On the Paper Trail Episode 7: Underappreciated Stationery Gems

In this week’s episode of On the Paper Trail, we discuss a topic that’s close to both of us: Underappreciated Stationery. For a variety of reasons, a wide range of exceptionally good stationery items don’t get the attention that we think they deserve. In some instances, entire brands can be underrated. We each picked items from three categories (pens, paper, and ink), and also talk a bit about why certain stationery can fly under the radar.

Additionally, we discuss our upcoming On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville weekend event, currently slated for October 16-18! We talk a bit about our vision for this event and how we both wanted to create the type of event we personally want to attend, with a more balanced approach to shopping, seminars/classes, and opportunities to socialize!

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

Episode 7 Show Notes and Links

Note: We discuss a LOT of individual products this week, therefore this longer list has been moved to the bottom of the post.

1. Pilot e95s (Lisa’s Weekly Pen).

2. Blackwing Matte (Lisa’s Weekly Pencil).

3. Midori Soft Color Spiral (Lisa’s Weekly Paper).

4. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

5. Uni Style Fit Meister 5 Multi Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

6. Life Noble Note A5 6-Ring Paper (Joe’s Weekly Paper).

7. Kaweco Perkeo (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

8. Lamy Pico Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

9. Conway Stewart (Underappreciated Pen Pick.

10. Ohto Ceramic Rollerball Pens (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

11. Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

12. Jetstream Prime Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

13. Levenger Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

14. Yamamoto Ro-Biki (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

15. Original Crown Mill (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

16. Wearingeul Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

17. Callifolio Ink (Underappreciated ink Pick).

18. KWZ Old Gold (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

19. Laban Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

20. Papier Plume Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

On The Paper Trail Episode 6: Live at the Inaugural Francisco Stationery Fest!

What's the difference between a "Stationery Fest" and a traditional pen show? Tune in this week and find out, because last Friday we had the opportunity to record Episode 6 of On The Paper Trail in front of a live audience at the inaugural San Francisco Stationery Fest! Topics include our impressions of the show, how we got into stationery in the first place, plus a Q&A with audience members in which they had the opportunity to pick our brains about pens, inks, paper, and more. Note that in the video we were in the room with audience members and interacting with people off camera, so we have had to adjust the audio and repeat questions at times.

Show Notes and Links

1. San Francisco Stationery Fest

2. Arkansas Pen Show

3. Bonecrusher Studios

4. Pens by Pasquale

5. Nagasawa at Vanness

6. Wearingeul Testing Cards

7. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter

8. Olive Octopus Ink

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

On the Paper Trail Episode 5: Are You a User or a Collector of Stationery?

Do you consider yourself a user or collector of stationery? Maybe a bit of both? In the fifth episode of On the Paper Trail, we talk about a topic that draws strong opinions and maybe even a little bit of judgment in the stationery world. Whether you use every pen, bottle of ink, or rare notebook that you own, or maintain pristine archives for posterity, how we view our stationery is intensely personal and will differ from person to person. We also discuss events at the upcoming Arkansas Pen Show and the San Francisco Stationery Fest!

Note: During the podcast, we discussed the sign-up link for the live-audience episode at the upcoming San Francisco Stationery Fest. Apparently that link is missing from the show website - if you’re interested in attending please sign up directly using this link.

Show Notes and Links

1. ⁠Nagasawa Exclusive Pens⁠ (Lisa's Pen)

2. ⁠Pilot Custom Urushi⁠ (Lisa's Pen)

3. ⁠Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog⁠ (Joe's Pen)

4. ⁠Uni Zento⁠ (Joe's Pen)

5. ⁠Pilot S20 Ballpoint⁠ (Joe's Pen)

6. ⁠Roterfaden TGS_25 A5 Slim⁠

7. ⁠Laurett's Pens⁠

8. ⁠Troublemaker Inks⁠

9. ⁠Wearingeul Paper⁠

10. ⁠Nagasawa 6-Ring Refills⁠

11. ⁠Episode 2: Matthew Chen Talks Kodachi Nibs⁠

12. ⁠Akkerman Standard Ink Bottle Example⁠

13. ⁠Akkerman Dutch Masters Ink Bottle Example⁠

14. ⁠Arkansas Pen Show⁠

15. ⁠San Francisco Stationery Fest

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

On the Paper Trail Episode 3: We Visit Pilot Pens USA!

Joe and Lisa take a trip to visit Pilot USA headquarters and come back with a lot to report! In this third episode of On the Paper Trail, we not only discuss our Pilot Tour, but take on three questions from the "12 Pen Person" questions challenge, answer reader questions about appraising and selling pens, and talk about the upcoming California Pen Show and a live recording at the San Francisco Stationery Fest!

Show Notes and Links:

1. ⁠Pilot Grance (Lisa's Pen)⁠

2. ⁠Midori Stand Notebook (Lisa's Notebook)⁠

3. ⁠Uni Kuru-Toga Pencils (Joe's Pencil)⁠

4. ⁠NOLTY PAGEM Freelog (Joe's Notebook)⁠

5. ⁠New TWSBI Black Marble and Bronze⁠

6. ⁠Vinta Nandito Ako⁠

7. ⁠Yamamoto Canopus Paper⁠

8. ⁠T.G.S. Clouds Rickshaw Exclusive⁠

9. ⁠Post with Picture of Our Giant Pilot Markers⁠

10. ⁠Joe's Trip to NYNow and Shoppe Object

11. ⁠12 Pen Person Questions (via Olive Octopus)⁠

12. ⁠Recap of Lisa's SF Pen Show Panel⁠

13. ⁠Reddit r/WritingPrompts⁠

14. ⁠California Pen Show⁠

15. ⁠San Francisco Stationery Fest⁠

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast. We have submitted to additional services such as iHeartRadio, Pocketcasts, Audible, and others, and you should see On The Paper Trail appear as an option once their review process is complete.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

Welcome to 2026: Stationery Resolution(s) and Plans for the Upcoming Year!

We kicked off 2026 with a New Year’s Day livestream in the new On the Paper Trail YouTube Channel! Lisa Vanness and I will be launching our podcast as well as periodic video content through that channel, though I will also link to this new collaboration project here wherever possible. In this most recent video, we discuss our goals for 2026, including a common intention to use more of what we already have from our rather extensive personal ink and paper collections, and discuss our joint goals of doing more in-person events and continuing to grow the stationery community.

Mark Your Calendars for a January Joint T.G.S./Vanness Pens Event with Matthew Chen in Nashville!

Save the date for Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24, when Lisa Vanness and Matthew Chen of Matthew’s Nibworks will be joining us for an in-store event. Matthew will be tuning and grinding fountain pen nibs all day Friday and Saturday, and Lisa will be bringing her shop exclusive pens and inks, special editions, Galen Leather, and more. Stay tuned for additional details, including possible after-hours gatherings with the Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club and a possible On the Paper Trail Special event.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can always come talk pens in person at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee, open from 1-6pm Thursdays and Fridays and from 10am-6pm Saturdays.