Sunday Reading for October 1, 2023 (Dallas Pen Show Edition)

October 1, 2023

Formal Jacket vs. Fountain Pen (via Pen Picture). How do you carry your fountain pen when wearing a formal jacket or coat? I’m an inside pocket person.
Bankers Boxes: Use Them, Love Them, Don’t Let Them Mildew (via Analog Office). Don’t ask me about the bankers boxes in my house/office.
Notebook Reviews: 3 Disappointments and One Surprise (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana walks through the pros and cons of several different Japanese notebooks. A big shout-out for Nakabayashi Yu-Sari paper!
Spiaggamazing / Scribo Feel Spiaggia Rosa Fountain Pen (via Weirdoforest Pens). The Scribo Feel in Spiaggia Rosa is always one of the biggest draws whenever I’m behind the table at a pen show and there are Scribo Pens available. This material is super-interesting to look at and a bit more adventurous than some of the Scribo options.
Composition Notebook Reviews: 2023 Unison Composition Notebook (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I love reading the annual reviews of inexpensive composition books and seeing which brands outperform their price points!
Caran d’Ache Leman Fountain Pens (via Blake’s Broadcast). Caran d’Ache’s high-end fountain pens don’t get as much attention as they probably should. They are well-made, and the Leman is the model that most people are familiar with other than the 849 fountain pen.
Ink Review: Wearingeul “A Taxidermied Genius” (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Easily one of my favorite ink names ever.
Kaweco Supra (Brass) (via Scrively). The Kaweco Supra is a great pen for those looking for a pocketable fountain pen with a full-size No. 6 nib.
Clairefontaine Triomphe A5 Notebook Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). You’d better believe I decided to stock these immediately once they were announced. The Clairefontaine Triomphe A5 notebooks are available in both white and ivory paper.
Fountain Pen Shootout: Edison Collier vs. Collier Grande (via SBRE Brown). I still don’t have either an Edison Collier or Collier Grande in my collection - I looked very hard at this year’s D.C. Pen Show but had too hard of a time making a decision on a material. This one may have to wait for next year’s shows.
Reflections from a Pelikan Hubmaster (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Another year, another Pelikan Hub! Kimberly does a great job of recapping what all goes in to being a Hubmaster (the person who organizes the event).
Pelikan Hubs 2023: Philadelphia - a Recap (via Pelikan’s Perch). Another great recap, this one from the Philadelphia Hub!
Journaling with Iroshizuku Ina-Ho (“Rice Ear”) (via From the Pen Cup). I missed the now-discontinued Ina-Ho. It looks like a pleasant color, especially for fall.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I talked about one of my favorite papers of all time: Tomoe River 68gsm, which is the slightly heavier version of the ultra-lightweight Japanese paper that’s been the subject of much discussion due to changes in ownership, etc. over the past few years. I also recapped this week’s trip to the Dallas Pen Show, and the unique extended Friday shopping experience due to the show being open until 8pm at night!

This Week in the Curated Shop: Don’t Miss a Pen Show Flash Sale!

Today is the last day to take advantage of one of our Pen Show weekend sales, using the code “PENSHOW10” at checkout! The sale ends tonight at 11:59pm CT, so be sure to get your orders in to take advantage of the discount. I’m back from the show today, so any orders will start shipping today. We’ve recently added a wide range of high-end desk accessories and other office supplies from the HMM Project, along with additional stock of the TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue + Bronze and Diamond 580 Sunset Yellow fountain pens! Check out this week’s “Drops” post for all the details.

TWSBI

Roterfaden

HMM Project

Midori

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in further supporting T.G.S., consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your pledge!

The line to get in the Dallas Pen Show Friday Morning

Dallas Pen Show Friday Recap: Nagasawa Pens and more!

September 30, 2023

I’m getting ready for some extended time away from my day job, so what better way to kick things off than to take a quick weekend trip to the Dallas Pen Show - a Show I’ve never visited before! In addition to visiting a new show, I get the opportunity to enjoy a pen show as a pen show, without my own table, and spend some time exploring the two ballrooms and many of the vendors there. I’ll have more to report via Instagram and on social media in real time, but there are many independent makers at this show and a very large vintage scene.

Dallas Pen Show Vendor Roster and Map — The Dallas Show organizers conveniently post the roster of exhibitors next to a large map, so you can see where each are located.

For most of the day yesterday, I assisted at the Vanness Pens table. Dallas is a bit of a unique show in that it’s only two days, with Friday being the longest: 10am to 8pm at night. While it makes for a 12-hour day for most vendors (once you include setup time), the late Friday hours are favorable to attendees who may not be able to get off work in time to attend the show on the first day, and the organizers are adamant that all vendors need to remain open until closing time to accommodate evening shoppers.

Sailor Kobe Nagasawa Pens Purchased in Dallas — My two pickups from the table I was working: a Sailor Pro Gear Mini in Mouette, and a Sailor Kyomachi Legend Blue 1911 Full Size with the gold weighted section.

There was a steady stream of traffic through the morning, a bit of a lull for lunch, and then another rush between 4-6:30 as the after-work crowd arrived. The main draw at the Vanness table were the Nagasawa exclusive collaboration pens, which Vanness is now authorized to carry as Nagasawa’s exclusive U.S. retail partner! These pens include the Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue series (which comes in King of Pen, 1911 Large, and 1911 Standard sizes), exclusive Pro Gear Slims and Minis in multiple colors, and the Demonstrator Pro Gears and “Profits” (1911s) with black-plated, gold, and antiqued/rose gold trim. Many different models and colors fall into these latter categories, so I won’t link to them all individually but you can check out the full selection of Nagasawa pens here. (You can also check many of them out in person at the Dallas Pen Show, since Vanness brought a TON of these pens.)

Nib Grinds from Dallas 2023 — I had two nibs ground: I asked Matthew Chen to clean up the broad nib on my Montblanc 149 to give it some more line definition and narrow the stubbish tipping just a bit to make it more usable, and I also had my Pro Gear Mini ground to a mini-architect!

For Saturday, I plan to focus on visiting with friends and possibly checking out some vintage. It’s been a while since I’ve added any vintage pens to my collection, and Dallas also includes a collection of local vendors (including Fountain Pen Revolution!) who don’t typically attend many pen shows. Stay tuned for more show pics!

The store remains open and all orders will ship within the typical 2-3 business day timeframe. Since it’s a pen show weekend, use the coupon code “PENSHOW10” at checkout to take 10% off most orders, with some brands excluded. Many thanks for all your support!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links.

HMM Eraser Balls — What is this craziness? Check out the new releases from HMM / The HMM Project in the Desk and Reading Accessories Shop.

Weekly Drops and New Arrivals: Come Say Hi at the Dallas Pen Show!

September 29, 2023

Surprise to all of you who will be in Dallas this weekend! Come say hello at the Vanness Pens table, where I will be helping out on Friday and probably some on Saturday as well! This week’s new releases include a bunch of arrivals from HMM, as well as an incoming restock from TWSBI on the ECO Indigo + Bronze and the Sunset Yellow Diamond ALR. Because I’m only traveling Friday and Saturday, there shouldn’t be any delay to orders outside of our typical 2-3 business day shipping window. Happy Shopping!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

TWSBI ECO Indigo + Bronze Fountain Pens. Easily my favorite ECO released this year - though perhaps it’s a tie with the Saffron Yellow ECO-T? More are arriving Tuesday, with stock now available for order.
TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR “Sunset Yellow” Fountain Pen. This gold/orange Diamond 580 might be my favorite version of this particular pen. More will be arriving Tuesday, so I’ve added the stock to the shop for a short pre-order. You can go ahead and purchase and they will ship upon arrival next week.
HMM Ballpoints and Mechanical Pencils. These unique dodecagonal ballpoints/mechanical pencils feature a matte finish and either all black or brass/black combination trim. A gift set is also available for the matte black ballpoint.
Life “Air Mail” Onionskin Paper and Airmail Envelopes. We have fully restocked on Life Air Mail Paper and the red-and-blue “Airmail” envelopes! Onionskin paper is lightweight and translucent, yet still handles ink well.
Life Typewriter Paper. Whether you’re a typewriter fan like me, or simply enjoy ink friendly paper, this typing paper from Life is extraordinarily popular.
High-Quality Scissors. Our Desk and Reading Accessories Shop is stocked with all the tools you need to outfit your desk, including an expanding selection of precision scissors from Japan and Taiwan. The latest arrivals include these brass and matte black Standing Scissors from HMM, capable of standing vertically for easy storage.
HMM “Muggr” Coffee Mug and “Patio” Coffee Dripper. I’ve been quite impressed with the amount of coffee you all apparently drink, because our side foray into coffee accessories has far exceeded my expectations! Nearly everyone who as purchased a “Charc” finished mug has commented on the unique finish!
Tomoe River 68gsm Paper Notebooks (A5 and Pocket). One of my favorite fountain pen friendly papers, the heavier-weight Tomoe River 68gsm paper is still being used in the refills for the Lochby Field Journal and Pocket Journal, though they are also perfectly capable of serving as stand-alone notebooks.
Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Edition. We’re down to the last handful of “Modern Maki-e” fountain pens, and judging from the number of them that have gone out the door this week, people are looking for available stock. Only a few colors/patterns remain.
Remaining Platinum Limited Releases. We also have some remaining stock of other Platinum special and limited edition releases, including the Plaisir Aura, the Preppy Wa Second Edition, and this year’s Curidas Matte.

From the Archives: Tomoe River 68gsm Remains One of My Favorite Papers

September 27, 2023

On this past weekend’s Patreon meetup, we discussed the topic of Tomoe River 68gsm paper, which has always been the slightly less-favored version of Tomoe River, the classic lightweight fountain pen friendly Japanese paper. The formula and rights to “Tomoe River” paper has changed hands several times over the past few years, with the current version of the 52gsm paper (the lightest weight version) now made by Sanzen. The Sanzen TRP will soon be the exclusive version of that particular paper on the market. It’s unclear what’s happening with the heavier 68gsm version, including whether it is still being made or whether the current stock of 68gsm paper and notebooks represents “back stock” that will disappear once the paper is all used up. The latter is the most likely scenario.

68gsm Tomoe River Paper feels quite different from the 52gsm version - especially the “original” 52gsm - which is the paper with the “crinkly” feeling that so many people know and love. Personally, I find the 52gsm version too lightweight for my taste, especially in a work notebook or bound pad that tends to be subject to rough treatment. The 68gsm is equally ink-friendly (though it does show colors differently), is more durable, and in my opinion has a better feel when writing since it the tactile feedback that I like in a thicker paper. I also appreciate that it’s frequently available in dot grid.

Tomoe River 68gsm Paper Reverse No Show-Through — Because it’s thicker, the 68gsm paper exhibits less show-through on the back of a page, making it in my opinion a better choice for a notebook paper than the thinner 52gsm Tomoe River.

During the meetup this weekend, I pulled out an Odyssey Notebook that I received directly from Odyssey at the D.C. Pen show a couple of years ago and wrote in it for a bit, really enjoying the feel of the 68gsm Tomoe River and hoping that it won’t go away anytime soon. Alas, I suspect its days are numbered.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Unlike the original 52gsm Tomoe River Paper, which has been much lamented, other discontinued or soon-to-be-discontinued papers such as Tomoe River 68gsm and Cosmo Air Light haven’t been receiving as much fanfare. It’s probably because the weight and feel of these papers aren’t quite as unique and irreplaceable as the super-lightweight Tomoe River, and the good news is that fans won’t have as much of an issue finding a suitable replacement. Have you found a substitute? Let me know because I’m interested.

Three Different Tomoe River 68gsm Notebooks

I have a healthy personal stock of 68gsm Tomoe River Paper, and for now there are several different ways you can still get a hold of it. We carry it in our own shop in the form of the Lochby A5 Notebooks and Pocket Notebooks, which are sold as refills for the Lochby Field Journal and Pocket Journal, respectively, but which are standard sizes and can be used as stand-alone notebooks or as refills in similarly sized covers. Other brands that still use 68gsm Tomoe River paper include Odyssey Notebooks (shown in this post), which makes a line of hardbound notebooks in A5 and B5 sizing, as well as the Endless Recorder line, which is in the process of switching over to “Regalia” paper, presumably in the expectation that the Tomoe River 68gsm will be gone someday. I don’t generally encourage stockpiling, but I will certainly use what I have while I can!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid sponsorships or third-party affiliate links.