New Arrivals: Pre-D.C. Restock on Traveler's Notebooks, Maruman Mnemosyne, and Life Specialty Papers

July 30, 2024

The post-move restock has commenced! This morning we received 12 giant boxes containing a long-awaited restock of Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks and pads in most formats and rulings, as well as a restock of Life paper including Bank Paper writing pads and letter pads, Typewriter Paper, Airmail Paper and more. For those of you who have asked about the Midori MD and MD Cotton Letter Writing Paper, that arrived as well with a shipment of Traveler’s Notebook starter kits in all colors and sizes. Keep checking back, and I plan to post more progress photos of the shop as it comes together. Many thanks for all your support, and I hope to see many of you at this week’s upcoming D.C. Pen Show!

Life Typewriting Paper Writing Sample — Life Typewriting Paper always sells out quickly, so I bought a lot this time.

Shop Shelving and Displays — The shop shelving and displays are starting to go in and we’re thrilled!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

New Arrivals: Bank Paper, Typewriting Paper, and Airmail Paper from Life Stationery!

March 28, 2023

After a bit of an unintentional hiatus, Life Paper - including all specialty varieties - is back in stock! Favorites include the 100-sheet Bank Paper pads in both Letter and A5 sizes, Typewriting Paper, and the new (to us) ultra-lightweight Airmail paper. We even added the spiral bound stenographer’s notebook in classic Gregg-style ruling. Whether you’re looking for dedicated correspondence paper or the classic Noble Note writing pads and notebooks, all of the Life stationery is fountain pen friendly.

Life is one of the few brands that continues to make specialty papers such as Bank Paper, Typewriting Paper, and Stenographer’s notebooks.

Visit our Curated Paper shop to view our full selection, as we continue to add new brands regularly. Many thanks for your support!

I love the classic green chipboard cover.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We are authorized resellers of all brands sold.

Paper Review: What Is Bank Paper, and Why Is It So Popular?

January 19, 2022

Though the fear and FOMO has since subsided, the rumored demise of Tomoe River paper prompted many manufacturers and enthusiasts to begin searching for the “next big thing” to replace it as the go-to option for fountain pen friendly paper. One alternative that kept popping up was “Bank Paper,” a product originally developed by Mitsubishi for the high-end office market. While it offers a different writing experience from Tomoe River Paper, it’s yet another ink-friendly paper that’s becoming more available in the U.S., and which I personally enjoy very much.

Life Bank Paper "Three Diamonds" Watermark — The classic Mitsubishi “Three Diamonds” watermark adds some vintage flair that I adore. You can also see some of the texture here.

What strikes me the most about Bank Paper is the tactile feel. The paper has a slight texture to it - not nearly as pronounced as a heavier bond paper or antique laid paper like Original Crown Mill, but it’s there. Some may enjoy it, some not, depending entirely on personal preference. It reminds me of the business letterhead I used to steal from my Dad’s office as a kid.

Life Bank Paper Writing Sample — Most Bank Paper is ivory, so your inks may look slightly different than they would on bright white stock. Performance, however, is exceptional.

Performance-wise, you won’t go wrong with Bank Paper. Like most ink-friendly papers, it can be somewhat slow to dry, but I had no issues with usability. (As noted below, the Life Bank Paper Writing Pad shown here ships with a large piece of blotter paper, in case you find yourself using especially wet nibs or slower-drying inks.) While there is some show-through, I experienced zero feathering or bleeding, as should be expected of a paper at this price point.

Life-Bank-Paper-Reverse-Writing — Zero bleed. I’d characterize this as the ultimate office paper, and is something I could use every day if it weren’t so pricey.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Personally, I love the look, feel, and overall writing experience that Bank Paper offers. I sometimes find Tomoe River paper (or at least the 52gsm variety) too smooth for my preference, and enjoy the more tactile Bank Paper texture. I also tend to prefer ivory paper over bright white for written correspondence. For those few letters I write, I can see myself turning to Bank Paper, and once I work my way through my enormous journal backlog, I wouldn’t hesitate to use this paper in a notebook (with a blotter sheet as necessary).

Bank Paper is no longer so specialized that you can’t easily find it. We sell the letter-sized Bank Paper writing pads from Life Stationery, which contain 100 sheets and a full-size piece of blotter paper, perfect for stocking up in advance of InCoWriMo (International Correspondence Writing Month). Another option are the paper sampler packs from Yamamoto Paper, which have a Bank Paper option. And Atelier Musubi has long offered certain of its handbound journals with Bank Paper.

Finally, I wanted to alert all of you to a new product that recently hit the market: Bank Paper notebooks from The Paper Mind, a new venture from a pen enthusiast and former stationery blogger who recently started a company focused on high-end notebooks with fountain pen friendly paper. Currently available in A5 size, these notebooks feature 192 pages of lined Bank Paper in a stitched lie-flat binding. Be sure to check these out and support this sort of creativity in bringing new products like this to market!

I will note that none of the Bank Paper options are inexpensive - $28 for the writing pad, and $35 for the notebook - but this is imported specialty paper, after all, and I get the impression Bank Paper is a highly specialized product, even for Japan, that’s not made in large quantities. The things we do for an exceptional writing experience!

I received the Paper Mind Notebook pictured here for review purposes, free of charge. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links, but does contain links to the T.G.S. Curated Shop. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Introducing Life Stationery Writing Pads

December 7, 2021

The T.G.S. Curated Shop has always featured a wide range of luxury writing pads, including those from brands such as Write Notepads, Rhodia, Clairefontaine, and now, Life Stationery. We just received a shipment of Life A4 Noble Note, Letter-sized Bank Paper, and A4 Typewriter pads, all of which are available for purchase as of this morning. If you haven’t tried Life paper, it’s some of the most versatile Japanese paper out there, whether you’re looking for smooth (Noble Note), textured (Bank Paper), or lightweight (Typewriting Paper). The Noble Note and Bank Paper pads contain a whopping 100 sheets! Check out these and other Life Stationery products here.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!