Holiday Reading for June 20, 2022

1. My First Show: The Dutch Pen Show (via A Fleeting Ripple). I love reading about people’s reactions to attending their first pen show, especially the sense of overwhelm when they see how much pen stuff can actually exist in one place!

2. Review Madness and an Ink Vial Hack (via KraftyKats). If you have trouble with filling or dipping pens from standard plastic ink sample vials, Chloe has an interesting hack here to hold your ink bottles steady when filling.

3. All Geared Up for Commonplace Notes (via mnmlscholar). Catching up on my commonplace book is definitely on my list of things to do, now that I’m back from vacation.

4. Vintage Sheaffer Research (via Rachel’s Reflections). I get a lot of questions seeking help identifying specific models of vintage pens, so people might find Rachel’s discussion of her research techniques helpful.

5. On Journaling and the Meditative Aspects of Writing (via S.B.R.E. Brown). Reviews are fun, but it’s definitely interesting to dive into the “why” and think about how analogue tools help us out in our daily lives.

6. Dominant Industries Autumn Forest (via Well-Appointed Desk). The one Dominant Industries Ink that I’ve been truly coveting and haven’t gotten my hands on yet.

7. Kaweco Premium Steel Fountain Pen Nib Review (via Pen Addict). I really wish Kaweco would simply increase their prices to account for necessary quality control and give people a guaranteed writing experience out of the box.

8. La Couronne du Compte (Diamine) Vert Sapin (via Machiatto Man). An interesting Diamine Ink with a lot of sheen. Yagan’s ink reviews are incredibly thorough, to say the least!

9. Preview of Montblanc Glacier Collection (via Gourmet Pens). Just take my money already.

10. M605 Tortoiseshell Black (via Pelikan’s Perch). Pelikan’s latest Tortoiseshell release is beautiful, and I’m excited to see them release more in the M600/M605 size.

In Case You Missed It….

I was out of town this past week, so I did what I always do when I’m on my annual summer vacation, which is post a series of recaps/reflections on my favorite products from the past six months. Part I discussed my Top Five Product Reviews, Part II discussed my favorite new products added to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and Part III talked about my favorite acquisitions of 2022 thus far.

This Week in the Curated Shop

I’m basically playing catch-up on shipping today and tomorrow, since so many of you were kind enough to continue to support me even though I was off for a week! I truly appreciate it. Look for some new product arrivals and restocks in the coming weeks, but for now we are still well-stocked on favorites and some remaining special releases!

Caran d'Ache

Traveler's Company

Midori MD Light

Reading Accessories!

Help Support T.G.S. and Consider Joining the Patreon!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here.

Vacation Reading: Week of June 13, 2022

1. Where Lamy Daren’t Go…. (via Penquisition). I will now purchase both of this year’s Safari releases, since Evan has shown us what is possible with some tinkering and a little bit of courage.

2. BlueDew Flex Fountain Pen: Too Good To Be True? (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). For those looking for dip-nib-style flex, Kimberly reviews another option from a brand I’m not familiar with.

3. Comparing Common Nib Grinds (via Rachel’s Reflections). An excellent illustration of the differences in some of the more common nib grinds, showing both how the nib is modified and how the modification changes your handwriting.

4. 12 for 12: Our 12 Favorite Products for Our 12th Anniversary (via Well-Appointed Desk). Congratulations to Ana and team for this milestone, and thanks for including us!

5. Flexibility and Searchability in Taking Notes (via mnmlscholar). I love the science/art of notetaking, especially reading about how people archive their notes for later cross-referencing.

6. Romillo No. 7 Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). These pens, which feature handmade nibs, continue to fascinate me, even though they tend to require a lot of tinkering, from what I hear.

7. An Ode to Cheap Pens: Faber-Castell Grip Fountain Pen (via A Fleeting Ripple). I’ve long believed that Faber-Castell makes some of the best inexpensive fountain pens available. They unfortunately have always received far less attention than I think they should.

8. IWI Colors of Nature Slight Snow (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I love dusky purples, though this one appears to me (or my screen) as more on the pink side. Either way, it’s an interesting color that should still be legible despite the desaturation and shading.

9. Cult Pens Diamine Flower Inks Set Exclusive (via Dapprman). Diamine is releasing a new set of flower-themed inks. I loved the first set and will probably try to pick these up as well.

10. Stilo&Stile x Leonardo Momento Zero Prisma Fountain Pen (via Gourmet Pens). Leonardo is now getting on board the prismatic/rainbow anodized train. I’m not sure this particular design is for me but everything they do is great quality.

In Case You Missed It….

Last week on the blog I published a piece on enjoying a hobby in the midst of an economic downturn or other financial pressures, something we all unfortunately have to do the longer we pursue a passion because, well, life happens. I also reviewed one of my favorite new nib grinds - the “Perspective” nib from Gena Salorino from Custom Nib Studios. If you appreciate versatile nibs that give you many different writing options in a single package, you absolutely need to check this one out.

This Week in the Curated Shop

I’m on vacation, so our usual 2-3 business day shipping time will be extended to 5 business days. That said, we’re still processing orders and any orders placed during this window will go out promptly on my return, with some extras included such as stickers, ink samples, etc.. We’re fully restocked on Midori MD Paper, including the Limited 70th Anniversary MD Light Notebooks and Fountain Pen & Ink Sets, and we also still have plenty of Lochby Quattro Four Pen Cases, Pocket Journals, and Tool Rolls! Check out even more links below.

Caran d'Ache

Traveler's Company

Platinum

CW&T

T.G.S. From The Archives

Vacation week seems like a good time for a reminder to check out the 2022 “Best Pens” list, updated to reflect recent preferences. Enjoy!

Many thanks for your support of The Gentleman Stationer! We rely entirely on purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program in order to keep the site going. If you enjoy the content, please consider visiting our shop or pledging! Even the smallest of amounts helps!

Sunday Reading for May 29, 2022 (Memorial Day Weekend Edition)

1. Solace in Pens (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). With each day seemingly bringing worse news, what can you do to cope? This excellent article discusses incorporating pens into a self-care routine.

2. I Am Bitter: Lamy Aion (via a fleeting ripple). This pretty much sums up my feelings about the Aion as well. While the color of this green version is gorgeous, there’s a lot about the design I simply don’t enjoy as I find it uncomfortable to use.

3. Wearingeul Stonecutter’s Song (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This sepia/brown/grey color is one of the more intriguing inks I’ve seen from Wearingeul. I have yet to place an order.

4. Aderillium Inks (via Well-Appointed Desk). I now have three Anderillium inks, including the Chicago Pen Show special release, all of which I’ve found to be well-behaved and enjoyable to use. Look for a review soon.

5. ScriBo Grigio (via Dapprman). So far, this is my favorite of the ScriBo Inks, though I’m in the process of working my way through other colors. I absolutely love the grey-blue tint.

6. On Fountain Pen Nib Sizes, #5, #6, #7, #8 (via S.B.R.E. Brown). Fountain pen nib sizing can be confusing. This video walks through the differences and the numbering system.

7. Robert Oster Cities of America: Chicago Ink Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). While I’m a little tired of the “cities and states of America” theme that seemingly every ink company has been trying to run with these days, I should’ve picked up a bottle of this ink in Chicago.

8. Hey, Where’d You Go? (via EdJelley). For those who have been missing Ed’s reviews, he’s still writing, just not at his own site. Check out this post to see where you can follow his work.

In Case You MIssed It…

This week I took things back to basics, writing this piece on Fountain Pen Maintenance: How I Clean My Pens. I also wrote a piece on one of my latest custom nib grinds that I received from Mark Bacas, a Predator Hybrid featuring an ultra extra-fine point on the “normal” end and a wider, brush-like point on the reverse.

New This Week in the Curated Shop, Plus a Memorial Day Weekend Special!

We’ve had a lot of new stuff hit the store over the past two weeks, including pens from Platinum, a boatload of new washi tapes and snail mail accessories from iLootPaperie, and more. This week, we’re also running a Memorial Day Weekend special, where all orders placed in the Shop through Monday (5/30) will receive a free “extra,” which could be a pencil, pen, ink sample, stickers, accessories, or even something like a bottle of ink! While there are no official “tiers” to this promotion, bigger orders will receive a bigger add-on. I have a ton of cool stuff to give away as I clean out my workspace and storage, so be sure to take advantage.

Caran d'Ache

Midori MD

Platinum

Washi Tapes

AND Don’t Miss Our Memorial Day Weekend Giveaway!

We’re running yet another giveaway, with more to come! See the post for details, but this week’s giveaway features products courtesy of The Well-Appointed Desk Shop and Skylab Letterpress, including some cool notepads and Col-o-ring notebooks! The giveaway closes end of day Monday, Central U.S. Time. (After which it will be replaced by another!)

View fullsize

Sunday Reading for April 3, 2022 (Atlanta Pen Show Edition)

1. Iroshizuku Out with the Old, In with the New (via Macchiato Man). Pilot is releasing three new colors in the Iroshizuku lineup, and discontinuing three old ones. I’ll try to get some photos from the Pilot table today at the show.

2. Ferris Wheel Press Peter Moss Green (via Mountain of Ink). I recently discovered one of my favorite Ferris Wheel Press inks, Peter Moss Green, which in a finer nib shows up dark but in a broader nib or wetter line has a lot of sheen and character.

3. Traveling with the Kaweco Sport (via A Fleeting Ripple). I’m only just now getting back into traveling, but the Sport fountain pen is an excellent option for those who like to take a fountain pen on the road.

4. A Defense of the Partial Ink Fill (via mnmlscholar). I’ve never been able to do the partial ink fill - I mostly fill my pens to the brim and then write them dry - eventually. But if you’re truly a serial ink changer, I know many people who use partial fills to avoid wasting ink.

5. Cozy Comforts by Robert Oster Signature x EndlessPens x michahfinds (via Rants of the Archer). I haven't looked at many Oster inks lately, but some of these colors are excellent, and the names (“Old Book Smell”!?!) are even better.

6. An Inky Question Part 2 (via Dapprman). As someone who’s interest in ink is “secondary” to my main interests in pens and paper (it’s really about the paper and accessories for me, these days), I sometimes struggle with how to do ink reviews, since there are so many people out there with different formats - photo-visual, descriptive and practical, etc. I’ve landed on the more “descriptive” end of the spectrum, focusing on how well inks work for everyday writing.

7. Vintage Pencils on National Pencil Day (via Writing at Large). I always love seeing Mongol pencils discovered in the wild!

8. Diplomat Elox Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Should I get one of these today, the last day of the Atlanta Pen Show? Those orange rings on the black finish… This review is not helping.

9. An Exciting New Start for ukfountainpens.com (via UK Fountain Pens). I totally get Anthony wanting to step away from the grind of regular blogging and focus on other things, and I’m super excited to here that someone will be taking on the site, keeping the back content alive, and possibly even facilitating new content going forward.

10. Enough Is Too Many Is Just Right (via Pen Addict). And I thought it was hard for me to juggle four notebooks. LOL. Sarah has me beat.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I talked about the notebook “system” I use to keep track of my life and various side projects. I also visited the Atlanta Pen Show - still there today, actually - and I’ve enjoyed saying hello to many of you! Look for a recap this week, along with some excellent content that will be forthcoming on specialty nib grinds. A longer-term research project is almost finished.

This Week in the Curated Shop

This week we released the Midori 70th Anniversary Pen and Ink sets, along with Mitsubishi Hi-Uni and Midori Pencil Sets. As of yesterday, Lochby is fully restocked.

Midori Pens

Midori MD Paper

Pencils

Lochby

This Week “From the Archives” - Best Fountain Pen Inks for Everyday Writing

There’s a wealth of back content here at The Gentlemen Stationer (I have been writing this blog/website/whatever it is for eight years now, and much of it belies categorization in something like the Fountain Pen Review archive. I thought it might be fun - for me as much as you all - to dive into the back catalogue and pull out some of my favorite deep cuts. One per week, perhaps with a little bit of updated commentary as applicable. This week’s post is from the “Best Fountain Pen Inks for Everyday Writing” series, and discusses Lamy Inks - still some of the best “pen company” inks out there, in my opinion, especially their Blue-Black and Black inks.

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here.

Sunday Reading for March 27, 2022 (Plus, Introducing a New Feature!)

1. Reading Journal (via KraftyKats). If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed with notebooks and looking for new and varied ways in which to use your pens and stationery, a reading notebook (or a commonplace book), is an excellent way to work through your backlog.

2. On Keeping a Commonplace Book (via Notebook Stories). Commonplacing has been receiving a lot of attention recently, huh? Even from the New York Times?

3. How I End a Journaling Notebook (via mnmlscholar). Do you review and index your completed notebooks? I don’t, but probably should.

4. Onoto Scholar (via Dapprman). People are raving about the Onoto Scholar, a lower-cost version of the well-reviewed British fountain pens that are slowly making an impact here in the U.S. and into the broader pen community at large.

5. My Personal Pens: Leonardo Momento Magico (via S.B.R.E. Brown). Despite exceptional reviews, I can’t get my head around the Momento Magico enough to add one to my personal collection. I think I’m too sold on the standard-size Momento Zero.

6. Icon, Maker, or Luxe? (via UK Fountain Pens). Why do we keep certain pens in our personal collection, yet pass on others even if we agree that the pens themselves are excellent? I’ve not examined my own behavior in this regard, but as always, Anthony has some astute observations.

7. Take Me Out Tonight: Pelikan M205 Petrol (via A Fleeting Ripple). I never found myself getting into seriously collecting the Pelikan M205 series, but they have a devoted following (especially if you love color-matching pens to inks).

8. TWSBI Emerald Green (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). TWSBI’s inks don’t get the attention they deserve, IMHO, because they’re somewhat basic colors yet behave quite well and are extremely inexpensive. You can check them out here.

9. Today I Got To: ______ (via From the Pen Cup). As always, I enjoy Mary’s periodic posts. I absolutely need to find a way to make sure I’m able to write for just a little bit each day.

10. Monarca Inks Part 3 (via Well-Appointed Desk). Monarca Inks are now in stock at a range of stationery stores including Amarillo Ink, Vanness, and Dromgoole’s. Jesi has the last installment of a three-part review featuring my personal favorite, Mar Caribe (a bright Turquoise).

In Case You Missed It…

This week was my first full week back from pen show + family vacation + extended work trip + daylight savings time, and it was a bear. In the intervening two years of more or less not leaving the house or traveling to locations where I stayed put for an extended period, I apparently forgot how exhausting travel truly can be. That said, I did manage to get back on a regular posting schedule. Hopefully you all enjoyed my post “Join the Dark Side: Grades of Pencil Graphite from HB to 4B” in which I discussed my preference for the “B Side” of the graphite spectrum, as well as my re-review of the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age fountain pen, which has drawn a lot of commentary on Visconti’s seemingly inexplicable inability to resolve quality and consistency issues with their nibs. Finally, early on this week I wrote a short post on different types of paper I use for letter writing, and why I’ve chosen to stock them in the Curated Shop.

View fullsize

Midori MD Cotton is a favorite paper for pencils.

This Week in the Curated Shop

We’re still sorting and posting a huge restock of Midori, including a huge lot of MD and MD Cotton writing pads, as well as Clairefontaine A5 Clothbound notebooks and Triomphe paper. We’ve substantially built out our stock of high-quality graphite pencils and erasers over the past several weeks, and of course have restocked on the ever-popular Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoints, rollerballs, and Fixpencils!

Caran d'Ache

Soumkine Planners

Midori MD

Pencils

Introducing T.G.S. “From the Archives”!

There’s a wealth of back content here at The Gentlemen Stationer (I have been writing this blog/website/whatever it is for eight years now, and much of it belies categorization in something like the Fountain Pen Review archive. I thought it might be fun - for me as much as you all - to dive into the back catalogue and pull out some of my favorite deep cuts. One per week, perhaps with a little bit of updated commentary as applicable. This week’s somewhat randomly selected choice is Travel Tips: Packing a Writing Kit for the Road, published in January 2020 before, well, “things happened.” Reading back through this brought up a lot of feelings, because I remember this extended trip well, and also because when I hit the road this past month I used a similar travel setup due to my recently purchased travel gear being essentially like new.