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Feel the heat, literally and figuratively, as it seems to be cranking up here in advance of the weekend. The big news is that we have the new TWSBI ECO “Heat” now available for preorder, which is the latest in a series of orange and yellow TWSBI releases. The last several colors have been among the best I’ve seen from them - we have the ECO-T “Saffron” and “Persian Green” in stock, and more pens and nib sizes are on the way next week. Happy shopping!
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TWSBI ECO “Heat” Fountain Pen. The “Heat” is on! People have been clamoring for another orange TWSBI ECO, and I can’t wait to see what this shade looks like in person. This is a pre-order, with the pens set to arrive Monday so reserve yours now.
TWSBI ECO-T “Saffron” Fountain Pen. We received another shipment of the ECO-T Saffron pens, in most nib sizes. Personally, this is my favorite of this year’s releases, given my love for yellow.
TWSBI ECO “Persian Green” Fountain Pen. This pen is a mint/teal color, darker than the ECO-T Mint, which is more of a cool blue than a true green.
TWSBI ECO-T Mint Fountain Pen. Could this be my new favorite pen in the standard TWSBI lineup? I can’t believe I waited so long to add one of these to my own collection.
Laban “Greek Mythology” Fountain Pen Inks. We’ve received a restock on the Laban Greek Mythology Inks, including favorites such as Artemis Navy Blue, Athena Grey, and the unique Aphrodite Pink!
Lamy AL-Star 2023 Special Edition Fountain Pens. We have the AL-Star 2023 releases in Lilac and Petrol. Both are great colors, with Petrol probably being my personal favorite.
Platinum Matte Curidas Retractable Fountain Pen. The latest Curidas limited releases from Platinum have sold extremely well, with the blue and red versions currently leading the way.
Platinum Preppy Wa Third Edition “Modern Maki-e” Fountain Pens. We’re down to our last several Platinum Preppy Wa fountain pens from this last release. I appreciate how Platinum has lowered the barrier to entry in the limited edition game!
Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen. I’ve been relatively impressed with Endless’s attempt to introduce an original retractable fountain pen design at a relatively low price point. The design’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy faceted pens, you may want to give this one a try.
Anterique Ballpoint Pens. These are among my favorite new additions to the shop for 2023, whether you pick from the classic click pens or the brass-barrel upgrades! The .5mm “Mach Ball” refill is exceptional.
Anterique Ballpoints in ALL THE COLORS
Yesterday we received a restock of the Laban Greek Mythology Ink Series, including favorites such as Athena Grey, Artemis Blue, and the seemingly perpetually backordered Aphrodite Pink. The latter we have in very low stock, so if you’re looking for this particular bottle, please do act fast. I plan to continue to carry these inks in the future, so if you miss out on a preferred color this shipment, there will be more.
We’ve also received some updates to our collection of desk accessories, including new colors in these Midori rulers that have sold phenomenally well. Between the Traveler’s Company Brass Ruler, one of these Midori versions, or the compact tape measure in the Midori XS Stationery Kits, my measuring game is strong!
The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Laban, Midori, and other brands shown here.
While I’m not on vacation this month as in years past, I’ve traditionally taken some time in June to do a quick mid-year recap, including favorite shop arrivals to date. So far, 2023 has been something of a banner year in terms of shop expansion, having added multiple brands and significantly expanding our offerings of products such as fountain pens, inks, quirky ballpoints, and notebook systems. Here are five of my personal favorites:
Anterique Ballpoints. These vintage-style ballpoint click pens pair vintage style with a modern, low-viscosity “Mach Ball” .5mm refill. We recently completed the lineup by adding 20+ colors, including demonstrators. Read more here.
Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith Ed. 4 849 Ballpoint Pens. Over the years, the Caran d’Ache collaborations with designer Paul Smith have been among my favorite special releases. This year’s bicolor ballpoint pens are no exception, with the blues and the greens being my favorite.
Laconic Style Notebooks and Bookmarks. Combining two of my favorite things - notebook systems and reading accessories - the Laconic Style series offers a highly customizable notetaking experience. (Notetaking bookmarks? I’m not sure there’s a product that speaks to me more.) Read more on these here.
Laban Greek Mythology Fountain Pen Inks. In addition to having a great overall theme that appeals to a mythology geek like myself, I love the colors.
Lamy Cursive Calligraphy Nib. This nib has replaced the standard Lamy steel Lamy nib on most of my personal Safari and Studio fountain pens. We are able to offer this nib for sale as well as a selection of Lamy Safari and AL-Star pens, and we can install the nib on the pen of your choice if you message us at the time of purchase. For more details on this nib and how it writes, check out this post.
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While most of my work-related daily notetaking occurs in smaller, more portable A5 and B6 slim notebooks, for longer writing and drafting (and sometimes for visual projects) I prefer to work with a larger canvas. In these cases, I go to the A4 size or a composition book. I’ve shown off pictures of my Midori MD Cotton F3 (the big size) notebook, which fits the Midori A4 paper cover. Lately, this has served as my “ink journal,” but I’m also thinking of adding a couple of the Midori A4 MD Light in lined or grid to use in a couple of ongoing work projects.
The Midori MD A4-sized cover, shown next to the 5 Years Diary for scale.
Midori MD Cotton F3 and MD Light A4 Notebooks are currently available in the shop, along with other sizes of the MD Light and Midori MD Notebooks. For those who favor a traditional “Composition Book” size, we carry the wonderfully fountain pen friendly Rhodia Composition Books, as well as a range of fun designs from Mr. Boddington’s Studio. For those who prefer A4 spiral or staple-bound notebooks, check out our offerings from Maruman Mnemosyne and Clairefontaine.
The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.
While Platinum’s Curidas fountain pen has been around for several years now, Platinum hadn’t really done much with the line beyond the original set of demonstrator colors - until now. Yesterday saw the arrival of three new matte finishes in the Curidas (Matte Blue, Matte Black, and Matte Red), all of which are sold packaged as part of a set complete with a converter, ink cartridge, and bottle of Platinum Aurora Blue Mix-Free Ink. You have everything you need to get started writing!
The Matte Curidas fountain pen sets are currently available in the shop, in fine and medium stainless steel nib options. Please visit our shop to check out these and other recently arrived pen, paper, and ink offerings!
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Of the 26 colors of the Anterique Ballpoint Pens,
Earlier this week we announced the arrival of the Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen, a new original design from notebook-maker Endless that seeks to offer a retractable nib option for fountain pens at an accessible price point. In addition to the Endless Creator, additional colors of Anterique Pens, and Anterique mechanical pencils, we now have more Traveler’s Company Spiral Ring Notebooks, as well as new versions of both the Life Noble Note A5 Sidebound Notebooks and Stenographer’s Pads. Happy Shopping!
The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.
Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen. The Endless Creator Fountain Pen hit stores this week. I’ve been playing around with one and will have a fuller review at some point, but I’ve enjoyed the faceted body and interesting design. No issues with the pen on my end.
T.G.S. x Penwell “Aged Red” Collaboration. As I mentioned in last weekend’s Giveaway announcement, I’ll be pulling a handful of the T.G.S.-exclusive Penwells out of stock to use in connection with an exclusive fountain pen promotion in the coming weeks. I don’t know whether/when we’ll do another run of these, so last call!
Traveler’s Company Spiral Ring Notebooks. We received a shipment of the Traveler’s Company Spirals, featuring both the classic Midori MD Paper and the Midori Watercolor paper. These notebooks with Kraft paper covers make great journals and/or sketchbooks, especially now that we have the watercolor versions.
Anterique Classic Click Ballpoints. We now have the Anterique vintage-style ballpoint pens in 26 different colors. These pens include a .5mm low-viscosity refill similar to a Jetstream or Acroball, and leave a very fine line that dries quickly and doesn’t smear. You can even mix and match the different colors to create the pen(s) of your choice.
Anterique Brass Ballpoints. Anterique makes a brass-barrel version of the classic click pen, in four different colors (though the plastic parts are interchangeable with the upper section from the standard click pens).
Anterique Classic Click Mechanical Pencils. The .5mm mechanical pencils share the same vintage “click pen” look, and feature a retractable tip and “cushion spring” mechanism to prevent lead breakage.
Anterique “Mach Ball” Refills. These were on backorder for some time, but we now have a healthy stock of these Anterique .5mm “Mach Ball” refills. Feel free to stock up with your Anterique Pens!
Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith 849 Ballpoints. We have more of the Caran d’Ache and Paul Smith limited edition ballpoints currently in stock, though certain colors (Racing Green) go extremely fast.
Life Noble Note A5 Blank Notebooks. We received the plain unruled versions of the Life Noble Note A5 sidebound notebooks, so we can now offer all formats of this paper.
Life Stenographer’s Notebook (Graph Paper). The top-bound Life Stenographer’s pad features 50 sheets/100 pages of quality life paper in either classic steno or grid ruling.
Since you all cleaned us out of most of our top-selling TWSBI models, between pen shows and the series of recent new releases, we had to do an “emergency” restock! Many items have been marked as “out-of-stock” for some time, so it’s best to do a quick round-up of what’s available:
TWSBI ECO Persian Green. The latest TWSBI ECO is in-stock and ready to ship. I love the mid-century modern vibes that this particular color gives off.
TWSBI ECO-T Saffron, for those of you who couldn’t grab one in Baltimore! Based on color alone, this is my favorite TWSBI release to date. The shape of the grip and cap on the ECO-T is subtly different - read more about it here.
TWSBI Diamond 580 “Iris” Models in all nib sizes.
TWSBI Inks and Ink Cartridges, including the TWSBI 1791 inks in all colors and the six-ink Sets.
Honestly, I keep waiting for one of the new TWSBI designs to - well, maybe not flop, but simply “not wow” - but it hasn’t happened yet. The ECO-T Saffron and ECO Persian Green are both available now.
Long ago, TWSBI released both red and orange Diamond 580 models, which I now regret passing along in the spirit of “catch and release”. When I placed this last TWSBI order, I noticed that some stock remained of the Diamond 580 ALR “Punch Pink” and the Diamond 580 AL “Rose” models, which are available in VERY limited quantities in the shop, in specific nib sizes. Once these are gone, they’re gone, so this is a “last chance” opportunity, unless TWSBI decides to release a similar color down the road.
The TWSBI Diamond 580 AL Rose and the ALR “Punch Pink” can be difficult to tell apart in some of the online photos, but this one shows the difference. The “Punch Pink” is much more of a reddish pink, and has the ALR texture on the grip plus a matching anodized cap band. The AL Rose is more of a true red, with a smooth section.
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The Pilot Custom 74 in Blue Stone and the Custom 823 in Smoke. We currently have all colors of both pens in stock.
At long last, we’re pleased to welcome Pilot to the T.G.S. Curated Shop! We currently have both the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen and the Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen available in all colors and nib sizes. In addition to our existing stock of inks and refills, we have added the entire line of Pilot Iroshizuku Inks, as well as standard Pilot bottled inks and cartridges.
The Pilot Custom 823, with its vacuum-filling system and large 14k nib, is a classic workhorse. Included with every pen is a large bottle of Pilot/Namiki Blue ink.
Happy shopping, and we look forward to further expanding our product lines in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Pilot Custom 74. Of all the pens I’ve regretted selling over the years, the one I miss the most is an older violet Pilot Custom 74 that I no longer own (and which, of course, is no longer made). As we build out the Curated Shop, we’re focused on the workhorse pens that are a years-long mainstay on the T.G.S. “Best Pens” list.
Pilot Custom 823. As with the Custom 74 above, the Custom 823 is a slightly larger, reliable everyday writer that holds a ton of ink in its high-capacity vacuum-filling system. It’s an excellent pen for travel, both due to the ink capacity and the shutoff valve that protects you from spills while flying.
TWSBI ECO Persian Green Fountain Pen (Pre-Order). The latest TWBSI Eco release will arrive tomorrow and start shipping over the weekend. Reserve yours now!
Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Limited Edition. These gorgeous limited edition versions of the Platinum Preppy bring Maki-e style artwork to the everyday. Featuring six silk-screened designs of traditional Japanese motifs.
Nahvalur Nautilus Cephalopod Black and Bronze Corydoras Fountain Pens. It’s hard to go wrong with classic black ebonite, especially when paired with antiqued bronze or blacked out trim.
Pilot Iroshizuku Fountain Pen Inks. Pilot’s luxury Iroshizuku lineup contains some of the best fountain pen ink on the market, in my opinion. Featuring as many as 24 colors inspired by the scenery of Japan, these inks are reliable performers that come in a gorgeous (and sturdy) glass bottle.
J. Herbin Fountain Pen Inks. As I’ve moved back to more “basic” (read: lower-maintenance) stationery in my own life, I’ve rediscovered the J. Herbin inks, particularly colors such as Vert Empire and Bleu des Profondeurs.
Life Noble Note Notebooks. Life Stationery makes excellent fountain pen friendly paper, and we now offer the standard Life Noble Note notebooks in both A4 and A5 sizes.
Life Specialty Paper. In addition to the Noble Note series, Life makes specialty paper products that include Bank Paper pads, Airmail-style writing paper, Stenographer’s Notebooks, and more!
Midori Multi-Year Diaries. Looking for an easier way to develop a daily journaling habit? How about a multi-year diary that only requires you to write a few lines for each day. We have the 10-year, Five-year, and Three-year versions in stock.
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Sui-Gyoku is one of the new arrivals in the Iroshizuku lineup. This one could be a favorite. I love the color. Shown here on Tomoe River 52g paper.
After a bit of an unintentional hiatus, Life Paper - including all specialty varieties - is back in stock! Favorites include the 100-sheet Bank Paper pads in both Letter and A5 sizes, Typewriting Paper, and the new (to us) ultra-lightweight Airmail paper. We even added the spiral bound stenographer’s notebook in classic Gregg-style ruling. Whether you’re looking for dedicated correspondence paper or the classic Noble Note writing pads and notebooks, all of the Life stationery is fountain pen friendly.
Life is one of the few brands that continues to make specialty papers such as Bank Paper, Typewriting Paper, and Stenographer’s notebooks.
Visit our Curated Paper shop to view our full selection, as we continue to add new brands regularly. Many thanks for your support!
I love the classic green chipboard cover.
The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We are authorized resellers of all brands sold.
Things come in waves in this business: New releases, sales, pen shows, shipments from distributors, and sometimes the waves all hit at once! I returned from the Arkansas and Baltimore Shows to a-more-than-a-handful of boxes waiting for me, which included a fresh shipment of Mark’Style “Days” Ballpoints featuring the Anterique “Mach Ball” refill, as well as the Mark’Style Days Metal Gel Pen featuring the Ohto Needle-tip refill. In addition, we now have the third edition of the Platinum Preppy Wa - the “Modern Maki-e” series, which features a modern interpretation of traditional Japanese Maki-e techniques applied to Platinum’s classic Preppy fountain pen. These are easily my favorite Preppy Wa release so far (and I’ve already picked a couple that I’d like to keep for myself).
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The six finishes of the new “Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e” series.
Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Edition. The latest of the Preppy Wa releases features six new designs applied to the classic Preppy in a traditional maki-e style. The “Modern Maki-e” process uses silk screen and glistening powder instead of lacquer, and is quite pretty. My two current favorites are the “Kachimushi” (dragonflies on blue-black acrylic) and “Kuyou” (dark red rosettes on a black barrel). We still have a few of the Second Series remaining as well, though after pen show season those are running low.
Mark’Style Days Metal Ballpoints. I never regret bringing in additional pens from Mark’s Tokyo, especially their “Days” series. If you’re unfamiliar with Mark’s, it’s a curated brand that collaborates with different manufacturers on pens in their own particular style. This hexagonal metal (aluminum) ballpoint features their weekday motif and comes with the excellent Ohto needle-tip gel refill, Parker-style.
Mark’s x Anterique Mach Ball Click Pens. We’ve added several colors to the Mark’s x Anterique collaboration, including two “demonstrator” versions. We’ve also restocked on the refills.
Midori 70th Anniversary MD Light Grid Set. These limited edition versions of the Midori MD Light A5 Notebooks feature seven different colors of threaded bindings with matching grids. The standard A5 size makes them compatible with covers such as the Lochby Field Journal.
Midori Soft Color A5 Notebooks. Similarly, Midori has released these slim A5 colored journals in grey, blue, green, and purple dot grid paper, all of which is still quite fountain pen friendly. I’ve enjoyed adding a pop of color to my Lochby and Roterfaden notebook systems.
Midori MD Kurashiki Canvas Pen Cases. We only have a couple of these canvas pen cases left (perhaps one in each style), since they were quite popular at Baltimore. Both flat and gusseted (standing) sizes are available.
Midori XS Stationery Kits. I’m doing my best to get the quirkiest of the Midori products in front of a U.S. audience, including these compact MD stationery kits that feature miniature, portable versions of desktop classics such as staplers, scissors, a mini measuring tape, and adhesives.
Portable Rulers from Midori and Traveler’s Company. Who doesn’t need a ruler or a straight-edge from time to time? Whether I’m drawing charts in your planner or notebook, or actually needing to measure something, a ruler is one of my most-used desktop tools.
Hightide Folding Metal Bookstands. I just wish I had more space on my table in Arkansas, because I would’ve brought the entire, colorful range of these versatile desk/reading accessories. These folding metal bookstands hold anything from actual books to notepads for transcribing notes to tablets.
Hightide Sandglasses. Showcasing these in person at the Arkansas Pen Show must’ve worked, because we’ve sold plenty of them in the past week. Analog timers such as sandglasses have plenty of uses, ranging from Pomodoro-style work timers to cooking applications to gaming. If you’re curious about how I use them (and how others have as well), check out this blog post.
Kachimushi “Dragonflies” on blue-black acrylic.
Mark’style Tokyo is a curated line of product collaborations from Mark’s, a Japanese brand that takes its own unique design riffs on classic stationery items. The Mark’style “Days” series is perhaps the most popular, and we’ve carried their hexagonal woodcase “Tous les Jours” needle-tip ballpoints for a couple of years now. Last month, we added the Mark’s x Anterique Mach Ballpoint, which features an excellent low-viscosity refill with a new level of performance in a vintage-style click pen.
For those who love a hexagonal barrel but find standard ballpoints or gel pens too narrow, the Mark’style Metal (aluminum) Gel Pen offers a bit more of a grip.
We’re continuing to build out our selection of Mark’style pens! This week, we received a shipment of the “Days” Metal Gel Pens, a more substantial - yet still lightweight - hexagonal ballpoint that includes the .5mm Ohto needle-tip gel refill, an excellent Parker-style refill that’s a quick drying, smooth writer. Available in six different colors, these pens are currently priced at $23.50 and available for purchase in the Curated Shop. (You won’t be surprised to learn that I couldn’t resist adding a yellow version to my own collection.) Additionally, we added a few additional colors of the Mark’s x Anterique ballpoints, including two “transparent demonstrators.” Happy shopping!
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I brought a sampling of Washi Tape! If you don’t see what you’re looking for at the table in Baltimore, everything is still available online!
Since it’s a pen show weekend, we’ll be running our usual promotion of extra swag with your order while we’re away. We just received a fresh shipment of T.G.S. buttons and stickers, so you’ll get a few extras in your package to compensate for any slight delay in fulfillment. I will have a couple days in the shop early next week to get caught up on shipping orders before turning around and heading back out on the road to Little Rock for next weekend’s Arkansas Pen Show! Remember, if you want to pick something up at Arkansas next week, just check out in the shop and use the “615PICKUP” Code to drop the shipping charge.
Likewise, if you miss our display of Traveler’s Company and Lochby in-person at the show, most of our stock continues to be available online.
In the meantime, right before I flew out we received a large shipment of Midori MD paper, including a restock of several favorite Midori MD Notebook sizes, all Midori MD Notebook Covers (including the natural goat leather), and more Traveler’s Company Brass Pens!
The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.
Midori MD Light 70th Anniversary Notebook Sets. These sold out lightning fast when we first stocked them last Spring, and fortunately I was able to procure another shipment. Each set contains seven A5 MD Light notebooks, each with a different color grid.
Midori MD A5 Notebooks. We now have most rulings back in stock in standard A5, our most popular size, including the dot grid notebook journal.
Midori MD Leather Notebook Covers. These natural leather covers fit the standard Midori MD notebooks and notebook journals, and will age beautifully as the undyed natural leather develops a patina.
Midori MD Cotton Notebooks. These cotton paper notebooks have “F” series sketchbook dimensions, but the larger F3 fits the A4-size paper notebook cover, and possibly others.
Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint Pens. My favorite everyday pocket ballpoint, which lives clipped to my Plotter Mini 5 (and to be honest, most of my other planners as well, given that I have like five of these pens). Though they last a long time, we also have the refills.
Traveler’s Company Brass Bullet Pencil. After a short hiatus, the Brass Bullet Pencil is back in the store. As a concept, this type of pencil is one of my favorite products in existence, and the Traveler’s version might be the only one currently made?
Midori MD Letter Pads and Envelopes. There’s still time to respond to all of those InCoWriMo letters! (I know I have a personal backlog… stay patient, pen pals.)
Penco Pocket Drafting Pens and Pencils. I’ve brought several of these to Baltimore with me, so if you’re at the show you have to come by and see what’s become a top-selling product.
Caran d’Ache 849 “Colour Treasure” Edition Ballpoint Pens. We still have a few of the 849 Colour Treasure ballpoints in both the cool and warm tones. Once these are gone, that’s it! If they’re not gone before next week I’ll take them with me to Arkansas.
Penco Perfection Light Bullet Pens. We have a full display of these at the Baltimore Pen Show this weekend, but we also have some remaining in online stock.
If you didn’t see our announcement from Instagram last night, Lochby has launched two of our favorite cases - the Quattro four-pen case and Pocket Journal - in new colors: Charcoal and Navy. Now you can build out a complete set of all the Lochby accessories in matching colors, if you so desire! I’ll be bringing a selection of what I still have available to the Baltimore Pen Show next week, and to the Arkansas Pen Show the week after that, so if you would like to reserve one of these cases for show (or Nashville-area local) pickup please place an order using the coupon code “615PICKUP” at checkout. (Note: This is NOT a “free shipping” code. After this code is used, we will reach out to verify where you intend to pick up your order.)
Kokuyo Beetle-Tip Highlighters are in-stock!
While we plan to have a table in both Baltimore and Little Rock, we will be constrained by space and plan to focus on cases, notebook systems, and a selection of pens, pencils, and office accessories. If there’s something specific you would like delivered to the show, please be sure to get your orders in by this weekend, and in the case of a larger/fragile item like a Sandglass or multiple notebooks/pads of paper, please reach out first to make sure delivery is feasible since I will be flying. I hope to see as many of you as possible next week!
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Lochby Quattro Four-Pen Case. Originally launched only in classic brown with the yellow honeycomb lining, the Lochby Quattro - our top selling pen case - is now available in navy blue and charcoal!
Lochby Pocket Journal. Like the Quattro, the Pocket Journal now also comes in navy and charcoal colors, and we’ve restocked on the 68gsm Tomoe River Lochby Pocket Journal refills.
Midori Kurashiki Pen Cases. While we’re on the subject of canvas pen cases that will age beautifully, we have received a fresh shipment of these cases, in both a flat pouch and gussetted design. These canvas cases even include a small interior pocket to hold a pencil sharpener.
Lochby Field Journal. Based on the level of interest that we received at the D.C. Pen Show, I expect the Lochby Field Journal to be a big seller in both Baltimore and Arkansas, so we restocked on all colors. We also have a variety of A5 refills that are compatible with this cover, which can hold up to 6 of the Lochby-branded or similarly sized softcover notebooks.
Midori MD Light Notebooks. These slimmer, softcover versions of the Midori MD A5 notebook will fit the Lochby cover, and come available in grid, blank, and lined versions. Other sizes are available as well.
Midori Soft Color Notebooks. A recent discovery, these notebooks feature fountain pen-friendly blue, green, purple, or grey dot grid paper. The blue and grey refills have been living in my own Lochby.
Clairefontaine Classic 1951 Staplebound A5. A slimmer version of the clothbound 1951 notebooks that are so popular. Read more about why we love Clairefontaine paper here.
Kokuyo Dual-Tone Highlighter Markers. These unique highlighter pens feature a dual tip, each with its own ink supply in a different shade. This way, you can differentiate between topics, levels of importance, etc. by using the darker (or lighter) color to add emphasis.
Kokuyo “Beetle-Tip” Highlighter Markers. Sold in sets of five, these particular highlighters from Kokuyo allow you to easily change the width of your line, with either a classic standard highlighter line, a double line, or a thin line that can be used to make notes. Check out the pictures in the listing for more details.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Graphite/Yellow Bicolor Pencils. These two-in-one highlighter/annotator pencils are fixtures in the various pen/pencil cups I have scattered around my home and office. Sold individually or by the dozen.
While we enjoy exploring new releases, limited editions, Kickstarters, and other experimental offerings, our main interest has always been the so-called tried-and-true “workhorses” of the stationery world. Think the type of products that just work whenever you need them, without having to think much about it. Often, the companies themselves have been around for hundreds of years.
Clairefontaine paper is what got me interested in fine writing in the first place, as a student in France, experiencing something other than cheap American student-grade writing paper for the first time. Clairefontaine paper handles pretty much any fountain pen ink available without feathering or bleed-through, and is available in multiple formats, ranging from the classic spiral bound notebooks to the “Triomphe” series of writing tablets to the composition-style “1951” series, now available in both cloth and staplebound versions. Sibling company Quo Vadis uses Clairefontaine paper in the dot grid version of their “Habana” journal, a product that in my opinion is grossly underappreciated by the broader community. If you haven’t yet used Clairefontaine paper, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a try! Our shop stocks much of the Clairefontaine lineup, in addition to Quo Vadis Habana and a selection of Rhodia.
Today’s fountain pen ink market is arguably oversaturated (pun intended) with so many brands and colors that it’s easy to get lost, not to mention caught up in testing and trying all the various shades and formulations in an effort to find that “perfect” ink that doesn’t really exist. I’ve always enjoyed the inks made by Herbin and Waterman because these inks tend to just work. They don’t clog, dry relatively quickly, are easy to clean, and available in interesting colors (both bright and muted). We’ve decided to stock the standard J. Herbin inks in both the 30ml bottle size as well as the 10ml “sample” size, to make it convenient for you to test as many different colors as you want without running into storage issues or accumulating ink you’ll never use. Our initial selection features personal favorites from the line, with more on the way!
Please visit the shop to view our full selection of pens, inks, paper, and assorted fine writing and desk accessories! The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.
Even though it’s exciting to expand the shop, I could use a bit of a breather! As of right now, I’ve finished updating our new arrivals in the Inks & Refills shop, a slew of new Washi Tapes and Enamel Pins, and some excellent desk accessories, including new arrivals from Midori. Shown here are the Midori Kurashiki Canvas pen/pencil cases, which are import items from Japan that recently arrived. These are beautiful, and the neutral colored canvas will age differently depending on how you use it. We’ve also added more Midori desk tools such as scissors and more XS Stationery Kits, to help you create the perfect desk space for at home or on the go!
The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program, and is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.
Midori Kurashiki Canvas Pen Cases. We had these in the shop last year for a VERY brief period before they went out of stock. This waterproof canvas will soften and patina with age, as will the leather zipper pull. These are available in flat and gusseted formats, the latter of which will stand up on their own to form a pencil case. (Pictured above.)
TWSBI ECO-T Saffron Fountain Pens. In addition to the recently released (and absolutely gorgeous) ECO-T fountain pen, we now have nearly all of the standard ECO and Diamond 580 fountain pens available for purchase.
Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads. We just received a huge restock of Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads, along with fresh stock of MD Cotton Notebooks.
Midori Soft Color A5 Notebooks. As I wrote last week, I’ve been on a personal quest to locate some fountain pen friendly colored paper to use for written correspondence. During that search, I came across these Midori A5 “Soft Color” notebooks in grey, blue, green, and purple.
G. Lalo Laid Writing Paper. This fine writing correspondence paper is available in white, ivory, and pale blue tablets.
New Washi Tapes and Pins from iLootPaperie. Some of our favorite products currently in the shop are our array of washi tapes and enamel pins from the team at iLootPaperie (particularly the snail mail-themed pins and buttons).
Midori Portable Multi-Scissors. These portable multi-function scissors have a curved blade to cut paper, a serrated edge to help open boxes, and a notch to cut wire. If you always find yourself looking for a convenient cutting instrument, consider these. I personally carry a set in my car.
Midori XS Stationery Kit. I’ve taken to carrying one of these compact clamshell stationery kits in my briefcase, which basically allows you to bring a full desk setup with you wherever you go, whether that’s working remotely or otherwise.
Hightide Sandglass in Large “Slim” Format. Hightide has released the 15-minute version of their classic hourglass in a “Slim” format, which has a slightly taller, more modern silhouette than the version we’ve been carrying. It will be interesting to see whether this is a permanent change
J. Herbin “Shogun” Ink. We recently started carrying the J. Herbin writing inks, and so far have added a single “shimmer” ink to our offerings. Shogun is a grey/brown/black with subtle gold and red shimmer - reminiscent of Samurai armor - and it looks great!
Never underestimate the importance of quality everyday desk accessories! Personally, I see this every few days when I switch between my home office and “the office.” (I tend not to leave my good desk setup where it might get borrowed.) While everyone pays a lot of attention to things such as pens, pencils, ink, and paper; accessories such as scissors, rulers, tape, book stands, and desk trays can also make up a big part of your everyday work experience.
The Midori XS Stationery Kit has everything you need for a full day of work/journaling/creating, and it zips into a portable go-anywhere pouch. (Shown here my 70th Anniversary Edition version, but we stock the standard in both black and white!)
Slowly but surely, the Desk and Reading Accessories section of the T.G.S. Curated Shop is starting to take shape. We’ve recently added new items from Midori, including these multifunction scissors, wood-inlay rulers, and the ever practical XS Stationery Kit for when you want to carry an entire desk setup with you in your bag. In addition to accessories, be sure to keep checking the “New Arrivals” in Pens/Pencils, Ink and Refills, Paper and Notebook Systems, and our recently restocked selection of Washi Tape and Enamel Pins. More items are being added daily!
The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.
While the yellow ECO (far left) is long gone, the Saffron ECO-T (center) and Transparent Yellow Demonstrator (right) are both in-stock and available for purchase.
While the big news this week was the expansion of our selection of bottled fountain pen inks and refills to include three new brands and a separate page in the shop, we still have boxes of new arrivals and restocks showing up on our proverbial doorstep daily! Notably, we now have the Saffron TWSBI ECO-T fountain pens in-stock and ready to ship, as well as a refresh on other ECO models and the TWSBI Swipe. Don’t forget - since we still have 10ml Anderillium sample bottles available, our Nahvalur promotion continues. All purchases of Nahvalur and Opus 88 fountain pens receive a complimentary bottle of Anderillium Ink, and purchases above $120 receive two! Happy Shopping!
The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.
TWSBI Tuxedo, anyone?
TWSBI ECO-T Saffron. Of all the various colors that TWSBI has released over the years, the ones that have stuck in my collection - the pens that I simply can’t bear to part with - have been their yellow pens. This Saffron model in the subtly triangular ECO-T already has a spot in my pen case.
TWSBI ECO Black and White. Even the “basic” ECO lineup looks sharp. In addition to a restock of the classic clear TWSBI ECOs, we’ve added the standard black and white pens. Sort of a late oversight on our part!
TWSBI Swipe Restock. Most colors of the TWSBI Swipe are now back in stock, including this winter’s popular “Ice Blue” edition.
Nahvalur Nautilus Bronze Corydoras and Black Cephalopod Fountain Pens. While our stock of the Nautilus “Pen of the Year” has sold out and is gone, I’m still stuck on the classic black Nautilus, and can’t pick a trim. Bronze or Black? Bronze won our Instagram poll from a while back. (Note: Your purchase of an ebonite Nautilus will complimentary 10ml sample bottles of Anderillium Ink.)
Life x Kleid “Noble Note” Notebooks. In this Japanese stationery collaboration, Japanese stationery Life has paired with Kleid to incorporate the latter’s 2mm grid ruling into the “Noble Note” notebook series. these notebooks are available in both standard A5 and B6 formats, in four different cover and paper combinations.
Midori Soft Color A5 Notebooks. Looking for something different to refill your A5 notebook cover, or merely a new paper to give you that vintage “examination book” feel without losing fountain pen friendliness? These Midori notebooks are available in blue, grey, green, or purple.
Midori Multi-Year Diaries. It’s not too late to start journaling, even in February, and especially where you can use an undated multi-year journal that lets you pick up wherever! We stock three, five, and even ten-year versions!
Penco Pocket Drafting Pens and Pencils. Love the look of classic technical drafting pens and pencils but wish you could take them with you in a portable format? These pocket-sized versions come in either black or silver, in both a ballpoint pen and .5mm mechanical pencil version.
Midori MD Cotton Writing Pads. Our top-selling everyday writing pad is now the Midori MD Cotton pad, which features soft, ink-friendly paper that works well with pretty much every writing instrument. Now if only Midori would resume making the entire standard MD Notebook lineup in a cotton paper alternative! (Blank notebooks ARE available!)
Write Notepads Memo Pads. Baltimore-based Write Notepads makes some of the best everyday writing paper on the market - these memo pads are sold in packs of two and come in three different rulings: lined, dot grid, and “meeting.”
Despite having access to about as wide a range of stationery products as humanly possible, there are still certain things I’ve been looking for over the years that remain elusive. Chief among these is a reliably fountain-pen-friendly blue writing paper. Smythson of Bond Street seems to be the gold standard for many, and their notebooks are indeed gorgeous, but I’ve had trouble locating reviews of their paper from the perspective of a fountain pen user, and in any event the price point makes the paper hard to justify for everyday writing outside of formal correspondence.
G. Lalo Paper comes in 50-sheet tablets. As shown from the picture at the top of the page, shading won’t look the same, but the blue doesn’t distort the ink color as much as I expected. In fact, it gives it a nice vintage look. G. Lalo paper has a laid texture (meaning that it’s not smooth), so if you prefer super-smooth paper you should be aware of this.
Since the past few years saw a steep drop off in my work travel, depriving me of regular opportunities to loot hotel rooms of “low cost” light blue stationery, I’ve been on the lookout for a replacement and have found two options that I enjoy. The first, G. Lalo Vergé de France writing paper, is typically recommended for written correspondence, but I’ve also enjoyed using it as a standard writing tablet, similar to the Midori MD Cotton Paper. While a touch darker than what I originally expected, I’ve been enjoying this as a solid general purpose writing paper, especially since the price point ($14 for a 50-sheet A5 tablet) is fairly reasonable for paper of this quality and the paper is easy to get a hold of, especially now that we stock G. Lalo Paper in our own shop.
The Midori Soft Color A5 Notebooks come in four shades (grey + three pastels) that aren’t so loud they overwhelm your writing. Some people match the notebook to their ink color, but I prefer a bit of contrast.
I discovered the second blue paper option when I was in New York City last week and found myself browsing the back wall at Kinokuniya bookstore off Bryant Park. (For those of you who haven’t visited Kinokuniya, it’s the NYC outpost of the Japanese bookstore that has a massive stationery section in the basement, and the back wall contains nothing but notebooks.) I noticed that they had a couple piles of Midori A5 “Soft Color” notebooks in blue, grey, green, and yellow, priced at $4 each. Seeing that they contained dot grid paper, I figured that was a no-brainer purchase at that price and grabbed one in blue and one in grey. I spent ten minutes jotting in these notebooks in a coffee shop, realized the paper lost none of the excellent qualities of the standard Midori MD Paper, and promptly contacted my distributor to stock all four colors for the shop.
Midori Soft Color Notebook in blue, with dot grid paper. Testing inks are three of my favorite colors from the Laban Greek Mythology series.
Midori Soft Color Notebook in Grey (shown with the blue notebook for contrast). These notebooks are standard A5 so they fit covers like the Lochby Field Journal.
Many people have requested recommendations for colored paper options in the past, but it’s a tricky thing to get right. Often, companies will apply a coating to give the paper its color, which works fine as long as you’re not trying to write with a fountain pen, rollerball, or other liquid ink, since most coated paper isn’t particularly absorbent and the ink tends to never dry. That’s not an issue with either of the two papers shown here. Both G. Lalo and Midori Soft Color dry fairly quickly, and behave essentially like standard white or ivory writing papers. There is a third option - Original Crown Mill - that makes a light blue laid paper I want to try, and yes, I probably will eventually splurge on some Smythson. (“For science.”)
For the time being, however, these two will work fine, and I no longer have to worry about exhausting my dwindling stash of blue notepads. If you’re interested in trying out some of this stationery for yourself, we currently have G. Lalo writing paper and envelopes available for sale in the shop in white, ivory and blue, along with the Midori Soft Color A5 notebooks in blue, grey, green, and yellow.
The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.
Five favorite ink colors, which I love for their muted vintage style: Vert Empire (Empire Green); Blue des Profondeurs (Deep Sea Blue); Vert de Gris (Verdegris); Poussière de Lune (Dusty Purple); and Cacao du Brésil (Brazilian Cocoa).
A key project we’ve been working on over the past several weeks is the expansion of our selection of bottled fountain pen inks and other refill options. We recently had not one but THREE lines of bottled fountain pen ink arrive from Laban, J. Herbin, and Nahvalur. To accommodate these additions, we’ve created a separate page for all of the inks and refills, which should have the added benefit of making the store easier to navigate.
These little 10ml bottles of J. Herbin ink are an excellent way to test-drive ink colors before committing to a larger bottle.
In today’s super-saturated (pun intended) fountain pen market, there are a lot of ink lines being released, and it’s easy to get lost in an overwhelming selection of brands and colors. Personally, I’ve started defaulting to the classics, and recently rediscovered my love for the Herbin brand - a classic French ink still made in Paris and distributed by the same people who bring us Clairefontaine and Rhodia papers. Herbin inks work well in fountain pens, dip pens, and with brushes. In addition to being versatile, they’re low maintenance and tend to wash out of pens quite easily without staining. We currently carry 16 different colors in both the 10ml and 30ml bottles, priced at $7.50 and $13.95 respectively.
Artemis Navy Blue is a gorgeous dark navy that doesn’t get a lot of attention. I hope to change that.
Combining two of my favorite things in the word - writing and history - I’ve had my eye on this particular product line ever since they were released last year. Laban’s “Greek Mythology” series features a line of ten excellent inks themed around the ancient Greek gods and goddesses, and there’s not a bad one in the bunch. Laban nailed both the packaging and the bottle itself, which holds an ample 50ml of ink. We currently have all colors in stock except for Aphrodite Pink.
Nahvalur’s new “Explorer” line of fountain pen inks.
Finally, fresh off the release of their Pen of the Year, Nahvalur has added four inks to match the colors of the “Original Plus” vacuum-filler fountain pen. Sold in 20ml bottles at $12.95 each, all four of these colors are slightly offbeat variations of green, blue, purple, and gold. The green and the blue are exceptionally nice looking, and all colors are available!
You can visit the entire Inks and Refills page here, and don’t forget to check out the rest of the T.G.S. Curated Shop. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by shop purchases and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.
Grab a free sample with the purchase of certain select fountain pens. Individual samples are not available for sale, but we do stock the Cephalopod and Avian series sample sets.
If you’re in Los Angeles this coming weekend (or if you’re simply on the West Coast), please be sure to visit the California Pen Show in its inaugural year! While we won’t be attending this year due to previous commitments, we will be at the upcoming Baltimore Washington Pen Show and the Arkansas Pen Show next month. Stay tuned for more details on exactly what we’ll have with us and how we’ll be set up.
The TWSBI ECO-T Saffron Yellow is currently available for purchase!
Even though we’re not attending this weekend’s show, we’re running a special promotion! All purchases of Nahvalur and Opus 88 fountain pens will receive a free sample bottle of Anderillium Ink, courtesy of our friends at Anderillium. The bottle of ink will be automatically added to your package when your order is shipped, so there’s no need to use a coupon code. Purchases over $120, such as a Nahvalur Nautilus or an Opus 88 Minty, qualify for two ink samples. Finally, the TWSBI ECO-T Saffron is available for pre-order. The pens are on their way to me and should ship later this week.
The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all products in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.
Nahvalur Pen of the Year: “Year of the Rabbit” Nautilus. We have exactly ONE of these limited edition pens left in stock. They’ve sold incredibly well, and there’s been a lot of interest in Nahvalur’s new 14k gold nib.
Nahvalur Nautilus Black Ebonite Fountain Pens. We now have the Nautilus fountain pen in classic black ebonite, featuring either antiqued brass or black trim. (We also have one remaining Stylophora Berry limited edition.)
Nahvalur “Explorer” Bottled Ink. Nahvalur recently released a new ink lineup in colors matching their Original Plus fountain pens. Stay tuned for some additional ink swatches!
TWSBI ECO-T Jade Rose Gold Ink Sets. We have a handful of the ECO-T pen and ink sets in stock, and I love the way the Jade works with the rose gold trim.
TWSBI Vac700R Iris Fountain Pen. We have fresh stock of the Vac700R in the iridescent “Iris” finish. I traveled with vacuum-filler fountain pens this past week, and if you find yourself on airplanes on in circumstances where the temperature and air pressure change rapidly, a vacuum-filler or Japanese-style eyedropper with a shutoff valve can protect you from inky messes in your bag.
Midori MD A5 Natural Goat Leather Sleeve. Looking for a gorgeous natural leather A5 pouch that will patina beautifully as it ages? Check this one out, as well as our other Midori natural leather covers designed to fit any of the Midori MD Notebooks.
Letter Writing Supplies in our “InCoWriMo” Section! It’s International Correspondence Writing Month, or “InCoWriMo,” and we’ve pulled together all of the various letter and writing supplies into one section of the paper shop.
WMS & Co. Hand Stamps. We stock WMS & Co stamps ranging from a customizable self-inking desktop stamp perfect for making your own letterhead or personalizing your library, to these “philosophical” wooden handstamps certain to liven up your interoffice mail!
WMS & Co. To Do and Calendar Notepads. Some of our most popular desktop writing accessories, the WMS & Co. undated calendar pads come in both full-size and keyboard layout, and the "Next” to-do lists are a new addition. I find the paper to work quite well with most fountain pens.
Traveler’s Company Dated Calendar Refills 25% Off! I just have a handful left, and it’s not too late to start your 2023 planner and still get nearly the full benefit of your planner.
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