Mid-Year review: Personal Favorites

While I thought I wasn’t going to get any time off this summer, the opportunity came up, due to some cancelled meetings at work, to take several days and visit family I haven’t seen in over a year. So, this week I’ll be finishing my mid-year “recaps”, as I originally intended, though you may notice that the schedule is a little different. With that out of the way, the second part of mid-year review takes a look at five of my favorite posts from the first half of 2021, in addition to those featured in Part I, Reader Favorites. Don’t take these as any sort of ranking - they appear in no particular order.

1. Filling Systems: Pros and Cons of Piston Fillers, Vacuum Fillers, and Cartridge/Converter Fountain Pens. What draws us to certain filling mechanisms? It really depends on why you write with a fountain pen in the first place. For example, if you value ink capacity, you’ll prefer higher-capacity piston and vacuum fillers (or maybe even eyedroppers). On the other hand, if you’re a serial ink changer, you may be fine sticking with a cartridge/converter.

2. Review Revisited: Is the Pilot G2 Still a Good Pen? One of my major “themes” for the blog, now seven years old, has been revisiting past reviews and opinions to see whether they still “stick”. Here, I took at look at what had previously been my favorite gel refill - the Pilot G2 - and confirmed that it’s still a great option.

3. Take Five: Favorite Traveler’s Notebook Refills. I haven’t used many notebooks other than My Traveler’s Notebook system this year. I’ve enjoyed having everything in one compact place, and not having to worry about whether the paper will be good or not, since my favorite refills use the excellent Midori MD.

4. Organizing a Pen Collection: Pulling It All Together. This year, another theme has been one of consolidation and appreciation rather than additional accumulation. I’m in the process of pruning a lot of unused pens, pencils, notebooks and other stationery from my supply, and thinking hard about what it is that I want to keep.

5. Scribo Feel Fountain Pen and Scribo Ink Reviews. Every year I tend to discover one new brand that sticks with me, and this year it may be Scribo. While I wasn’t much of an OMAS fan, I’ve found myself drawn to Scribo, a “legacy” company founded by former OMAS employees. I’ve especially enjoyed their inks and ink bottles, and have more inks from that line in the queue for review.

A Note on Shop Orders: Due to my travel schedule, orders placed between Friday 6/4 and Saturday 6/12 will ship on 6/13, after my return. Thank you for understanding, and I’ll be sure to thrown in a little something extra for your trouble.

The End of Tomoe River (?) and Possible Replacements

The pen blogs and podcasts have been filled with reports of the imminent demise of our community’s beloved Tomoe River Paper, known for its ability to withstand fountain pen ink despite its extremely light weight. Jesi has the full details over at the Well-Appointed Desk, but suffice to say, it looks like the rumors are true. Personally, I’m not the world’s largest Tomoe River fan - it’s great paper, but I enjoy others equally - so I’m not hoarding or stocking up beyond picking up a couple extra Nanami Cafe Note refills. Plus, various companies are apparently in the process of developing similar products. For now, we continue to have Tomoe River loose sheets in stock, but I can’t guarantee we’ll be able to get more. We also stock a wide range of fountain pen friendly paper from other brands, which you may want to try out if you haven’t already.

Note: While most orders placed today will ship out before I leave, due to some unanticipated family travel, orders placed between Friday 6/4 and Saturday 6/12 will ship on 6/13, after my return. Thank you for understanding, and I’ll be sure to thrown in a little something extra for your trouble. Many thanks!

1. Midori MD Paper. Midori MD is becoming my favorite Japanese fountain pen friendly paper. It comes in multiple formats and sizes, including A6, A5, and B6 notebooks. I currently stock lined, grid, dot grid, and framed journal versions, as well as the day-to-a-page “Codex” notebooks, which have become extremely popular.

2. Midori MD Cotton Paper. Extremely ink friendly, 100% cotton paper that also works quite well in typewriters. In addition to the A4 and A5 paper pads, I recently received a shipment of MD Cotton Paper notebooks, and going forward will try to stock this paper in both pad and notebook formats.

3. Traveler’s Notebook Refills. Traveler’s Company was spun off from Midori into a stand-alone brand years ago, and as such the standard refills use Midori MD paper. While the “Lightweight Paper” specialty refill currently contains Tomoe River paper, the word on the street is that Traveler’s Company is developing their own “replacements”, some of which will be featured in the “B Sides and Rarities” refills that I have on the way. For more information on the Traveler’s Company notebook system and how you can use it, start with this post.

4. Clairefontaine & Rhodia. Both legendary paper brands have a reputation as rock-solid alternatives for fountain pen enthusiasts, though they tend to fall by the wayside in favor of trendier (and often much-hyped) Japanese alternatives. Clairefontaine paper is a personal favorite of mine, especially the A5 Clothbound French-ruled notebook.

5. Write Notepads. Last but not least, the first brand we ever carried here remains one of the best. Bound in Baltimore, Maryland, Write Notepads paper makes a wide range of fountain pen friendly spiral notebooks and writing pads, in a variety of rulings.

NOTE: As discussed the other day, all notebooks will ship with complimentary “library pouches” until my supply is exhausted!

For further reading and an overview of additional paper brands, check out our Guide to Fountain Pen Friendly Paper. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, 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. Many thanks!

Mid-Year Review: Popular Content from the First Half of 2021

Every year around this time (which is typically when I go on vacation, in normal times), I take a week to reflect on both (1) the most popular post from the first several months of the year; and (2) my favorite posts from the first several months. These recaps serve a couple of different purposes: They let new readers and those who’ve fallen behind catch up on posts they may have missed, and give me an overview of where I’ve spent most of my time and whether I want to change direction at all. There’s a nice mix of content here, including updated Top Five lists, personal reflections, and pen and ink reviews, and it’s generally reflective of the site’s new direction. Happy reading!

1. My Five Best Pencils for Everyday Writing, Five Years Later. With T.G.S. having celebrated it’s seventh anniversary in April, one of my major goals was to revisit popular “Best of” or “Top Five” lists from the early days of the site, many of which had grown woefully out-of-date. First up was this “Best Pencils” post - a solid reader favorite. You can still read the original here, to see what changed and what stayed the same.

2. A Closer Look: Best Notebooks for a Commonplace Book. All that time spent at home during 2020 really allowed me to restart my reading habit, if not in number of books consumed, then in the depth at which I read. I’ve regularly kept a commonplace book (a collection of quotes, notes, and “to read” recommendations) for the past year and a half and found it to be a fulfilling hobby.

3. First Impressions: Hands-on with the New Parker 51 Fountain Pen. Of course this one got the page views. (And the comments. Oh yes, the comments. They still keep coming.)

4. Mini-Collections and Under-Appreciated Pens: The Parker Sonnet. I guess I’ve spent the first part of the year on a bit of a modern Parker kick. I keep coming back to the Sonnet as an all-time favorite, as there’s something about the pen’s classic design that makes it a potential “desert island” writer for me, along with the Lamy 2000. As I discuss in that post, I’ve unconsciously accumulated a small “mini-collection” of Sonnets over the years.

5. Exploring Iroshizuku, Part I and Part II. I tend to shy away from doing a lot of ink reviews, since I find today’s ink market (1) intimidating due to its sheer size, and (2) a bit of a hype machine designed to encourage people to constantly acquire more ink than any person could ever use in a reasonable lifetime. I do, however, enjoy well-made, beautiful ink that’s suitable for everyday writing, such as Pilot’s Iroshizuku line. In these two posts, which form part of a larger work-in-progress, I look at six different inks, many of which are long-time favorites.

A Late Addition to the Commonplace Book Post….

I don’t recall exactly where I picked this tip up, but sometime during 2020 I started sticking “library pockets” in the back of my books, that I would use to hold index cards for notetaking while I was traveling or reading. I’d later transcribe my notes from the notecards into my commonplace book. The habit has stuck (especially for books I can’t or don’t want to annotate or mark up), but I WAY over-purchased library pockets, and accidentally ordered more than a hundred of them. I don’t want to just throw them out, so I’m giving them away. If you order a notebook from the Curated Shop (hopefully for commonplacing but it’s not necessary), I’ll throw in a couple of these pockets, free of charge. The promotion will last until I’ve exhausted my excess supply. (Just to be clear, you’ll receive two pockets per person, per order, not two pockets per notebook.)

Sunday Reading for Memorial Day Weekend, Plus a Memorial Day Promotion!

1. Pilot Deluxe Urushi (via Left Hook Pens). Another Japan-only release from Pilot, but this looks like a slimmer version of the Pilot Custom Urushi, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Here’s to hoping that Pilot brings this one stateside.

2. 3 Oysters Delicious Chili Red (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). 3 Oysters is one of those brands that flies under the radar but it’s been a long time since I’ve used their ink. I need to pick it back up since it’s a good workhorse brand.

3. Tibaldi Bononia Seashell Mist (via Rants of the Archer). With a shape similar to a Leonardo Furore or a classic Sheaffer Balance, the Tibaldi Bononia once again showcases some stunning materials.

4. 2021 Parker 51 with Steel Nib (via Dapprman). After mostly positive reviews, here’s one where someone has had issues with the newly reissued version of the Parker 51.

5. Introducing the Penquisition Shop (via Penquisition). Please go visit the Penquisition shop and check out their pen rests, pen holders, and other Penquisition swag. I’m always glad to support other sites and blogs trying to make a go at it without the “sponsorship” or affiliate model.

6. Uniball One .38mm Gel Pen Review (via Pen Addict). Uniball has been updating their gel and ballpoint lineup, and I like the look of the One, especially the more modern barrel design. I’ll need to check out the ink, though.

7. Uniball Jetstream Edge 3 Color Multi Pen Review (via Pen Addict). While we’re on a Uniball kick, this is a weird multi pen design. Jetstream Multi Pens are generally great, but I’m not sure how the grip works on this one.

8. Sharpie S-Gel and Roller Pens (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ok, I may be headed out to Office Depot today to pick some of these up after reading Ana’s review. Sharpie for the win, as always!

9. Montblanc Meisterstuck LeGrand 147 Traveller Fountain Pen (via Gourmet Pens). Looking for the 146-sized Montblanc that can take cartridges? Check out the “Traveller” version.

10. GIVEAWAY ALERT: Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag (via Well-Appointed Desk). And why not conclude this week’s links with a giveaway from Ana and team at the Well-Appointed Desk? Don’t miss this chance to win a Galen Leather Writer’s Medic Bag.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published a series of posts with a bit of a theme. Part I talked about my current dissatisfaction with the FOMO-driven state of today’s stationery market, but how I myself feel like I fell into the trap of chasing “limited editions,” etc. over the years and got away from what first got me into this hobby: actually writing. The second installment talks about how I’ve tried to adopt a different mindset in building out the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and Part III looks at what I think it takes to do a special release the “right” way, looking at the recent Kanilea Pen Company Honokalani Maile Lei.

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Looking to jump-start your planner life as we get back to work? We have the full lineup of Traveler’s Company Notebooks and refills. Take advantage of our periodic sales to get into this versatile notebook/planner system.

In Observance of Memorial Day - Take 10% Off Your Curated Shop Orders, Plus a Free Gift Promotion!

To celebrate Memorial Day, use the coupon code “GRATITUDE” to take 10% off shop orders (excluding TWSBI products, which cannot be discounted per the manufacturer). Since I’m looking to clear some stuff out of my own collection, all orders placed between now and 11:59 p.m. CT on Monday, May 31 will receive a free gift from my own personal stash - it could be a few modern or vintage pencils, it could be a pen, it could be a rare pocket notebook! All I know is that I can’t use all of this stuff and I’m looking to pass it along.

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

I’ve been trying to expand into social media beyond Instagram, due to my dissatisfaction with the direction that platform is taking. Currently, you can also engage with me on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Reddit. (Honestly, I’m active on Twitter and Reddit moreso than Facebook, but I do read all the Facebook comments, eventually.) Mainly, I’m doing this because of Instagram’s algorithm-driven approach that buries content unless you’re endlessly posting to their various formats (“Reels,” Stories, posts, etc.) and actively monitoring your account to where you’re basically having to respond to comments and DMs in real time. This is impractical, because you end up spending all your time on their platform and not actually writing or running your business, and then most of this content is temporary (24hrs) and you have to jump on the “hamster wheel” again. Many people just want an easy way to receive updates on when I post new content to the blog. Twitter and Reddit allow me to do that reliably. If there’s one thing you can do to help support T.G.S., it’s sharing our content and spreading the word!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live!

What Makes a Great Anniversary Edition: Kanilea Pen Company Honokalani Maile Lei

I’ve spent the past week or so writing about my frustration with the constant stream of “special” and “limited” edition pens flooding the market, seemingly without a lot of thought or meaning behind each release. But I can gripe all day, and it doesn’t make any difference unless I (1) offer some sort of alternative myself; or (2) offer my thoughts on what makes a good special edition product. Today I’ll open door number two, using the recent release from Kanilea Pen Company, their Fifth Anniversary Honokalani Maile Lei fountain pen, as an example of how a company can do things the “right” way. After thinking on these issues, I’ve come up with four key points that, to me, make a legitimately “special” limited or special edition pen:

1. It’s made to commemorate an actual event, or otherwise represents something with special meaning.

2. The design ties to the “theme” of the special edition in a meaningful way.

3. If the price point of the special or limited edition product is significantly higher than the company’s standard product line, there is something to justify the markup.

4. If the product is heavily marketed as “limited” or “special”, the actual availability reflects that, especially if the company relies heavily on “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out) to promote the release.

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So How Does Kanilea’s Fifth Anniversary Pen Get It Right?

For starters, it’s a fifth anniversary pen, and it’s more than appropriate to issue a special release to commemorate something like the fifth anniversary of your company! The Kanilea Pen Company officially launched in August 2016 at the Washington, D.C. Pen Show. While I was in attendance, I didn’t have the opportunity to actually buy a pen because they sold out so fast. Since then, Kanilea has grown its lineup deliberately, typically releasing one or two new pens per year, all in keeping with their original company “theme” - places and locations in Hawaii. The Honokalani Maile Lei is no exception, named after the black sand beach on the island of Maui, with the custom-blended, proprietary acrylic designed to reflect the blue water swirling over the black sand.

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Between the custom acrylic and the handcrafted design, no two Kanilea pens are identical. Each pen will have a different pattern of swirls and colors, and for that reason I often enjoy purchasing my Kanilea pens in person at pen shows. Hopefully we’ll get the chance to do that again soon!

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Per Kanilea, Honokalani translates to “Harbor of the Chief,” and “Maile” refers to a sacred Hawaiian plant with fragrant, dark green leaves. The workmanship on the silver “Maile Lei” band is gorgeous.

Yes, the “Maile Lei” pen is a bit more expensive than a standard Kanilea, reflecting a markup of approximately $160. But you’re not just paying for a “special” or “limited” moniker - the Maile Lei features an Argentium Silver cap band with a three dimensional design depicting a lei of maile leaves. According to the materials provided by Kanilea with my pen, “[a] maile lei expresses many meanings and is used to celebrate important life events or even given as a sign of friendship. Traditionally, a maile lei is worn draped around the neck, open ended, but closed maile leis are also made.” The Konokalani Maile Lei fountain pen is only available in a single design profile, the Classic, which, in my opinion, perfectly showcases both the acrylic and the custom silver band.

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Finally, while the Honokalani Maile Lei is an “Anniversary edition” pen, and presumably won’t be available forever (though I could be wrong about that), you don’t see any desperate “buy-it-now-or-you’ll-miss-it” style marketing that’s become so characteristic of modern pen releases. Each Kanilea launch is accompanied by carefully assembled marketing materials explaining the story behind the pen, how the design choices relate to the theme, and how the pen fits into the overall Kanilea narrative.

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Your Kanilea pen arrives packaged in a black walnut keepsake box. I have several of these boxes, and each has found new life as a dresser valet, pencil box, or catch-all for office supplies.

Granted, I do want to point out that Kanilea isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples comparison with other brands, because Kanilea isn’t a typical pen company. Their standard lineup of pens isn’t mass-produced. Each model is carefully tied to the company’s core theme, with each aspect of every pen, from shape to material, carefully selected to reflect its namesake. The pens themselves are designed and handcrafted by the small family team behind Kanilea. But I do think the comparison is still instructive, as one could even argue that what Kanilea does with their “regular line” is what more mainstream companies should be considering for their special and limited releases (at least if their goal is to foster the sort of loyal customer base that has allowed companies like Kanilea to flourish).

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Kanilea fountain pens feature an extremely comfortable grip section and reliable No. 6 JoWo nibs, each tuned and smoothed prior to shipment to ensure a good writing experience.

Why I Enjoy Kanilea Pens

Apart from the aesthetics, Kanilea pens are extraordinarily well-designed, ergonomic, and comfortable. The section, in my opinion, is one of the best out there, the pens are perfectly balanced, and Hugh’s skill at nib tuning continues to impress me. While a Kanilea fountain pen makes for an expensive purchase, the entire experience - down to the packaging - delivers a level of value that’s hard to find from any other maker.

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Where to Buy the Kanilea Honokalani Maile Lei

If you’re interested in learning more about Kanilea’s Fifth Anniversary Release, visit the Kanilea Pen Company website. As I noted above, the Honokalani Maile Lei retails at a higher price point than a typical Kanilea fountain pen ($555 for a steel nib, and $695 for 18k gold), though there is also a Honokalani model (no Maile Lei band) at the standard $395 pricing. Other Kanilea models currently available for purchase include the Mauna Kea, Aolani, and Nui Nalu, which I’ve previously written about as well as the newer Kona Snow and Kona Cherry designs.

Disclaimer: Kanilea Pen Company was kind enough to provide me with the pen featured in this review on a tryout basis. It’s not going to make it’s way back to them. While I did not receive the pen for free, I did receive a discount on the purchase of a gold nib version. Many thanks to Hugh, Karol, and the rest of the team at Kanilea for making this review possible!