a limited run of 10 Curated Stationery Boxes with the same theme as today’s post. Each box included around a half-dozen hand-picked items that fall into what I consider the “underappreciated” category, whether they’re long-existing items buried in manufacturer’s back-catalogs or newly released items that haven’t received much attention. If you’re interested in getting in on the next round, be sure to check out our Patreon program.

If you’re ever in the Nashville, Tennessee area, please stop in and see us! We’d love to welcome you in store and answer any questions you may have. The Gentleman Stationer is open this week Thursday (1-6) and Friday (1-6) and Saturday from 10-4. Our site is entirely self-supported through the shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

New Arrivals: Lotsa Notsu and New (to Us) Arrivals from the Back Catalog

Many thanks to Brad at the Pen Addict for giving us a shout yesterday, and I’m glad to see that he’s enjoying the Notsu Index Cards he picked up at the Atlanta Pen Show! (He’s also giving some away!) These fountain pen friendly index card sets tend to sell out quickly after they arrive, but we’re constantly restocking so if the exact item you want isn’t showing as in-stock, be sure to check back. That said, we currently do have the “Centre Rise” Index Card organizer sets in stock, each of which ships with 50 Vertical “To Do” cards, dividers, and a magnetic box that doubles as a card stand/organizer for your desk. We also have blank cards (with both rounded or standard corners), as well as the vegan leather magnetic card holders that come with a pen loop and offer a stable writing platform on the go. Check out all of our current Notsu offerings here.

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The TWSBI Diamond Mini is back in stock, including in the “Classic” variant.

Plus Some Underappreciated Gems from Lamy and TWSBI….

As we’re discovering once you have access to the full manufacturers’ catalogs, there are tons of exceptionally good pens, pencils, and more out there that don’t receive much attention from the FOMO factory on social media simply because they’re not “new”, despite being well-made and even unique! We had a few such items arrive recently, including the Lamy Logo “Tri Pen” Multi Pen (which uses the same gravity-driven color selector as the Lamy 2000), as well as the TWSBI Diamond Mini in the “Classic” (Black Cap) color. We make every effort to stock some of the lesser known pens, some of which fly under the radar for reasons I cannot comprehend. (Like the polished wood Lamy 2000 ballpoints….)

Don’t forget that through the end of May, we are running a pencil promotion where you can get 10% off all pencils and pencil accessories using “PENCIL10” at checkout (excluding Blackwing and TWSBI)! We’d also love to host you in person. Our brick-and-mortar shop is open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, and Saturday from 10am-6pm. Keep an eye on this page for details and updates.

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