Sunday Reading for October 8, 2023

1. 2023 Dallas Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict-Kimberly). A great recap from Kimberly of an excellent local/regional pen show. I am adding this one to my list of shows to attend going forward. I’ll have more on my finds from Dallas when I’m back from vacation.

2. My Stationery Mini-Kit (via Pen Picture). I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who does this! Especially when traveling.

3. Endless Companion Pen Pouches (via Well-Appointed Desk). Many of you have asked for a review of the Endless Companion pen cases. While I haven’t been able to get my hands on them, Ana has!

4. The Simplest Paper Filing System (via Analog Office). I have many personal projects I plan to work on during my work sabbatical - sorting through a seemingly endless amount of papers is one of them. A simple system like this is attractive.

5. Unusual Filofax Organizer Designs (via Philofaxy). The six-ring binder design goes way back. It’s interesting to see how consistent they’ve stayed over the years.

6. All Prepared for Tomorrow (via Dapprman). I’m really sad to have missed the Autumn London Pen Show. Maybe in the Spring!

7. My Personal Pens Majohn Q1 (via SBRE Brown). These weird little pens are super popular. Maybe I should pick one up?

8. NFP Design Blok 6 Pen Box Review (via Pen Addict). Vanness had NFP Design pen boxes at the table in Dallas, and they sure did attract a lot of attention! The colorful “Blok” design is my favorite.

View fullsize

My Sailor Pro Gear Mini from the Dallas Pen Show, in the pen slot on the Plotter Mini 5.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I wrote Part II of my observations on Pocket Fountain Pens and how to successfully carry them (mostly) without frustration. For the rest of the week, I’m on vacation for a very-much-needed recharge following three big pen shows in six weeks and a long-in-the-works job change. You can read more here on what this means for T.G.S.

View fullsize

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We now have all of the 2024 Traveler’s Notebook dated planner refills and 2024 limited edition accessories in stock and ready to ship! Laconic Tokyo is also restocked, and we have a couple of Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters remaining, while I’m also working on a reorder. We also have restocks of most recent TWSBI releases across the Diamond 580 and ECO lineup, as well as desk and reading accessories and washi tape!

Also, a HUGE thanks to everyone who has continued to place orders and help us keep the lights on while we’re away. Orders placed this week will start shipping upon our return in the order in which they were placed, with all orders receiving a bit of the new refreshed TGS Swag that should arrive in stock by the time I get back. I hope you all enjoy!

Traveler's Company

Laconic Tokyo

HMM Project

Roterfaden

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!

TGS Updates and The Next Week's Travel Schedule!

You may have seen the big news on my Instagram stories - I recently took on a new position at my day job that frees up a LOT more time to devote to other endeavors, including T.G.S. In the coming weeks you will probably see some changes here, including refreshed and updated informational resources such as the Fountain Pen Review Archive and other projects I’ve been working on. I also have new product collaborations in the works, and plan to continue our shop expansion with new details announced in the near future!

So What Does This New Transition Officially Entail? 

I've moved to a less demanding position with a negotiated set of responsibilities and a fixed annual time commitment. The goal is for this to result in more predictable hours and clearly defined boundaries. In the immediate future, I also requested and received a four-week sabbatical to take some time off and reset.

View fullsize

I kicked off vacation with a full fountain pen reset. Turns out I had an absolutely ridiculous 30+ pens inked up, which is what happens with three pen shows in a month-and-a-half.

The next four weeks won't entirely be vacation: During this month, I need to make some decisions regarding how to best position TGS for future growth, including my 2024 Pen Show Strategy, new brand partnerships like Roterfaden (which has been extremely successful); and a launch plan for some content-related projects that I’ve had “in the works” for years without the time to complete them. I MAY consider attending the upcoming Detroit and/or Ohio Pen Shows, if time allows.

How Can You Help? Keep Reading!

It’s that simple! As long as you all keep coming back, reading, and engaging, I plan on running T.G.S. for the long term. For the next week posting may be irregular, as I really need some time off. Shop orders will continue to be accepted while I’m out of town, with processing time from 10/7 through 10/14 delayed by a couple of business days in addition to our normal shipping. Upon my return on 10/14, orders will resume shipping in the order they are received, and as per my usual practice when I’m out of town, all vacation orders will receive “extras” in the package. I recently placed an order for some fun TGS Swag in addition to our standard buttons and stickers, and you’ll be the first to receive them!

Many thanks, and please know that I greatly appreciate your readership and support! For some additional fun, consider joining the TGS Patreon Program. With more time on my hands, I have some ideas for expanding the Patreon and bringing content to readers there that is different, but still complementary, of the TGS site. Our next TGS Patreon Online Meetup is scheduled to take place the evening of October 21, at 8:30pm CT. I hope to see some new faces there!

Thursday Drops: 2024 Traveler's Notebook Refills and Limited Accessories, Laconic Restock, and the TWSBI Kai!

It’s Planner Season! Whether you enjoy sticking with traditional dated calendars or prefer the flexibility of the undated calendar, we have you covered. This week, the 2024 Traveler’s Notebook inserts arrived in both Standard and Passport size, along with the “Traveler’s Town”-themed 2024 limited accessories, which you’ll recognize from the recent Traveler’s Hotel, Traveler’s Diner, Traveler’s Records, etc. limited edition sets. You can view these and the rest of the Traveler’s Company lineup here.

View fullsize

The TWSBI Kai features a deep blue acrylic with rose gold trim.

We also have a few remaining TWSBI Kai fountain pens, which is the latest limited release that will only be available in fixed quantities and then go away. (Personally, I think TWSBI should make this pen a regular edition, as the colors are great and people seem to love the format!)

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold. Please note that we will be traveling from 10/7 through 10/14. Orders placed after 12pm CT on 10/6 (Friday) will have a 3-5 business day processing time, depending on when the order is placed. As always when we are on vacation, we make up for the slight delay by including fun “extras” with the order. Many thanks for your support!

1. Traveler’s Notebook 2024 Limited Accessories. Each year, Traveler’s Company releases a series of accessories for the Traveler’s Notebook based around that year’s theme. This year, it’s “Traveler’s Town,” and the accessories include clear plastic folders, pencil boards, and sticker packs that allow you to customize your notebook.

2. Traveler’s Notebook 2024 Dated Refills in Standard and Passport. The Traveler’s Company dated planner refills are now in stock and available to ship! We have monthly, weekly vertical, and weekly + memo in the Standard size, as well as monthly and weekly layouts for the Passport size.

3. Traveler’s Notebook “Olive” Passport Starter Kits. Passport-sized Traveler’s notebooks in Olive have been on backorder for some time, but we received a shipment yesterday! Standard size Olive notebooks are also available.

4. Laconic Notebook and Planner Restock. The Laconic system has turned into exactly the hit that I predicted. We have stock of all A5 refills available for purchase once again, as well as the Laconic notebook covers in black, milky white and clear pvc.

5. Laconic Style Bookmarkers. Sadly, I’ve been unable to reorder certain of the Laconic Bookmarker layouts but purchased whatever I could get my hands on. I will keep trying for a full restock.

6. TWSBI “Kai” Limited Edition Fountain Pen. The latest TWSBI release is now available for purchase. We only have a few of this actual limited edition (non-numbered) for sale right now, though we’re told there will be at least 2 more batches before it’s gone, like the “Draco” and “Aurora” before it.

7. Anterique Ballpoints in New Colors. We recently received a new shipment of the Anterique ultra-low viscosity ballpoints, as well as new mechanical pencils that match certain of the pens! All are refillable.

8. Midori MD “Codex” Day-to-a-Page Notebook. One of our best sellers is the Midori MD “Codex,” a page-per-day notebook/diary/undated planner that is a larger-format version of the standard MD notebooks. Available in blank or dot grid format, with page headers that allow you to date the page (or not) as necessary.

9. Stalogy 1/2-Year and 365 Notebooks. Lightweight Stalogy paper now comes in light grey grid and dot rulings, and these notebooks are favorites of both writers and planners alike. The pages are laid out with subtle date/time headers and margins that allow you to use the notebook as either a journal or planner. Also take advantage of these undated diary stickers that allow you to add monthly calendar functionality.

10. Washi Tape and Pins. We recently brought in all sorts of fun new washi tape patterns and new enamel pins, with a focus on quirky stationery and snail mail themes.

View fullsize

Pocket Fountain Pens, Part II: Further Reflections on Pocket Carry

Back in January, I wrote a piece in the “Workhorse Pens” series that I had been thinking on for quite some time, titled the “Considerations and Pitfalls of High-Capacity Pocket Fountain Pens.” The specific focus of that article was what I refer to as “pocket ink tanks,” namely high-ink-capacity pocket pens with either a piston, vacuum, or eyedropper filling system. While it can be extraordinarily convenient for those of us who do a lot of writing to carry a full 4ml of ink around in our pocket - and some of these pens do indeed seemingly write forever - there are all sorts of caveats that you need to consider in order to avoid a pocket ink-splosion.

View fullsize

Yes, pocket pen converters do exist! Kaweco (left) and Sailor (right).

But what about pocket fountain pens that use a standard ink cartridge-converter filling system? Are they any “safer”, and to what extent are they subject to the same risks and considerations as the so-called ink tanks? The short answer is that cartridge-converter pocket pens are fairly low-maintenance and easy to use, but still require some attention in order to ensure an enjoyable writing experience. A few thoughts and observations:

• Because cartridge-converter pens hold less ink, there’s proportionately less risk of a mess, but still a risk of a mess. Trust me, if a fountain pen ink cartridge explodes, it will cause a big mess. (Especially if you put it through the washing machine.) But it’s not 4ml worth of mess, and the ink is doubly contained, both within the cartridge, and then again within the barrel of the pen. If your pocket fountain pen has o-rings set into the cap and barrel threads, you’re even less likely to ruin your bag or clothing provided you’re always careful when uncapping the pen after travel.

• Cartridge-converter pocket pens are less prone to burping and leaking into the cap. Because the ink is held inside the cartridge or converter, which in turn is inside the barrel, it’s more insulated from temperature fluctuations, which can cause “burping” - i.e., what happens when warming ink expands and gets pushed out of the nib and feed. There’s no way to eliminate the risk entirely, especially if you carry a fountain pen in your pants pocket, but I’ve had much less trouble with cartridge-converter pens than those that use the barrel itself as the ink reservoir.

• Be mindful of condensation in the cap and the pen getting jostled around. No matter how careful you are, you can’t outsmart the laws of physics and thermodynamics. If you carry a fountain pen in your pocket, it’s really just a plastic or metal tube of ink that writes via a “controlled leak” through the nib and feed. If the pen gets bumped, or you’re particularly active, a drop or two of ink might leak out into the cap or onto the nib. If the pen warms up in your pocket, you might see some inky condensation on the nib. There’s no avoiding these things, so no matter what kind of pocket fountain pen you are using, use some caution when you uncap it for the first time to avoid getting any stray drops onto your clothes, desk, bag, etc.

View fullsize

The nib on the Sailor Pro Gear Mini Sapporo - you can see some dried ink that leaked out onto the nib when I was carrying it on my Plotter Mini 5 in my pocket on an airplane. It’s minimal, to be sure, and there was no real mess, but it’s a factor to consider.

A Few Examples of Low-Maintenance Pocket Fountain Pens

I pocket carry fountain pens all the time, both cartridge-converter pens as well as the pocket ink tanks. I generally won’t hesitate to carry any of my more compact fountain pens in my pocket as long as I’m conscious of not doubling up with keys, knives, etc. Of course, the quintessential cartridge-converter pocket fountain pen is the Kaweco Sport, which has a low barrier to entry and ease-of-use, as well as tons of different materials and finishes to choose from. Honestly, if you hear the term “pocket fountain pen,” most people immediately think of the Sport, to the degree that pen has almost become synonymous with the product category.

View fullsize

Two-toned grey? Sign me up.

It’s not the only option, however. A favorite of mine - though at a higher price point - is the Schon DSGN Pocket 6, which comes in a wild array of finishes, is compatible with Ian Schon’s in-house Monoc Nib, and features durable metal construction (complete with o-rings to protect against leaks). I’ve also had good luck with the Traveler’s Company Brass Fountain Pen, based on a traditional “bullet pencil” design. And of course I recently reviewed the Wingback Fountain Pen.

View fullsize

So what inspired this article? This past weekend at the Dallas Pen Show, I picked up a Sailor Pro Gear Sapporo Mini from my friends at Vanness Pens, who I was helping at their table. They are the exclusive U.S. retail partner for Japanese stationer Nagasawa, and brought with them a wide range of Nagasawa-exclusive Sailor pens that included this Pro Gear Sapporo Mini in “Mouette” two-toned grey. (“Mouette” is the French word for seagull, and the pen is adorned with a couple of different seagull motifs, including on both the nib and cap finial.) This particular Sapporo Mini came with a smaller Sailor converter (win!), and it clips perfectly to the pen loop on my Plotter Mini 5. I’ve been carrying this pen all week in my pocket alongside the Mini 5, which doubles as my wallet, and so far I’ve had no issues. This version of the Sapporo Mini doesn’t have a threaded end-cap, so it posts easily for quick deployment, likely earning it a key role in the pocket rotation going forward.

View fullsize

Sailor Sapporo Mini on the Plotter Mini 5, and as you can see, there are no threads on the end cap of this version.

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 advertising or third-party affiliate links.

Curated Shop Update: TWSBI Kai Fountain Pens Now Available for Pre-Order

Every couple of years TWSBI releases a limited edition fountain pen that’s different from any of their standard releases. In the past, it’s been the dark red “Draco” fountain pen and the green “Aurora.” This week, we have the deep blue TWSBI “Kai”, featuring a blue-flecked acrylic with rose gold trim. As noted, the Kai is a limited edition, and only a set amount will be made will be made (though they are not numbered, to my knowledge). Pens are priced at $130, and available nib sizes include extra-fine, fine, medium, and broad. Pens are currently available for pre-order, and since the official launch date is tomorrow they will start shipping within a day.

View fullsize

The TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue + Bronze might be my favorite ECO release to date.

We also have additional TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue + Bronze Trim fountain pens, as well as a restock of the TWSBI Diamond 580 in Sunset Yellow.

2023 has been a great year for TWSBI fans so far, and there’s no sign of slowing down!

View fullsize

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