Throughout this post, you will have to endure my lack of any real calligraphy skills ;)

Well, No Vacation After All...But Let's Play with Some Pens and Inks to Forget That!

October 9, 2021

Just a quick update: I was up early and packed and on the road to go to NYC for a long awaited family vacation…. only to arrive at the airport and have Southwest cancel our flight one hour beforehand and tell us there were no openings on any other flights, direct or indirect, for the next three days. Oh well! I didn’t have any fresh review content prepared, but I CAN show you all what I was playing around with last night as I was getting ready for some time off.

Shading Inks from Pennonia, Courtesy of Vanness Pens

I’m not typically a crazy ink enthusiast, but after spending a fun weekend at the Chicago Pen Show experimenting with all sorts of flexible nibs and shading inks, I decided to break into my ink sample stash and play around with several inks from Pennonia that I’ve been admiring online. Pennonia is a Romanian/Hugarian ink company that hand-mixes an enormous line of fountain pen inks, ranging from vibrant blues to more subdued super shaders and double-shaders. You can even purchase shimmer powder in various colors to customize your inks! I’ve been testing out four different Pennonia inks in a wide variety of pens, ranging from standard broad and stub nibs to Pilot Parallels to folded and flex calligraphy nibs. These inks have all behaved wonderfully, even if the specific colors work best for different types of writing.

Pennonia “Danuvius Danube” on mixed-media art paper, writing sample done with a folded nib (top) and a Zebra G dip nib (bottom). The ink shades grey-blue with purple and pink tones, and reminds me somewhat of Vinta Armada, though lighter.

Pennonia Zuzmo Lichen is one of the more interesting inks of the four. Originally, I thought it was far too light but it’s grown on me, especially when I started deploying it in flex nibs and really wet stubs. It’s a light green ink that shades beautifully with yellow and pink tones.

Pennonia Orgona Lilac is a gorgeous ink, but probably the least practical because it’s not very legible without a very broad or wet nib. Even then, the ink is rather light, though it shows dark lavender and blue shading. Writing sample shown here is on bright white Write Notepads dot grid paper.

Pennonia Balaton Blue is a Best-Seller for a reason: It shades with a hit of purple/pink but is also legible enough for easy reading. So what’s that nib? See below:

Yes, that’s a Platinum 3776 14k Medium Nib retrofitted into an Opus 88 Jazz, using a Platinum-compatible JoWo Nib Housing from Flexible Nib Factory. I’m playing around with several “Frankenpens,” so stay tuned!

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Deals & Drops: Return of Clairefontaine, Kokuyo Sketch Books, Sharpeners, Pins & More!

October 7, 2021

New stock is literally pouring into the shop right now in advance of the holiday shopping season, which is set to launch towards the end of the month. I’m getting stuff listed as fast as I can, including a huge swath of new goods featured here. In addition to a wide range of fountain pen friendly paper, we are fully stocked on Traveler’s Notebooks, refills, and accessories, Midori MD Notebooks and Covers, and Caran d’Ache pens and pencils. Keep checking back, thanks for “shopping small,” and enjoy the coming weekend!

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!

Clairefontaine French-Ruled (Seyes-Ruled) Notebooks. This classic Clairefontaine notebook paper is back in stock! We currently have staplebound, clothbound, and spiral notebooks available.
Kokuyo PERPANEP “Zara Zara” A5 Notebooks. Textured, fountain pen-friendly paper with the funny name, available in five different rulings. (The name is an anagram of “pen” and “paper”.) For writing samples and more, check out my review.
Traveler’s Notebook “B Sides and Rarities” Refill Collection. We’re fully restocked on these popular refills, all of which feature new and unusual papers, ranging from super-lightweight paper, to waterproof “washable” paper, to notepads (“Letter Pads”) made from Midori MD Cotton Paper. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our Traveler’s Company offerings.
Kokuyo Hardcover Pocket Notebooks. We stock a full range of Kokuyo’s “Sketch Book” (grid ruling) and “Trip Book” (dot grid ruling) hardcover notebooks, including some recently arrived colors including white, black, and anise green!
Midori MD Journal Stickers. These Midori MD Journal Stickers allow you to add a dated planner/calendar to any journal. Stickers include a calendar running from December 2021 through January 2023, so you will be set for the coming 14 months.
M+R Brass Pencil Sharpeners. If there’s one thing every pencil enthusiast needs in their daily carry, it’s a high-quality German handheld sharpener. We stock the range of M+R products, including the Castor and Pollux long-point sharpeners, the iconic Brass Bullet, and the Brass Lead Pointer. Replacement blades are also available.
Caran d’Ache Pencils and Fixpencils. We fully intend to continue carrying a range of woodcase pencils, both individually and by the dozen, including the Caran d’Ache Swiss Woods that have developed such a devoted following over the years.
Caran d’Ache 849 Nespresso “Arpeggio” Special Edition Ballpoint. I recently received some additional pens from last year’s ballpoint collaboration with Caran d’Ache. The Fixpencil collaboration remains on backorder but stay tuned.
Field Notes “Trailhead” and “Fifty” Editions. Many consider the past two Field Notes releases to be two of the best in a while, with more minimal covers that get back to the basics of what made Field Notes so popular in the first place. We have both editions in stock.
New Washi Tapes from iLootPaperie. This company makes some of the most irreverent and fun washi tapes on the market, with a focus on snail mail themes since many people absolutely love using Washi Tape to adorn their written correspondence, in addition to typical everyday masking tape uses such as scrapbooking, planning, and merely adding character to your office!

Kokuyo’s new “PERPANEP” Notebooks handle ink super well, at least in the textured “Zara Zara” version.

Kokuyo Trip Book and Sketch Books: Possibly an all-time favorite?

A somewhat empty ballroom early Friday morning. It was much busier for a while on Saturday, but Friday and Sunday remained slower than normal.

2021 Chicago Pen Show Recap: Back to Normal ... Slowly

October 6, 2021

Nothing made me happier than to see pen shows return for 2021, and so far I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Washington, D.C. Supershow in August, the San Francisco Pen Show for the first time later that month, and just this past weekend, the Chicago Pen Show. Despite some initial apprehensions, I was pleasantly surprised at both the level of attendance, the efforts by show promoters to keep the shows safe, and the graciousness with which attendees dealt with difficult travel conditions and the necessary masking and other safety precautions in hotel ballrooms that could, at times, be a bit “stuffy.” (Fortunately, in most instances the shows were able to convince the hotels to crank up the A/C, eventually.)

A case of vintage Sheaffer WASP Vacuum-Fil fountain pens.

The D.C. and San Francisco shows saw attendance that approached pre-pandemic levels, even though there were fewer out-of-town attendees, resulting in slower-than-usual Fridays. Chicago, on the other hand, was hit with the double whammy of being rescheduled from May to the weekend after the Dallas Pen Show, in addition to rising COVID levels and increased travel hesitancy. As a result, it was somewhat distressing to see fewer vendors and attendees at what I understand is typically a fairly large show. Saturday got decently busy by the middle of the day, but Friday and Sunday remained slow. It’s therefore difficult to write an accurate show report, since I’ve never attended the Chicago Show in an “up year” and can only rely on discussions with others at the show about how this year compared with years past.

Anyone know what that creepy-looking green pen in the center is?

Because Chicago will return to its normal early May timeslot next year, most of these issues should resolve themselves. Many vendors simply couldn’t turn around inventory/travel arrangements/life in time to do the Dallas show one weekend and Chicago the next. (I know I couldn’t.) If more vendors return - especially large draws such as Vanness Pens and Franklin-Christoph - attendance will also increase. I currently plan to attend Chicago again in May 2022, and it will be interesting to compare the “real” show to other large shows such as D.C. and San Francisco.

All the pens that Pierre from Desiderata Pens brought to the Chicago Pen Show.

So with that out of the way, what did I think of Chicago 2021? For what turned out to me a smaller show, vendor-wise, it ended up as a great weekend. I attended in my personal capacity, just for fun, and enjoyed hanging out at a pen show for the first time in a while. Going forward, I’ll need to pick one or two shows a year just to visit as an attendee, because it offers a perspective on the pen community and makers that you don’t get sitting behind a vendor table for three days.

The Desiderata Pens Show Special, featuring Carolina Pen Company Acrylic.

Vendors and Makers at the Chicago Pen Show

Vendor-wise, the main retailers were Atlas Stationers, Papier Plume, Lemur Ink, Federalist Pens, The Pen Show (Jimmy Dolive), Toys from the Attic, and Crazy Alan’s Emporium. Independent and smaller makers included Ryan Krusac, Desiderata Pens, Ironfeather Creative, Hardy Penwrights, The Chicago Pen Company, and Hinze Pens. The show also featured a fairly large array of vintage traders. Kirk Speer (Penrealm) was the only nib grinder present. Finally, there was a massive ink testing station, with two separate blocks of tester pens filled with some rare and unusual Montblanc and Parker Penman inks.

One of two ink testing blocks at the Chicago Pen Show! These things can both cost and save you money. I personally always end up discovering new inks I like, while realizing that I don’t like other inks as much as I thought I would.

My Ryan Krusac Scrimshaw “Navigator” fountain pen. Look for additional photos of this one in the days to come.

My Show Pickups: Classic Additions to the Collection

This year I’ve made a concerted effort to purchase fewer mass-produced fountain pens for my personal collection (especially high price-point limited and special editions) and invest instead in handmade and smaller-run pieces from independent and smaller makers. In D.C. and San Francisco, I picked up several pens from Schon DSGN, as well as some hand-turned pens with vintage nibs from Peyton Street Pens. In Chicago, I continued that trend and acquired a Ryan Krusac Scrimshaw “Navigator” (Check out the inlaid abalone and mother of pearl constellations in the cap!) and a Chicago Pen Company “Sheba” in a flecked Erinoid acrylic. I’m looking forward to getting both of these pens into rotation soon. I also picked up two bottles of Anderillium Ink (“Cuttlefish Brown” and “Shoebill Stork Grey”, and a bottle of the Sailor x Tinterías Podcast “Homemade Tortillas” collaboration ink.

The “Sheba” model from The Chicago Pen Company. Check out that Contoured Cap!

Anderillium Ink “Cuttlefish Brown” (which dries to a grayish-sepia, appropriately), and my Chicago Pen Company Sheba in a leather sleeve.

A Friendly Reminder: Support Your Small and Local Independent Retailers and Makers

Somewhat sparse crowds at Chicago did remind me of one thing: How important it is to support smaller retailers and makers as we head into the holiday season. We’ve already lost C.W. Pencil Enterprise, and I sadly suspect it won’t be the last closure. While pen shows have returned, things are far from “normal,” and most of your favorite small businesses have been deprived of a big chunk of income for the past two years. It’s more important than ever for them to have a strong year-end close, and I can personally vouch for the stressful nature of having to make huge inventory purchases during the slower summer months just to have enough stock to meet the (hopefully) increased demand of November and December. Whether its shopping at the T.G.S. Curated Shop, one of my friends on the sidebar, or somewhere else entirely, please make conscious choices about who you support, especially if you value having independent retailers and makers available to you for the long term. To the extent you can attend a pen show (and feel safe doing so health-wise), both the Detroit Pen Show (Oct. 29-31) and the Ohio Pen Show (November 11-14) remain on the calendar, and the organizers and vendors would greatly appreciate your support!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges from the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more! Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk recently featured a timely post on the importance of supporting your favorite creators, which I would highly encourage you to read, not only for support but to discovery new faces in the stationery community.

Restock Tuesday! M+R Brass Sharpeners Are Back in Stock (Castor, Pollux, and Refill Blades)

October 5, 2021

After a long period on backorder, I now have all M+R brass pencil sharpeners in stock in quantity, including the long-point Castor and Pollux sharpeners and the Brass Lead Pointer (which can put a mean point on a Caran d’Ache Fixpencil)! Refill blades are also available for both long-point and standard sharpeners.

If you’d like to read more on what these high-quality sharpeners are capable of, I wrote a blog post a while back doing a comparison of the various pencil points. M+R Sharpeners are among my favorite pieces of stationery kit, and I almost always have one or more with me in my work bag or sitting on my desk.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all products sold in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including M+R Sharpeners.

Getting ready to leave Chicago, but I’ll be back in May 2022, when the Chicago Pen Show returns to its usual schedule!

Sunday Reading for October 3, 2021

October 3, 2021

Papier Plume Cloud Gate (Chicago Pen Show Exclusive 2021) (via Well-Appointed Desk). I think I need to hit the show this morning before I head out to see if I can grab a bottle of this one. I hope I didn’t miss it!
Fountain Pens for a Fiver Revisited (via Dapprman). I love it when people go looking for the best fountain pen writing experience on a budget. If you’re a student or simply not looking to spend a lot of money, check out this article (especially if you’re in the UK).
Draw Your Tools … Tober (via The Looped Square). Cool idea for Inktober, which I didn’t realize already has started.
Why I Bought an Otto Hutt designC (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony has a spectacular curated pen collection, and this latest addition rounds things out nicely!
Kaweco AL Sport Vibrant Violet (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has quite the collection of purple Kaweco’s, and the latest release is a stunner.
What’s the Fountain Pen Equivalent of a Quartz Watch? (via UK Fountain Pens). Another excellent article from Anthony, touching on snobbery and why certain things can (and should) be appreciated for exactly what they are.
Ink Review #1637: Waterman Audacious Red (via Mountain of Ink). Waterman’s red is a washable red ink that still appears relatively bright, though personally I always find my self looking for just a touch more saturation.
A Social Media Upgrade (via From the Pen Cup). Mary’s note about being more intentional with social media really struck home, especially when I started thinking about all the things I could accomplish with just a little less mindless scrolling.

In Case You Missed It….

I spent this past weekend at the 2021 Chicago Pen Show, and you can see my pictures from Friday as well as initial impressions here. Stay tuned for my full impressions of this show later this week. I also did two write ups: One of the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball (or XL Ballpoint), as well as Kokuyo’s new “PERPANEP” textured paper.

I MIGHT be going back to pick up a Randomthinks pen stand this morning….

New T.G.S. Curated Shop Arrivals (and a Pen Show Weekend Sale!)

There were a ton of new arrivals this past week, and I didn’t have a chance to spotlight them all as much as I wished. Kicking things off is a full restock of Clairefontaine French/Seyes-Ruled Paper, which is the product that got me into high-end stationery in the first place, and therefore has a special place in my rotation. I also received a shipment of Kokuyo’s PERPANEP “Zara Zara” paper, which I’ve spent some time testing and reviewed on Thursday, as well as more Kokuyo Harcover Pocket Notebooks. Finally, I continue to restock as much of the full range of TWSBI fountain pens as I can keep in stock, including the best selling Diamond 580 Rose Gold, the Diamond 580 Navy Blue and Prussian Blue, and the TWSBI Swipe, which might be the best entry-level/low cost pen to have been introduced in the past couple of years.

Remember that you can take 10% off all orders over $50 (excluding TWSBI and Sunderland) using the coupon code “CHICAGO21”!

TWSBI

New Washi!

Enamel Pins

Kokuyo

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. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales, and I’m currently working on a fresh batch of pens, inks, and notebooks that should hit the Patreon shop in the next couple of weeks.