Thursday Drops: Back to School Season (Already?!?)

We start school in our house today, and the 2022 D.C. Pen Show hasn’t even happened yet! Well, at least it was an excuse to go stationery shopping, and we ended up buying our first Trapper Keeper. (Apparently they still exist.) I’ve been receiving requests for recommendations from readers looking to purchase fountain pens, pencils, and high-quality paper and supplies for college, for their school-age children, and even for back-to-work as offices continue to reopen and require in-person attendance, so today’s post will pull those together into a list. Enjoy!

Fountain Pens

1. TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen. I would consider the Swipe to be the perfect entry point for those looking at a work-friendly fountain pen, because it ships with two different converters and a cartridge included. TWSBI recently expanded the Swipe lineup to include two new colors, “Salmon” (Pink-Orange) and “Pear” (a light green).

2. TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen. If you’re not afraid of filling from a bottle (and you should’t be!), the TWSBI ECO represents tremendous value in the fountain pen world. The new “Transparent Yellow” demonstrator version just hit the shop yesterday and it’s a stunner.

3. TWSBI Diamond 580 and Diamond Mini Fountain Pens. The original TWSBI fountain pen remains my personal favorite, as does the mini version. The recently released Diamond 580 in the gorgeous “Iris” finish is now available for purchase in the shop.

4. TWSBI Vac Mini. The Vac Mini remains my go-to TWSBI pocket pen, as it makes for a perfect pocket “ink tank”. If you enjoy posting your fountain pens, TWSBI’s “mini” pens feature threading on the barrel-end, which allows you to secure the cap and turn the pocket pen into a full-size writing experience.

View fullsize

Pencils, Ballpoints, and Rollerballs

1. Tombow 2558 Pencils. Good pencils top my list of requested recommendations this time of year, and each time I always go back to this Tombow pencil, which sports a beautiful golden orange lacquer, an excellent eraser, and a dark graphite core available in both HB and B.

2. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball. The Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball is a slightly larger version of the classic 849 hexagonal form factor. While it ships with an excellent CdA rollerball refill, it will also take any Parker-style refills, including ballpoints.

3. Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint. The ballpoint that’s been around forever remains one of our top-selling products. We’re fully stocked on the classic version, and also have several of last year’s limited edition “Claim Your Style” pens available, marked down to make room for the new season arriving soon.

Notebook Systems and Cases

1. Traveler’s Notebooks. My personal favorite of all planner and notebook systems out there, this simple folded leather cover-and-cord system is infinitely customizable with a full range of accessories. Each notebook comes in a starter kit, with everything you need to get writing, and for a limited time you can still pick up their 2022 limited releases in one of four themes: Hotel, Airline, Train, and Records!

2. Midori MD Paper System. If you’re looking for something perhaps even more flexible, with more available paper sizes yet which incorporates the same fountain pen friendly paper as the Traveler’s Notebook system, try out Midori, which also features a wide array of accessories.

3. Lochby Notebook Covers and Cases. The newest addition to our lineup, Lochby, is known for is simple-yet-durable notebook covers and cases, ranging from the A5 Field Journal to the Quattro Four-Pen Case to the versatile Tool Roll. I will have the full line of Lochby samples present at my table in D.C., so stop by and check them out!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including those shown here. If you’re attending the D.C. Pen Show this weekend, please visit our table. We aren’t selling on-site, but we will have a special coupon that readers can use to access certain promotions. As always, U.S. orders over $75 ship free.