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The Gentleman Stationer

Vintage Living in the Modern World.
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Belle & Union makes some excellent correspondence cards as well as some really unique vinyl stickers!

Thursday Drops: B5 and B6 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters, Correspondence Cards, and More!

August 21, 2025

Part I of our anticipated Roterfaden restock has landed, with nearly all of the standard edition Taschenbegleiters now available for purchase. Most interesting from this batch are the Red B5 folio (which also fits A5 due to adjustable clips!), as well as new soft leather B6 covers in brown and grey. We also have additional stock of the four-clip standard and four-clip adjustable in A5.

Yes, that’s a Roterfaden with a Lochby B5 Notebook and Rhodia Composition Book.

As noted earlier this week, we have opened a new section of the store devoted to written correspondence, which will include letter sets, correspondence cards, and more going forward. We’ve also been busy restocking our standard ballpoints and gel pens for back-to-school and back-to-work season, including brands like Anterique, the new Uni Zento, and even more multi pens including the Pilot 4+1 and the Uni Style Fit. Happy shopping!

Come see us this week on Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, as well as Saturday from 10am-6pm, so you can see all of these and more in-person! Always check this cite here for updated hours.

  1. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter B5. This size accommodates B5 notebooks, composition books, and the adjustable clips will shrink down to hold an A5 notebook as well. This is an experiment, so hopefully it will prove popular and Roterfaden will make more color options.

  2. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter SO_20 in B6. B6 has become a more popular size in the U.S., and we’ve had more requests for different colors. We now have light brown and light grey.

  3. Diplomat Viper Fountain Pens and Rollerballs. The Diplomat Viper is back in stock! This excellent hooded fountain pen features a smooth fine/medium nib and the ability to pair it with a ballpoint to create a matching (or non-matching) set. Personally, I picked a blue fountain pen and brown rollerball.

  4. Yamamoto Ro-Biki Covers in Mint Green. We have a third color of the excellent Yamamoto Paper Ro-biki canvas notebook cover, “Mint Green,” along with the other Ro-Biki colors and all of the standard and passport refills.

  5. Belle & Union Letterpress Correspondence Cards. These excellent fountain pen friendly cards are made here in the U.S.A., and feature stationery-themed designs, including two fountain pen versions. Envelopes included.

  6. Belle & Union Die-Cut Vinyl Stickers. These analog and stationery-themed vinyl stickers feature motifs that include fountain pens, typewriters, and even a full-size pencil sticker!

  7. Mottanai Memo Pads. While you can of course use these memo pads however you want, we’ve enjoyed them for short personal notes such as those you might include with a gift. Made from scraps of specialty Japanese paper generated by the offset printing process, each pad features three types of textured or patterned paper.

  8. Anterique Restock. The Anterique “Mach Ball” .5mm ballpoint is one of our top-sellers, and probably the one product that people return to the store to stock up on because they like it so much.

  9. Viarco Pencil Restock. All of the Viarco Vintage Series pencils are restocked, along with the standard Viarco office line.

  10. Viarco Pencil Caps. These customer favorites are back! Sold in packs of 8 or 20, these simple spring-loaded Viarco pencil caps protect your long-point in your pencil case or pouch. It’s great that they’re inexpensive enough so that you don’t need to worry about losing them.

In TGS Curated Shop Tags Thursday Drops, Roterfaden, TGS Curated Shop, Stickers, Written Correspondence, New Arrivals

Multi Pen Versatility: Combining the Pilot 4+1 Multi Pen with the Uni Style Fit Gel Refill

August 20, 2025

When I had ordered these Pilot 4+1 Multi Pens, I knew that they used the exceptionally good Acro ink BVRF-9 low-viscosity refill. I was NOT aware that Uni’s Style Fit gel refill uses the same format, and therefore fits this pen. For today, I wanted to do a quick post showing off this feature because I love when multi pens are versatile enough to allow you to use both ballpoint and gel inks at the same time, and the contoured grip on this Pilot makes it not only versatile but extremely comfortable to use.

Here, you can see that I have taken one of the blue Pilot 4+1 pens and swapped in two .5mm Style Fit refills in Mandarin Orange and Blue-Black. The Acro Ink and Style Fit refills are exactly the same size and shape, allowing you to choose from among the 16 Style Fit gel colors in addition to the Acro Ink set.

The Acro-Ink Refill (left) alongside the Style Fit (right). Note that the Style Fit and Pilot BVRF-8 refills DO NOT fit Uni 4+1 Multi Pens, as these use a shorter Jetstream Refill. It’s also excellent but just a different format.

Both the Uni Style Fit and Acro Ink refills provide a smooth writing experience. Of course, the edge in smoothness and color saturation will go to the gel pen, but Pilot’s Acro Ink deserves a place among the best ballpoint refills on the market. We added one of these Pilot multi-pens to our most recent Patreon Curated Box, and received a ton of positive feedback on the stock refills so these will be a shop staple for as long as we can continue to get them. (They are imports.)

From top: Pilot Acro Ink in black, Uni Style fit in blue black, Pilot Acro Ink in red, and Uni Style fit in Mandarin Orange.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Personally, I favor the Pilot 4+1 body over the Uni Style Fit Meister 5, though both are good. The contoured wood grip on this Pilot Multi Pen is among the most comfortable I’ve used, and I was thrilled to discover that there is a gel refill I can pair with it that offers .28mm, .38mm, and .5mm options in 16 different colors. (Just to be clear, the reverse is also true - the Style Fit body will take the Pilot refill.)

The Pilot 4+1 Multi Pen (Top) next to the Uni Style Fit Meister 5 (bottom). I prefer the Pilot’s grip, but the Uni does come in nearly a dozen different colors.

You can get the Pilot 4+1 and Uni Style Fit Multi Pens in our shop, along with the refills for both. As noted above, the Pilot 4+1 ships with four .5mm Pilot BVRF-8 refills (black, blue, red, and green, plus a .5mm mechanical pencil). The Uni Style Fit bodies are sold separately from the refills, so you can assemble your own customized pen.

Come see these pens in person! We are open this week from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday. Check out this page for up-to-date hours and news on special hours when we have to travel.

In Multi Pens, Pens Tags Multi Pens, Pilot Multi Pens, Uni Multi Pens, Uni Style Fit, Pen Review

This A4 Black Leather Taschenbegleiter features light grey felt interior with card slots and three clips.

New Arrivals: Pre-SF Pen Show Roterfaden Restock, Part I (A4 and A5 Covers)

August 19, 2025

“Part One” of our Roterfaden restock is now live on the website! This first shipment contains a limited number of A4 covers (one, to be specific :)), and lots of A5 versions, including softcovers, a standard four-clip version, and the adjustable four-clip version that allows you to switch between A5 and A6 notebooks. I know that many of you are waiting for word on when we plan to restock the TGS_25 A5-slim, but all I can tell you is that those are still in production and have not yet shipped from Germany.

The plan for this shipment is the same as with the last one: I plan to bring everything that does not sell in the next week or so to the San Francisco Pen Show, where they will be made available through the Vanness Pens table where I’ll be stationed. (T.G.S. will not have a stand-alone table at this show.) If you’ve been looking to pick one of these up, please get your order in within the next two weeks because I didn’t bring many back from D.C. (Even though I did order a larger volume this time, I wanted to give fair warning!)

At Customer Request: More Formal Correspondence Stationery is coming

One repeat request that we’ve had from both our online and in-store customers is a section of the store devoted to correspondence cards and formal letter-writing stationery. We hear you! While of course you can always use standard looseleaf paper and writing pads for your longer letters, many customers have expressed a desire for notecards and “formal correspondence” supplies. Therefore, we’ve decided to separate this category out entirely to make it easier to do product referrals. During the most recent round of trade shows, we’ve ordered a LOT of new items, so look for these to be added in the coming days as we unbox and photograph the new arrivals.

You can always come see us in person, where we are expanding our store! Check this page for updated details on hours. This week we will be open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday.

In TGS Curated Shop Tags New Arrivals, TGS Curated Shop, Correspondence Stationery, Roterfaden

Sunday Reading for August 17, 2025

August 17, 2025
  1. DC Pen Show 2025 Recap (via Figboot on Pens). The D.C. Recaps took a bit of time to hit the ‘net this time around, probably because the shows were so big and people needed time to return from their travels and process.

  2. 2025 DC SuperShow: World’s Largest Fountain Pen Show (via Feed Your Creativity). This video does a great job showing the scale of the D.C. Pen Show, and giving you a sense of just how big this event has gotten.

  3. DC Pen Show: Fastest Way to Empty Your Wallet (via Inky.Rocks). I’m really glad that I couldn’t visit the Schon DSGN table at D.C. My wallet couldn’t take it. You can also see the full review here.

  4. I Tested the Yamamoto Bullet Jotter System (via dwrdnet). Yamamoto’s latest paper product unexpectedly appeared over the summer, and people seem to have taken to this Bible-sized portfolio that’s compatible with a range of different fountain pen friendly papers.

  5. Yamamoto Canopus Paper Review (via Pen Addict). One of the paper releases to accompany the Yamamoto Bullet Jotter was Yamamoto’s new “Canopus” paper, intended to offer a similar experience to the now-discontinued Cosmo Air Light, which was renowned for it’s ability to display vibrant ink colors but offered a somewhat lackluster writing experience.

  6. I Left the Most Staining Ink Ever for TWO YEARS In This Pen! (via Doodlebud). Ok I couldn’t resist posting this one. Does ultem resist the BSB stain?

  7. Teranishi Guitar Taisho Roman Haikara Innocent Mauve Ink (via Well-Appointed Desk). Of all the Teranishi inks we carry, Innocent Mauve has been one of the most popular. Dark purples are always winners!

In Case You Missed It….

This past week I pretty much recovered from my travel to D.C. by taking a short family trip (2 days) and decompressing a bit, because I knew I would have a relatively long weekend in the shop with a ton of new inventory arrivals to list. (More on that below.) This week’s Wednesday post offered a quick update on ongoing pen show survival/prep as well as some details on our next Roterfaden restock. Yesterday I reviewed the Uni Zento gel pen, the latest release from Uni which features an updated ink designed for writing comfort. I compare this pen to the Uni One, the other specialty ink that’s a relatively recent release. (Update: I also did a video review in which I walk through the differences between the Zento and the One, and do a real-time writing sample.)

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

I spent much of Friday and Saturday listing all sorts of new arrivals, since July and August have been pretty heavy with new product releases and trade show restocks. In addition to the Uni Zento gel pens, the latest Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” series arrived, alongside the Colorverse Colorvent “Top 3” Ink Sets. We also have a full restock of most of the Yamamoto Sampler Packs and Select A4 paper packs, as well as Taccia and Teranishi Inks! Finally, we have a new Ro-Biki Cover as well as restocked Ro-Biki refills. Check out the full Weekly Drops post for a recap of everything that’s new.

This will be our last full week in the shop before we head to the San Francisco Pen Show from August 29-31. We will be open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, and from 10-6pm on Saturday. We likely will have special hours the following week (maybe Sunday and Tuesday/Weds) before we head to the show. Keep an eye on this page for updates.

Anterique
Anterique
Iroful
Iroful
Lamy
Lamy
Yamamoto
Yamamoto

Consider Further Supporting T.G.S.!

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 special promotions, 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)! The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive 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.

In LInks Tags Links

Pen Review: Is the Uni Zento Gel Pen Worth the Hype?

August 16, 2025

One of the most-discussed releases of the past year has been the Uni Zento gel pen, which has captured the attention of the stationery communities in both Japan and the U.S. In particular, the “Zento Signature” - which features a cap as opposed to your typical retractable mechanism - prompted rushes reminiscent of the Uni Kuru Toga Dive mechanical pencil. While I’ve yet to get my hands on one of these “upscale” models for an extended test drive, I’ve had the opportunity to write with both the standard Zento and the slightly upgraded “Zento Flow” (both retractables) for a couple of weeks now. While I’m not sure I would pay more than standard retail for any version of this pen, the Zento is an excellent gel pen and so far I prefer it over the Uni One and any of the basic Uni Signo “office” inks.

The Uni Zento Flow Gel Pen in the Jade Colorway, in-hand. I also went with a Canary Yellow standard Zento.

So What’s the Story Behind the Zento?

Uni’s gel pen lineup can be confusing - the company has released multiple iterations of your standard black/blue/red gel pen and left them all on the market simultaneously, the only difference supposedly being different inks that to most people will seem quite similar. The Zento is advertised as formulated for “stress free” writing, which apparently refers to a combination of smoothness and cushion. The Zento is indeed quite comfortable to write with - the pen feels very smooth with little to no scratch, and the ink glides on the page and dries instantaneously. The ink is also advertised as formulated to reduce feathering and bleedthrough, and I can confirm there is none. Now was this actually so much of an issue with Uni’s other pens that it warranted an entirely new product line? I’m not sure, but it doesn’t change the fact that the Zento is good.

Ink Comparison: Zento Black Ink (top) has a more matte look, vs. the glossy black Uni One (bottom). To draw a comparison to fountain pen inks, I’d compare the Zento ink to something like Platinum Carbon Black or Sailor Kiwa-Guro, while the Uni One ink is more of a glossy black like Aurora.

How Does the Uni Zento Compare to the Uni One?

As I noted, in addition to the Zento, Uni released the Uni One a few years ago, which was supposed to be another “specialty” ink that’s a step above your standard office gel pen. I’ve found the Uni One and the Zento to offer somewhat different writing experiences, so I can confirm the distinction is real. The One contains an ink formulated to be extremely dark (standard black) and/or vivid (other colors), with a glossier finish. So if you prefer a darker, wet look to your gel ink, you might prefer the Uni One, especially if you’re using the pen for drawing or doing layout work in a bullet journal or planner. The Zento seems better suited to pure writing, as it lays down a remarkably smooth line and, in my opinion, has the more comfortable barrel.

Update: You can now view the Uni Zento companion video review on our YouTube Channel!

The array of barrel colors available for the Uni Zento standard. There are some great colors available.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Uni makes a great gel pen, and I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed the Zento as I don’t typically do much writing with gel ink beyond quick notes and annotations. I strongly prefer the barrel on the Zento over the One and pretty much any other standard gel pen - it’s got a nice balance, the perfect diameter for my hand, and on the standard model, a soft texture that’s comfortable over longer sessions. I will also say that the clips on both the Uni Zento and the Uni One are excellent - the wire design is highly functional - with the slight edge to the Zento as it feels a bit tighter on both the standard model and the Flow. That said, if you prefer the barrel on the One but want to try Zento ink, the Zento refills fit the Uni One, and vice-versa.

We currently have a large selection of the standard Uni Zento gel pens available in our shop, as well as a smaller selection of the Zento Flow, with the upgraded barrels. Zentos are priced at $3 and $11, respectively, with extra refills available for $1.75. You can get a nice pen at a reasonable price, or pick up a refill that will fit one of your existing Uni pen bodies.

Come see these pens in person! Visit our shop, currently open Thursday and Friday 1-6pm, and Saturdays 10-6pm. Check this page to keep up to date on our current hours, which may change depending on travel schedules during pen show season.

You can tell the difference between the clip on a Zento (top and bottom) because it has the round holder, whereas the holder on the One is rectangular.

In Pens Tags Uni Zento, Gel Pens, Uni, Uni Zento Flow, Pen Review
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