Mini Collections, Part V: All The Blue Inks (Including Blues, Blue-Blacks, Teals, and Turquoise)

August 14, 2021

I have way too many blue inks, and need to do some serious housecleaning. Part of this, of course, is by default. Over the years I’ve purchased many pens that ship with a bottle of ink, and nine times out of ten, it’s a bottle of “house brand” blue or black. But at the same time, I’ve fallen into the habit of constantly searching for that perfect shade of blue, even though we all know that’s impossible. I’ve accumulated dozens of blues, many in nearly identical shades, without realizing it.

It goes without saying that I’m going to be selling off a lot of the duplicative bottles very quickly, as those are no-brainer choices to let go. Some of the rest, however, are more difficult. Here are my takeaways from this latest round of swabbing inks:

A General Note:

I found the blue inks more difficult than the other color ranges to photograph correctly, especially where you have shades of standard blue, turquoise, and blue-blacks together, and where certain supposedly “blue” inks tend to lean heavily green or teal. The blue-blacks are represented fairly accurately here. Otherwise, these photos tend to slightly overstate the vibrancy of the standard blues and understate the vibrancy of the teals and turquoises.

Blue-Inks, Volume 1.jpeg — From Top: Vintage Montblanc Blue-Black; Montblanc JFK Navy Blue; Vintage Pelikan Blue-Black; Sailor Bungubox 4B; Platinum Blue-Black; Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai; Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite; Lamy Blue-Black; Waterman Blue-Black; Waterman Black-Inspired Blue Mix; Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo; TWSBI Blue-Black; TWSBI Midnight-Blue; Aurora Blue-Black; Diamine Cult Pens Deep-Dark Blue.

With Respect to Blue-Black Inks:

I’m much more of a “midnight/navy blue” person than a steel blue, iron gall fan. I intend to move on from inks that essentially dry grey. Farewell, vintage Pelikan Blue-Black, Lamy Blue-Black, Iroshizuku Shin-Kai, and others that have very little actual blue in them.
I’ll probably keep at least one or two bottles of iron gall ink in the collection because it works so well on cheap paper and I sometimes like to use them for work. I don’t need six bottles though, and TWSBI Blue-Black is an inexpensive favorite.

From Top: Noodler’s Air Corps Blue-Black; Papier Plume Midnight Blue; Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-Gao; Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai; Caran d’Ache “Klein Blue” limited edition; Caran d’Ache Chromatics Idyllic Blue; Graf von Faber-Castell Royal Blue; Graf von Faber-Castell Cobalt Blue; Noodler’s Blue; Sailor Kobe Nagasawa No. 37; Aurora Blue; Robert Oster Fire & Ice; Platinum Mix-Free Aurora Blue; Platinum Mix Free Aqua Blue.

With Respect to “Standard” Blue Inks:

Standard Pelikan, Lamy, and Pilot blue inks are far too washed out to warrant taking up space in the collection. If you’re a serious vintage pen collector, which I’m not, you may prefer one or more of these “safe inks” for use in your more delicate pens prone to staining, but it’s not an issue I face, and in any event I prefer Waterman Florida (“Serenity Now”) Blue.
Aurora Blue remains a favorite inexpensive blue ink. Noodler’s Blue is also very good, and I’ve found it to be better behaved than other Noodler’s colors. It also dries fairly quickly and doesn’t smear. (At least, the bottle I have doesn’t. As with most Noodler’s ink, there are batch variations so YMMV.)
The Pilot Iroshizuku line has the best blue inks across the board of any ink line on the market. I could happily live in this ink lineup forever. Asa-Gao, Ajisai, and Kon-Peki are exceptionally vibrant blue inks that have become staples in my rotation.
I don’t like Sailor blues as much as I used to. I don’t find them as vibrant as the Pilot inks, and even Bungubox Sapphire (which I used to think was the best blue ever) can’t hold a candle to Asa-Gao, IMHO. The ridiculous price point of the Sailor Bungubox inks make this an even easier call.

From Top: Bungubox Sapphire; Leonardo Blue; Pelikan Edelstein Sapphire; Pilot Blue; Omas Turquoise; Montblanc UNICEF Blue; Sailor Ink Studio 140; Sheaffer Turquoise; Franklin-Christoph Spanish Blue; Lamy Blue; Pelikan 4001 Turquoise; Montblanc Elixir “Azure”; Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki; Pelikan Blue; TWSBI Sapphire Blue.

With Respect to Teal and Turquoise:

The big winner from this round of swatching is once again an Iroshizuku ink. Ama-Iro, which I’ve never used before, is absolutely gorgeous. A close second is the standard Pelikan 4001 Turquoise, which also shocked me with its vibrancy.
Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku over Sailor Yama-Dori. Again, Pilot also wins in the category of “dark teal inks with shading.”
Many turquoise inks are too watery for my taste. The one lighter ink I may make an exception for is Sailor Ink Studio 140, since it’s a relatively rare example of a “double shader” that is legible enough for everyday writing.

From Top: Pilot Iroshizuku Ama-Iro; Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku; Sailor Jentle Yama Dori; Sailor Jentle Naoi-Sumire; Birmingham Pen Company Angelfish; Scribo Blue Cosmico; TWSBI Sky Blue.

As always, watch the “Gently Used” Page in the coming weeks. I plan to aggressively unload some of these inks, cycling them through the Patreon first and then move them over to the public sale page after a week. Some greens and pinks still remain from my prior ink testing marathons, along with vintage pencils and office supplies that I’m clearing out.

Disclaimer: This post does not contain paid affiliate links. Going forward, T.G.S is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

The Schon DSGN display at this year’s 2021 D.C. Pen Show.

Deals & Drops: Greatest Hits from the 2021 D.C. Pen Show

August 12, 2021

We’re living in strange times, and not everyone will have the opportunity to safely attend pen shows for the foreseeable future. As long as I’m able, I plan to continue to attend shows and publish my recaps here, with a focus on highlighting new releases and other unique discoveries that don’t necessarily get as much attention as they should. If you missed my show recaps, you can read my Friday post as well as my Saturday/Sunday write-up here.

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, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Schon DSGN Faceted Brass Pocket 6 Fountain Pen (via Schon DSGN). One of my first show acquisitions this year, I’ve been coveting a Pocket 6 in the “Faceted Brass” finish for a couple of years now. These (and the rest of the Pocket 6 range) were insanely popular at this year’s show.
Schon DSGN Ultem Fountain Pen (via Schon DSGN). Back in stock and ready to purchase, without a pre-order! At the show, Ian had both the amber and black ultem fountain pens for sale. Ultem is an ultra lightweight and durable acrylic used in medical devices, which also won’t stain. These pens could be considered the “ultimate eyedropper.”
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen (via TGS Curated Shop). It seems as though everyone was looking to test or get their hands on the new TWSBI Swipe fountain pen. At $26.99, the fact that TWSBI’s first cartridge-converter pen includes two different converters with the pen makes it a potential game-changer for the price segment.
TWSBI ECO Demonstrator Fountain Pens (via TGS Curated Shop). The second most-purchased TWSBI pens were the jewel-like ECO demonstrators, which come in a wide range of colors, from Transparent Blue to Lilac to the ever-popular Rose Gold series.
Vinta Inks (via Vanness Pens). Vanness is renowned for their massive ink selection, and one recent addition has been Vinta, a line of inks from the Philippines famous for both shading and sheen. These inks sold like crazy through the weekend.
Conway Stewart Fountain Pens (via Vanness Pens). The original Conway Stewart fountain pens were famous for their unique acrylics, and the current British-made rendition of the brand continues that tradition. The Churchill model is a larger fountain pen that showcases the Conway Stewart material and craftsmanship without too much weight.
Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Fixpencil in “Ochre” (via TGS Curated Shop). Ok, so it’s more of a “burnt orange” than Ochre, but its gorgeous, and it says something that I sold a half-dozen of these pencils at what is usually a fountain-pen show. Special edition Swiss Wood pencils are also available.
Caran d’Ache 849 “Claim Your Style” Season 3 (via TGS Curated Shop). While I didn’t bring these with me to D.C., people kept asking about them, especially how the “Night Blue” pen compares to other colors. I’ve posted an additional photo below. “Season 2” of Claim Your Style is also on sale, while supplies last.
Yamamoto Paper (via Vanness Pens). While the “Tomoe River Replacement” craze has largely moved on - we didn’t have many people come by the table asking for a substitute - we sold a ton of Yamamoto paper, a Japanese brand with a wide range of different fountain pen friendly paper styles.
Midori MD “Codex” 365-day Notebooks and Midori MD Cotton Paper (via T.G.S. Curated Shop). Another brand that we didn’t necessarily have in large quantities but always sells well, Midori MD paper is exceptionally fountain pen friendly and comes in a wide range of sizes. The Codex Notebooks and MD Cotton Paper are two of my best-sellers in general.

The two-tone “Night Blue” pen is a deep navy/blue-black.

2021 D.C. Pen Show Recap: Saturday, Sunday, and Overall Thoughts on the Return of Pen Shows

August 11, 2021

This past weekend was something of a blur, and that’s putting it mildly. While Friday might have seen less traffic than in years past - probably due to fewer weekend pass holders traveling in from out-of-state - the two public days felt busier than ever. You could sense the pent-up demand, and not only for the buying frenzy that can sometimes take hold at pen shows, but for human interaction with other like-minded people. In short, it was a great weekend, and even though I spent most of it behind the Vanness Pens table at the front of the large ballroom, I went a bit crazy on Sunday and have quite the show haul. Good thing I spent the last few weeks selling off pens and ink!

Hugh ready to go behind the Kanilea Pen Co. table on Friday!

Which Vendors Attended, and a Few Noticeable Absences

Despite the uncertainty, the 2021 D.C. Pen Show featured a wide array of exhibitors and vendors. Retailers included Vanness Pens (where I helped out for the weekend), Dromgoole’s, Bertram’s Inkwell, Lemur Ink, Chatterley Luxuries, and Bittner. Makers included Galen Leather (who traveled all the way from Turkey!), Schon DSGN, Franklin-Christoph, Kanilea Pen Company, Ryan Krusac, Good Made Better, Carolina Pen Company (Jonathon Brooks), Lucky Star Pens, Hinze Pens, and more. Pilot USA even made an appearance this year as part of a push to increase their engagement among fine writing enthusiasts, taking a table next to the Vanness setup. I understand they will be attending more shows in the future. This isn’t an exhaustive list of attendees - just the ones who I was able to visit with. For a full list of exhibitors, check out the D.C. Pen Show website.

The new TWSBI Swipe was one of the more sought-after pens this past weekend.

In terms of noticeable absences, there weren’t many, but I felt that there were fewer opportunities for nib work than in years past. Neither Mike Masuyama or Dan Smith (The Nibsmith) attended, nor did J.J. Lax Pen Co. or Custom Nib Studio (Gena Salorino). Mark Bacas did attend, but in a personal capacity, and wasn’t taking in work to my knowledge. That said, this show created opportunities for newer nib grinders, including Kirk Speer (Pen Realm), Damien Allomar (All in the Nib), and J.C. Ament (Nibs on Point). While I didn’t have a chance to use any of their services this past weekend, I have used Nibs on Point in the past, and will have a review of some of J.C.’s nib work in the near future.

So What Did I Take Home? (Obligatory Show Haul Photos)

Let’s start with the ink. As you know, I’ve been sorting through my ink collection to eliminate duplicates and those inks that I don’t find myself using much. So for inks this year, to the extent I was going to pick up any at the show, they were going to be more unique colors that didn’t already exist in my current selection. As luck would have it, I think I may have left my inks from the show in the hotel room, so if they don’t turn up I’ll have to reorder. Grrrr……. Look for some reviews of Vinta and Ferris Wheel Press inks in the near future, courtesy of Vanness!

Photos don’t do the Brooks material or the Lucky Star/Krusac materials justice….

Pen-wise, on Friday I finally got my hands on a Schon DSGN Pocket Six in Faceted Brass with an elongated section, which I’ve had my eye on since the 2020 Baltimore Pen Show. I also picked up a golden-green (“Olive and Gold” anodized Pocket Six to add to my collection of unique finishes from Ian’s magic workshop. I didn’t buy anything on Saturday, but on Sunday afternoon I did some serious shopping. Pick-ups included a Blue Carbonesque Pilot Vanishing Point from Vanness, a Lucky Star Pens x Ryan Krusac collaboration called the Legend L31 in “Dark Andromeda”, which features absolutely gorgeous Diamondcast acrylic, two Franklin-Christoph Model 20s that were show specials, and a pen from Jonathon Brooks that I couldn’t pass up because I loved the dark blue material.

Clockwise from left: Two Franklin-Christoph Model 20s, Lucky Star/Ryan Krusac Studios L31, Jonathon Brooks/Carolina Pen Company, Pilot Vanishing Point in Blue Carbonesque, Schon DSGN Pocket Sixes in Faceted Brass and a green-gold anodized finish.

I also picked up some Yamamoto Spica Bond Paper from Vanness, and an Odyssey Notebook, featuring 68gsm Tomoe River, in B5 size!

Did the Show Feel Safe, and Will I Be Attending More Pen Shows?

While the situation with the pandemic remains fluid and subject to change, I can say that as an attendee who is both vaccinated and wore a mask throughout the entire show, I felt relatively safe and was able to enjoy myself. The fact that 95% of attendees seemed to play by the rules was encouraging, and most people seemed motivated to help the organizers keep the show running smoothly. For me, I was most surprised by the amount of time it took for me to adjust to being around this many people for the first time in nearly 18 months, and the amount of energy required to socialize for three straight days. I did tend to limit my close “after-hours” interaction to smaller group dinners and tried to stay distanced at the bar. I didn’t attend any classes, seminars, or official events at night.

I would love to attend more pen shows this year, and may try to make San Francisco later this month. While I brought a few items for sale from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including a few Sunderland x T.G.S. mk1 pens, the latest Caran d’Ache x Nespresso collaborations, Traveler’s Notebooks, and a ton of Book Darts (which were sleeper hits as expected), I likely won’t be exhibiting as an independent vendor this year. We’re a small operation, and given the stresses of a day job, kid in school, and general level of exhaustion due to what it’s taken to survive the past 18 months, I’m saving further “show expansion” as something on the horizon for 2022. Many thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello at the Vanness table, and especially those who purchased something from me! It was nice to meet you all, and I hope to see you at more shows in the future. Stay safe out there!

By shopping the T.G.S. Curated Shop or visiting us at pen shows, 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!

My first D.C. Pen Show purchase, a Schon DSGN Pocket 6 in faceted brass.

Weekly Links for August 10, 2021

August 10, 2021

Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Magico Millefiori (via Rants of the Archer). Whenever you visit a pen show and see all of the different brands out there, you’re struck by just how good Leonardo pens really are, especially in terms of the uniqueness of their materials. Leonardo has now added a piston filler with an ink window.
A Nib Journey with the Leonardo Momento Zero Mango (via From the Pen Cup). This ruthenium + mango combination is stunning, and Leonardo does have exceptional customer service should you ever run into a problem with your pen.
Flex for the Masses? The Good Blue R615 Fountain Pen (via UK Fountain Pens). A decent modern flex-nib fountain pen that replicates “vintage flex” has been a white whale of the fountain pen community for years. Anthony looks at one of the most recent attempts to do so at a reasonable price point.
Schon DSGN Pocket Six Faceted Brass Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict). I had to laugh when I saw this post by Brad, because I purchased this exact same pen this weekend at the D.C. Pen Show (well, not exactly the same, because I opted for the longer section).
Dip Pen Review: Victorian Trading Company Dip Pens (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’m not a serious dip pen user, but the “Crimson Tidings” dip pen set has me seriously tempted.
The Pen Post (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Les takes a look at Johnny’s latest publication from Pencil Revolution, a pen-focused zine/newsletter that Johnny was kind enough to send me in the mail and which I’m eagerly awaiting time to read, after I finish unpacking from the show).
Ink Overview (Esterbrook Ink). Ana takes a look at the new range of Esterbrook Inks that were recently released, which include some shimmer inks as well as the standard colors you would expect from a pen company’s house line.
Gravitas Entry Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). The Gravitas “Entry” is, well, Gravitas’s entry-level fountain pen, sporting a lightweight, streamlined design that I need to get my hands on for review soon.
CultPencil (via Bleistift). I love it when stores select good promotional products, and I really like the look of what appears to be a Staedtler store pencils from UK Retailer Cult Pens.
Birmingham Pens Rich Inks (via Mountain of Ink). Birmingham Pens has released several new lines of fountain pen inks, which they now make in house. I have a bottle of “Angelfish” in for review, which comes from the “Rich” lineup.

In Case You Missed It….

Last week on the blog, I previewed a couple of releases from Caran d’Ache and TWSBI, all of which are available in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. The TWSBI Swipe fountain pen and new Caran d’Ache Nespresso collabs were quite popular at the 2021 D.C. Pen Show. I also recapped Friday at the D.C. Pen show, but stay tuned for more D.C. recaps coming later this week as I get caught up, and for those of you who placed orders late last week, I am in the process of shipping those and should have orders in the mail and coming your way by tomorrow. Many thanks for your support!

TWSBI Swipe

Caran d'Ache Claim Your Style 3

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

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. 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 and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

About as crowded as it got on Friday at the 2021 D.C. Pen Show.

2021 D.C. Pen Show Day 1 Review and Saturday ("The Big Show") Preview!

August 7, 2021

It’s difficult to put into words what it was like to walk onto a show floor 18 months after the 2020 Baltimore Pen Show, the last show I attended. Setting aside the inevitable discomfort with being around large groups of people at a crowded event for the first time in more than a year, the experience seemed surreal because part of me didn’t really believe it would ever happen again. Was Friday at the 2021 D.C. Pen Show back to “normal”? No. The show seemed far less crowded than in years past, which was to be expected, but it certainly wasn’t sparsely attended. Vendors seemed to be doing well, people generally gave each other space where available, and mask compliance wasn’t an issue.

What really struck me was that people seemed to be reveling in the experience - in being able to catch up with friends that they hadn’t seen in a year and a half, as opposed to participating in the buying frenzy that D.C. can turn into as soon as the organizers open the door. By all accounts, Friday sales were decent, but most attendees took in the show at a more leisurely pace than in years past.

Ultem pens at the Schon DSGN Table. Is that … black ultem?

Since I spent most of Friday behind the table with Vanness Pens, I didn’t get a chance to do that much shopping, though I did finally pick up a Schon DSGN Pocket 6 fountain pen in hammered brass! Stay tuned for more pics today, as the show opens to the public.

If You’re At the D.C. Show, Come See Us By the Entrance!

The Vanness Pens table is located on the right-hand side as you enter the hallway to the main ballroom, next to the Pilot Pens table! We’re fully stocked with ink (of course), as well as pens from Pilot, Opus 88, Kaweco, Conway Stewart, and more! While I didn’t bring a full array of T.G.S. merch to the show this time, I do have a small selection including Traveler’s Notebooks and Refills (including the Lightweight Tomoe River refills), my Sunderland MK1 special edition in matte black and matte burgundy, and a few select products such as the Caran d’Ache Nespresso collaborations and some Book Darts (of course).

A small selection of what I brought with me to D.C. Vanness has everything else!

Since Saturday is the first public day, where you can enter without purchasing a full weekend pass, the show will be much more crowded, so please remember to take it slow and be safe! Hope to see you there.

For those of you who are unable to attend the 2020 D.C. Pen Show in person, I’m running a special promotion through Sunday Night! Take 10% off all orders in the T.G.S. Curated Shop using the coupon code “DCPENSHOW10” at checkout!