One of my pen show prizes from this weekend - a 12-pen hardshell case from Galen Leather. It’s natural undid leather, so it will patina like my Gfeller Cover for my Nanami Paper Cafe Note.

Weekly Links for August 30, 2021 (Post San Francisco Pen Show Edition)

August 30, 2021

Platinum Curidas Gran Red (via Rants of the Archer). The Curidas - Platinum’s entry point into the world of retractable nib fountain pens - started with a lot of hype, a cracked-feed scandal, and then a fair bit of quiet. Are you all still using your Curidas pens? This review has me wanting to break mine out again.
Esterbrook JR Paradise with Scribe Architect Nib: The Feelgood Hit of the Summer? (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony reviews the latest Esterbrook JR release, as well as their latest specialty nib developed in collaboration with JJ Lax Pen Company. I’m torn between the yellow and the blue with the yellow finial.
Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen (Paradise Set, Tuxedo, and Vintage Esterbrook J) (via Macchiato Man). Yagan has an extraordinarily comprehensive review of the new Esterbrook JR “Paradise”, which includes a write up of the standard JR and the vintage Esterbrook J itself.
Pens in Daily Use August 2021 (via Dapprman). My fountain pen use has been fairly spotty this month, as I’ve been doing a bit of travel and I’m in the middle of rejiggering my work from home/office schedule. What pens I have been using have leaned very much towards the practical.
D-Initial Impressions (via Penquisition). Evan takes a look at the S.T. Dupont D-Initial, a new “entry level” model from the luxury French brand, which is one of the very few remaining pen brands that I have no personal experience with.
Lemome Notebook Review (via Fountain Pen Love). John reviews what appears to be a very nice inexpensive notebook that handles fountain pen ink quite well.
How I Manage Meeting Agendas with a Notes App (via Bump). Streamlining meetings? I’m all for that.
Pennonia Inks Part 6 (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli reviews several inks from Romanian company Pennonia, including several of their red inks that have caught my eye.
Retro 51 Tornado Vintage Metalsmith Rollerball, Raw Brass Review (via Pen Addict). Sarah reviews a raw brass version of the classic Retro, and I’m interested to see how these patina.
Musgrave Heritage Collection Pencil Set (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana reviews all the pencils contained in the new Musgrave pencil sampler. I will be contacting winners of our own giveaway when I return from the San Francisco pen show!

In Case You Missed It….

I’m a day late on my links post, but that’s because I’m currently getting ready to fly back from San Francisco this morning, where I’ve been attending the 2021 San Francisco Pen Show. I’ll be posting a full writeup and recap of this awesome experience later this week, but for now read my takeaways from Day One (Friday), and you can also follow my stories/reels/posts over on Instagram. Before I left, I posted an update on my own personal workflow and what I’ve been using since the office reopened, one of many topics I get a lot of questions about.

This Week in the Curated Shop

It’s been a week of restocking following a very busy summer! I now have TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pens in all colors and nib sizes, as well as Prussian Blue 580 fountain pens, and more of the Blue-Black and Midnight Blue inks. TWSBI pens remain as popular as ever, even at pen shows with large contingents of experienced users! Other restocks include Kokuyo Sketch hardcover pocket notebooks, Traveler’s Notebook Lightweight Paper (Tomoe River Paper) refills, and more.

Sunderland MK1 Exclusive

Traveler's Company

Caran d'Ache 849

TWSBI

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.

San Francisco Pen Show: Day 1 Recap

August 28, 2021

This week marked my first ever trip to the San Francisco Pen Show, which the show organizers affectionately dub “The Fun Pen Show”! There’s a reason too - the San Francisco show is set up in much more vendor and user-friendly way than many other larger shows such as D.C. and L.A., in addition to having some great after-hours events. The aisles are spaced widely, allowing for better browsing and a less crowded experience, which is especially important these days.

Get to the Schon DSGN table early - that way you get a chance at things like the “Black Ultem” on the right. (I swapped sections with the standard Amber Ultem to get the two-tone look.)

As with most larger shows, Friday is the “trader pass” day, which means that until 1pm, the show is only open to weekend pass holders and not the general public. For vendors, this can be a mixed bag, as it typically involves less foot traffic in the morning, but for attendees who purchase the three-day pass it can provide an opportunity to interact with vendors before they’re swamped with potential customers, as well as the chance to pick up limited or small quantity items before they sell out. (Since many vendors fly to the San Francisco Pen Show, they have to bring less stock than they would carry to a “driving show,” so I’d highly recommend springing for the trader pass.) Foot traffic yesterday definitely seemed a bit slower, similar to what I witnessed in D.C., and I suspect it’s due to the fact that in a normal year, many of the weekend trader passes are comprised of people who travel in from out-of-town. Unsurprisingly, with fewer people flying, you see slower Fridays, yet Saturdays and Sundays remain busy as locals and those with driving distance visit the show.

The Vanness-Vinta exclusive collaboration. Limited quantities available, and only at the show until next week, when it will go on sale on the Vanness website.

Once again, I’m behind the table with my friends from Vanness Pens, who brought with them from Little Rock a huge assortment of ink from Ferris Wheel Press, Pennonia, Robert Oster, Pilot Iroshizuku, and Vinta, including the Vanness exclusive, “Sodalite”! We also have a selection of pens from Scribo, Pilot, TWSBI, and more, in addition to new products from Galen Leather. While Kanilea Pen Co. and Ryan Krusac Studios are not attending this year, many others are, including Franklin-Christoph, Dromgoole’s, Luxury Brands, Schon DSGN, and more.

The inks available at the Kiwi Inks table. Kiwi is a brand I haven’t used before, and I picked up bottles of Nebula Space Kitty and Hyacinth Macaw.

I made several purchases on Friday, mainly of lower-stock items that I wanted to grab before they sold out. In addition to two Ultem Pens from Schon DSGN, I grabbed two handmade pens fitted with vintage Cartier and Eversharp nibs from Peyton Street Pens, as well as two bottles of Kiwi Inks. Since I was worried they would sell out by the end of the show, I also picked up this magnetic closure, hardshell leather case from Galen Leather. We still have a few remaining at the Vanness table, but these won’t last through the end of the weekend, so if you want one come by early.

Stay tuned for more updates from Saturday and Sunday at the San Francisco Show! Also, don’t forget that through tomorrow night, you can get 10% off any purchases in the T.G.S. Curated Shop by using the coupon code “SFPENSHOW” at checkout. All orders placed during a pen show weekend ship the following week, once I’m back in town.

This post does not contain affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and reader donations. 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.

San Francisco might not be quite as big as D.C. (shown here), but it’s known as “the Fun Pen Show” due to all the after hours events and entertainment.

This Weekend: Come Visit at the San Francisco Pen Show!

August 26, 2021

It’s that time again! I’ll be behind the Vanness Pens table at the 2021 San Francisco Pen Show, which runs from Friday through Sunday (August 27-29). As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not bringing the T.G.S. Curated Shop with me to shows this year, but for those weekends when I do attend Pen Shows, I typically run the equivalent of “Pen Show Pricing” on the site. Today through Sunday, take 10% off your Curated Shop orders (excluding TWSBI and Sunderland) using the coupon code “SFPENSHOW” at checkout!

Please stop by the Vanness table and say hello! I may have some some stickers and other small items available as well….

Please note that due to my travel schedule, all orders placed between Thursday, August 26 and Sunday, August 29 will ship starting Monday, August 30. Many thanks for your support!

Back to Work Check-In: What I'm Using (2021 Edition)

August 25, 2021

Despite it becoming clear over the past several weeks that the pandemic is not over, due to work circumstances beyond my control I’ve found myself working outside my house regularly for the first time in over a year. As a result, I’ve had to adjust my stationery “work rotation,” so I thought it would be interesting (for both me and the readership) to do a back-to-work/back-to-school check-in since I assume many of you are in the same boat. I also get a lot of regular questions about what notebooks I carry on a daily basis, so I wanted to be responsive to those who are interested. This post only discusses my notebooks and pen cases, so while my pen and ink usage has changed as well, that’s a topic for a separate post.

Main Work Notebook: Standard Traveler’s Notebook in Blue. My primary work notebook remains the Traveler’s Notebook standard-size cover. The various refills and accessories that I use can vary depending on exactly what’s going on at the moment, but the “Slim A5” format of the Traveler’s Notebook system tends to fit my style of planning and notetaking perfectly because I make a lot of lists. I use a heavily modified bullet-journal system to take notes, which is idiosyncratic and probably makes sense only to me. I’d show you here, but a lot of my notes are confidential and can’t be photographed.
Stalogy 1/2 Year Graph Notebook (Cut Down to Traveler’s Size). Before this year, I had not used Stalogy paper, and it took some getting used to, but now I’m a convert. I’ll definitely do a full review at some point, but Stalogy paper manages to be both extremely thin and more absorbent than Tomoe River while still handing fountain pen ink relatively well. Yes, there’s can be some show-through with very wet fountain pens, but the trade-off is a much quicker dry time and, in my opinion, softer texture and a better writing feel. Please note that I have modified this notebook to fit the Traveler’s Notebook cover. You can read more here.
Traveler’s Company Undated Planner Refill. I’m a die-hard fan of undated planners, since I don’t necessarily use a paper planner every month - just when it gets busy - and I hate wasting paper. I filled up a Traveler’s Notebook Weeks + Memo insert during the first half of the year, but when I moved to the Stalogy because I needed more room for notes, I incorporated an undated monthly calendar so that I could do more high-level overviews of my schedule.
Superior Leather Co. Pen Roll. A new addition to my collection that I absolutely love, this olive green leather pen roll from Superior Labor was purchased from Baum-kuchen in Los Angeles. It might be the softest leather pen roll that I’ve ever used, and since it matches my Filson bag perfectly, it has not come out of rotation. I also tuck document flags, post-its, and other miscellaneous stationery items into the larger pocket.
Nock Co. Sinclair Three-Pen Case. Perhaps the most consistently featured piece of stationery in my arsenal, this particular black waxed canvas/burgundy piece (an Atlanta Pen Show pickup from several years ago) has become a true ride-or-die item. I’ve told Brad for years that the waxed canvas Sinclairs are a winner, and now they’re back!

Yes, I’m still using favorites such as the Nanami Paper Cafe Note in B6 slim and the Write Notepads Spiral notebook, but those tend to stay home as I use them more for journaling and personal writing. My personal journals (I keep several) are ANOTHER topic that warrant a separate post, but the “system” I use is kind of complex, so I’m struggling a bit to describe it coherently. Stay tuned….

This week’s pens, from left: The BigiDesign Ti Ultra, the Nakaya Long Piccolo, and my own Sunderland mk1.

Sunday Reading for August 22, 2021

August 22, 2021

Drillog Reinvents the Glass Dip Pen (via UK Fountain Pens). I finally backed the Drillog, especially now that they’ve added a longer aluminum body option to the rewards. I find dip pens really useful, but I would appreciate the increased durability of this machined tip.
TWSBI Swipe - Over-Engineered or Welcome Innovation? (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has a very thorough review of TWSBI’s new Swipe fountain pen, which I continue to believe is one of the best current values on the market.
Fountain Pens from My Collection: Kaweco AL Sport (via Fountain Pen Love). The AL Sport is a classic! John’s review reminds me that I need to break out my AL Sports and get them back into the rotation.
Notebook Review: Fabriano EcoQua (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’ve used Fabriano notebooks in the past, and they are definitely an undersung fountain pen friendly option, especially given their lower price point.
On a Whim Woodworks Fountain Pen (via Rants of the Archer). After reading this review, definitely go and check out the On a Whim Etsy store! There are pens in stock in a range of gorgeous materials.
Kaweco Perkeo Demonstrator (via Dapprman). The clear Kaweco Perkeo demonstrator was a big hit at the D.C. Pen Show. I’d love to seek Kaweco do more with this particular line.
Yoobi x Marvel HB Pencils (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Inexpensive pencils at Target? I’m always looking for a good recommendation.
Ten Journals (via From the Pen Cup). That’s an accomplishment! Congratulations, Mary!
Sorry - Not with Those Swirls (via Pete Denison). I tend to agree with Pete that swirled acrylic falls pretty far down the list of my favorite materials. That’s not an absolute (as I have some in my collection, to be sure), but I tend to gravitate towards pens with a more understated look.
Ink Series Review - Visconti Van Gogh Inks (via Well-Appointed Desk). There are some really pretty Van Gogh-inspired colors in here, and the price point is a pleasant surprise! I do love the option to purchase the entire set.

In Case You Missed It….

This week I wrote about a pair of pens that have been on my “To Review” list for quite some time - the Ti Arto and Ti Ultra from BigiDesign. If you’re in the market for a versatile pen that accepts multiple refills, these should all be on your list. I also launched a giveaway of a couple dozen pencils courtesy of Musgrave, with a dozen Tennessee Reds and a dozen Harvest 320 woodcase pencils. (Yes, this week was a bit Tennessee-focused, as BigiDesign is from Chattanooga and Musgrave is from Shelbyville!) Finally, this week’s Deals & Drops post includes a breakdown of what’s new in the Caran d’Ache lineup, including some insight into my personal favorites, as well as an introduction to the now-permanent “T.G.S. Gently Used” section.

New in the Curated Shop

Since I’m focused primarily on Back-to-School/Back-to-Work right now, I’ve brought in a lot of ballpoints, mechanical pencils, and rollerballs, in addition to my fountain pen-focused notebooks and accessories. I’m drawn to versatility when choosing a non-fountain pen writing instrument, so be sure to check these different options out if you’re in the market.

Mazzuoli ITALIA

Sunderland mk1

Stálogy

Rhodia