Thursday Drops: Lumos Fineliner Arrivals, Plus More TWSBI Matcha Green and Serpentine ECOs.

In addition to the new special edition Lumos fineliners we announced on Tuesday, this was a big restock week for many much-awaited items, including TWSBI ECO fountain pens in Matcha Green and Serpentine Bronze, the Tom’s Studio Wren Pocket Fineliners, and Traveler’s Notebooks in Olive leather. We are also in the process of updating our Washi Tape, Sticker, Pin, and Stamp collection, from both existing and new brands, so please keep an eye on this section of the store!

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The TWSBI Diamond 580 Affogato + Onyx and Caribbean Blue + Onyx fountain pens are stunningly well-done. The Affogato is one of the better looking TWSBI’s I’ve seen, and it appears they aren’t finished for this year!

A note on planners: The only dated planners we have traditionally carried are the Traveler’s Company dated refills, which are set to arrive in October, per my understanding. We currently have a wide selection of undated planners and flexible planner systems, including the Laconic A5 and 6-ring binder setups, Stàlogy, Midori MD Codex, and more.

Come see all of these in person at our Nashville Shop! We are open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, as well as 10am-6pm on Saturday. Be sure to check our store page for the most up-to-date hours and any special events.

1. Tom’s Studio Lumo Splash Refillable Fineliners. I couldn’t help but bring these in, as a child of the 1980s. I’m leaning towards “Appletini.” Available in the Lumos Pro Duo size.

2. Tom’s Studio Lumos Titanium. A more rugged version of the Lumos is available in all three styles (Duo, Single, and Mini), with the Lumos Titanium Mini including the new Loop cap that allows you to carry on a keychain.

3. Tom’s Studio Lumos “Loop” Cap. Have you ever wanted to turn your Lumos Mini into a true pocket pen? The Loop Cap adds keychain or lanyard functionality, so that you can carry the smaller Lumos with you anywhere.

4. Tom’s Studio Wren Pocket Fineliner. We have Tom’s Studio Wrens back in stock, and have added in-store testing stations for both the Wren and the Lumos!

5. Traveler’s Notebook Standard (Olive). Traveler’s Notebooks have been in and out of stock recently, presumably due to customs issues and delays, but we did receive a restock, of the Standard Size in Olive and most colors in the smaller Passport size. I understand that the dated calendar refills will be arriving in October.

6. Traveler’s Company Brass Pens. We have additional stock of most of the Traveler’s Company Brass Pens, including additional Brass Ballpoints, which is a favorite. (And, of course, the traditional Bullet Pencil.)

7. TWSBI ECO Matcha Green Fountain Pen. I need to remember to pick one of these up for myself at some point before I wait too long and they go away. The Matcha Green is my current favorite of the lighter-colored pastel ECOs.

8. TWSBI ECO Serpentine Bronze Fountain Pen. The “Serpentine Bronze” fountain pen has drawn much more attention than I originally expected, with many nib sizes selling out. We received a limited restock yesterday.

9. New Washi Tapes and Stickers from CoraCreaCrafts. We have new fountain pen, steampunk, and other analog-themed stickers, washi tapes, and more from CoraCreaCrafts. Note the size, as some of these are larger tapes and/or sold as sets, which we cannot break up.

10. iLootPaperie Washi Tape and Pin Restock. We’ve restocked on many of our favorite Washi Tapes from California-based iLootPaperie, including the Snail Mail and Pencil-themed tapes.

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A fountain pen and other analog-y sticker set from CoraCreaCrafts, local to me!

What's On Your Desk? My Personal Favorite Papers for Fountain Pens, 2025

Over the weekend I updated the long-running post “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” to reflect new products on the market and changes in availability of certain papers that I consider “fountain pen friendly”. I don’t believe that I’ve ever written a designated post discussing my personal favorites from that list, so here goes!

How I Use Paper and How It Affects My Preferences

Because this post addresses my own personal preferences, I should probably talk about what those are first. For my personal writing, I enjoy using more textured, relatively absorbent paper with a softer writing feel. My primary considerations are (relatively) quick dry times and the ability to write on both sides of the page. Because I use a lot of planners and ring or disc notebooks, I also value perforated pages, or at a minimum, paper that comes in tear-off pads or looseleaf sheets that can be hole-punched or cut down to different sizes. What don’t I pay a lot of attention to (at least beyond the basics)? The nuances of ink color and shading/sheen/shimmer, since most of my writing is more functional and not retained long-term, and also because I think Midori MD Cotton - my favorite - does a more than adequate job with ink. Three of the papers on this list are long-timers (both Midoris and the Tomoe River 68gsm), and two are recent additions (Soliste and Maruman Basic).

1. Midori MD Cotton. My all-time favorite writing paper, even if it mostly comes in blank, unruled notebooks and writing pads. Midori MD Cotton strikes an excellent balance between absorbency and ink-friendliness, will dry relatively quickly without feathering or bleeding, and for those who do value color reproduction, actually does a pretty nice job of showcasing inks. I was sad to hear at this year’s San Francisco Pen Show that Plotter is not going to continue to make the A5 and Bible-sized refills featuring the MD Cotton Paper with letterpress ruling, which is what is shown in the pictures here.

2. Yamamoto Soliste. A relatively new paper that Yamamoto has popularized, the off-white Soliste is uncoated and textured, yet not quite as absorbent as MD Cotton Paper. I find that it has a soft feel, which is especially noticeable when used in notebooks like the Yamamoto Ro-Biki system. If you enjoy the feel of papers like Iroful or Cosmo Air Light, but desire something slightly less “spongy” (for lack of a better term) consider giving Soliste a try.

3. 68gsm Tomoe River Paper. Each year, as we watch the “classic” 52gsm Tomoe River Paper undergo production changes and reformulations, I worry about the 68gsm version, which is my favorite of the two. Slightly heavier, and in my opinion, more textured with better dry-times and performance for everyday writing, this is my favorite paper to use in A5-Slim/Traveler’s-size notebooks ever since Lochby introduced its own “Voyager” refill. Currently, third-party companies Lochby and Odyssey notebooks are the only ones who I know who are using the 68gsm version in large quantities, and I worry that eventually it will run out since I don’t believe it is being produced any longer. Hopefully I’m wrong.

4. Midori MD Paper. I would also include Plotter paper under this header. While standard Plotter paper is marketed as a different product and has a different formulation, it comes from the same product family and for my purposes behaves similarly. I love Midori paper for the variety of layouts, ranging from blank or grid pads to dot grid colored paper to memo blocks to letter pads.

5. Maruman Basic (70 gsm). I was late to the party on this one, but I was happy to discover this cost-effective fountain pen friendly paper that I enjoy using for work. Slightly lighter weight than Maruman Mnemosyne, I don’t see much of a drop off in performance, and the sturdy spiral binding and chipboard cover has held up well in my bags. Also: perforated pages! I can’t emphasize how nice that is!

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I wish Midori would expand its use of the cotton paper, like the limited edition Plotter refill shown here. MD Cotton is my personal ink swatching paper of choice, even if some would argue that it darkens the colors.

If I’m drawing or playing around with ink purely for personal enjoyment, there’s a 90+% chance I’m using Midori MD Cotton. For notetaking and everyday work, however, I will probably be using the Maruman Basic Spiral Notebooks or some version of Midori MD Paper (including the various Plotter refills). These papers strike a good balance between performance and cost-effectiveness, and come in a wide range of different rulings and formats.

If I had one recommendation to those looking for that “perfect” paper: test as many different papers as you can. Paper is still relatively inexpensive, so it’s easy to buy a handful of different notebooks and samples to dial in your preferences once you have a general idea of your overall needs and what you think you like. Pen clubs and shows are often great places to test out different papers, as people are usually willing to share. Finally, we keep samples and testers of most papers available in our shop, so if there is something you’d like to see or write on, I will often be able to go get it for you. It gives you a reason to come see us!

Our brick and mortar store is open this week from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. You can of course always shop with us online, 24-7!

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Maruman Basics Dot Grid Paper: An everyday workhorse.

New Arrivals: Tom's Studio Lumos "Splash" and Lumos Titanium

The Toms’ Studio Lumos refillable fineliner pen is now available in two special finishes: the Lumos “Splash” - a 1980s inspired, neon-splatterpaint finish - and a brushed titanium model. The Lumos Splash comes in three different colors (Appletini, Blue Raspberry, and Bubblegum), and the Lumos Titanium comes in all three variants (Pro Duo, Single, and Mini). The cool thing about the Titanium Mini is that it ships with the new Lumos “Loop” included, which is a ring-top cap that allows you to carry the Lumos Mini on a keychain.

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The Lumos Pro Duo Splash. You can probably guess which color is which.

In addition to these new arrivals, we are fully restocked on most colors of the Tom’s Studio Wren, as well as the standard Lumos Pro Duo and Pro. If you’re interested in learning more about how these pens work, check out this blog post here, in which I walk through how to assemble the pens and fill them, as well as talk about why I enjoy these refillable fineliners.

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Brushed titanium is both lightweight and durable.

We also have testers available at our store! If you’re interested in seeing how these work in person, come visit. We will be open this week from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10-6pm on Saturday. View our regular hours and directions on how to find us on the “About” page.

Sunday Reading for September 14, 2025

1. 2025 San Francisco Pen Show - Still the Funnest Pen Show (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). She might be a little biased, but she’s not wrong. TONS of vendor pictures here.

2. White Bear Pens Echo (via Figboot on Pens). I enjoyed visiting with Mikayla in San Francisco, as White Bear was set up across from us in the Oak Room!

3. 2025 San Francisco Pen Show Experience (via Rachel’s Reflections). The different vendors and overall chill attendees make the San Francisco Pen Show a more relaxed, friendly after-hours experience. If the show floor experience doesn’t exhaust you, that is.

4. Zero-Effort Journaling (via Notebook Stories). Isn’t it supposed to be this easy?

5. Franklin-Christoph Model 03M in Antique Glass (via dwrdnet). I still feel like Franklin-Christoph’s Antique Glass models are among the best they’ve ever done. I love that finish, like vintage Coke bottles.

6. Come Along on a Visit to Truphae: A Great Pen Store in South Carolina (via Inkdependence). I’ve never been to Greenville!

7. Planner-izing and Realizing (via Line Variation). Do you have a paper you like that you wish was made in planner format? You can always make your own.

8. Ana Answers the #12PenPersonsQuestions List (via Well-Appointed Desk). Well, now I know what I’m working on this week. Stay tuned.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week I published Part III of my San Francisco Pen Show Recap: The Haul in video format. I also updated one of our main site resources, the “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” post, to reflect changes in the market and my increasing familiarity with certain brands.

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We recently added a range of Shorthand Press notebooks to the shop.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Planners!

New planners stuff is starting to show up, including a restock of the Laconic 6-ring binders and 6-ring planner/productivity/life-logging inserts, as well as more Midori MD Codex notebooks, new Cloth & Paper formats and more. We’ve also received Correspondence Cards and Letterpress Stationery from several different makers including Shorthand Press and Belle & Union, as well as stickers and new washi tape. Finally, we’ve restocked looseleaf Iroful paper and Yamamoto Select A4 sheets.

Be sure to check each week’s Thursday Drops post, which spotlights new releases and restocks. Our brick-and-mortar shop will be open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday.

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TWSBI

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Blackwing

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Correspondence Cards

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Yamamoto Ro-Biki

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” and the Roterfaden TGS_25), 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.

Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper: Updated Resource!

I’ve spent the last two days updating the site resource “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper,” which was originally a blog post first published in 2021. It’s garnered such a good response - 50+ comments at last count - that I’ve left it in blog format just to maintain the active comment section. I periodically update the main article to account for changes in paper performance, new brands, and customer/reader feedback. Because I can’t test everything, I leave the comments open for suggestions.

What Were the Major Developments in 2025?

I added a handful of brands to the resource, and removed one or two others mainly due to availability issues. Here are the major changes:

• Write Notepads Drops Off the List. Write Notepads left the direct-to-consumer market, at least for now, to focus on B2B sales. While I understand that may change in the future, for now their products are not as widely available so I’m leaving them out of this resource which focuses primarily on retail products.

• Stàlogy and Blackwing Move Into Tier I. While I’ve considered these two brands “Tier II” fountain pen friendly paper in the past, I’ve noticed an increase in consistency so I’ve moved both of them into Tier I. With Blackwing, note that this refers only to their standard paper. Some of their special edition notebooks may use different paper which may or may not perform similarly.

• Notsu and Shorthand Make an Appearance. These two brands make new appearances in Tiers I and II, respectively. Notsu is one of my favorite new stationery brands out there, and their ink friendly index cards have become a staple of my personal rotation. Los Angeles-based Shorthand makes a wide range of notebooks, notepads, and correspondence stationery, and while I would limit fountain pens to extra-fine or fine nibs, I love the feel of their vintage-y off-white paper and sturdy covers and spiral bindings.

Note that this is not intended to be a “ranking,” and the order in which these papers appear in each tier are not intended to suggest that any one is objectively “better” than another. Also, even non-fountain pen friendly paper can be quality stationery. Certain high-end cotton papers are tactile and highly absorbent - quite pleasant to write on with pencil, ballpoint, and rollerballs - but they can’t handle the water-based ink found in most fountain pens. Enjoy, and as always, drop a comment if you have suggestions on paper I may not have tried.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to see any of the papers mentioned here in person, or even try some of them, come by our brick-and-mortar shop located in Nashville!

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