New Arrivals: Pre-SF Pen Show Roterfaden Restock, Part I (A4 and A5 Covers)

“Part One” of our Roterfaden restock is now live on the website! This first shipment contains a limited number of A4 covers (one, to be specific :)), and lots of A5 versions, including softcovers, a standard four-clip version, and the adjustable four-clip version that allows you to switch between A5 and A6 notebooks. I know that many of you are waiting for word on when we plan to restock the TGS_25 A5-slim, but all I can tell you is that those are still in production and have not yet shipped from Germany.

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The plan for this shipment is the same as with the last one: I plan to bring everything that does not sell in the next week or so to the San Francisco Pen Show, where they will be made available through the Vanness Pens table where I’ll be stationed. (T.G.S. will not have a stand-alone table at this show.) If you’ve been looking to pick one of these up, please get your order in within the next two weeks because I didn’t bring many back from D.C. (Even though I did order a larger volume this time, I wanted to give fair warning!)

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At Customer Request: More Formal Correspondence Stationery is coming

One repeat request that we’ve had from both our online and in-store customers is a section of the store devoted to correspondence cards and formal letter-writing stationery. We hear you! While of course you can always use standard looseleaf paper and writing pads for your longer letters, many customers have expressed a desire for notecards and “formal correspondence” supplies. Therefore, we’ve decided to separate this category out entirely to make it easier to do product referrals. During the most recent round of trade shows, we’ve ordered a LOT of new items, so look for these to be added in the coming days as we unbox and photograph the new arrivals.

You can always come see us in person, where we are expanding our store! Check this page for updated details on hours. This week we will be open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday.

Sunday Reading for August 17, 2025

1. DC Pen Show 2025 Recap (via Figboot on Pens). The D.C. Recaps took a bit of time to hit the ‘net this time around, probably because the shows were so big and people needed time to return from their travels and process.

2. 2025 DC SuperShow: World’s Largest Fountain Pen Show (via Feed Your Creativity). This video does a great job showing the scale of the D.C. Pen Show, and giving you a sense of just how big this event has gotten.

3. DC Pen Show: Fastest Way to Empty Your Wallet (via Inky.Rocks). I’m really glad that I couldn’t visit the Schon DSGN table at D.C. My wallet couldn’t take it. You can also see the full review here.

4. I Tested the Yamamoto Bullet Jotter System (via dwrdnet). Yamamoto’s latest paper product unexpectedly appeared over the summer, and people seem to have taken to this Bible-sized portfolio that’s compatible with a range of different fountain pen friendly papers.

5. Yamamoto Canopus Paper Review (via Pen Addict). One of the paper releases to accompany the Yamamoto Bullet Jotter was Yamamoto’s new “Canopus” paper, intended to offer a similar experience to the now-discontinued Cosmo Air Light, which was renowned for it’s ability to display vibrant ink colors but offered a somewhat lackluster writing experience.

6. I Left the Most Staining Ink Ever for TWO YEARS In This Pen! (via Doodlebud). Ok I couldn’t resist posting this one. Does ultem resist the BSB stain?

7. Teranishi Guitar Taisho Roman Haikara Innocent Mauve Ink (via Well-Appointed Desk). Of all the Teranishi inks we carry, Innocent Mauve has been one of the most popular. Dark purples are always winners!

In Case You Missed It….

This past week I pretty much recovered from my travel to D.C. by taking a short family trip (2 days) and decompressing a bit, because I knew I would have a relatively long weekend in the shop with a ton of new inventory arrivals to list. (More on that below.) This week’s Wednesday post offered a quick update on ongoing pen show survival/prep as well as some details on our next Roterfaden restock. Yesterday I reviewed the Uni Zento gel pen, the latest release from Uni which features an updated ink designed for writing comfort. I compare this pen to the Uni One, the other specialty ink that’s a relatively recent release. (Update: I also did a video review in which I walk through the differences between the Zento and the One, and do a real-time writing sample.)

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

I spent much of Friday and Saturday listing all sorts of new arrivals, since July and August have been pretty heavy with new product releases and trade show restocks. In addition to the Uni Zento gel pens, the latest Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” series arrived, alongside the Colorverse Colorvent “Top 3” Ink Sets. We also have a full restock of most of the Yamamoto Sampler Packs and Select A4 paper packs, as well as Taccia and Teranishi Inks! Finally, we have a new Ro-Biki Cover as well as restocked Ro-Biki refills. Check out the full Weekly Drops post for a recap of everything that’s new.

This will be our last full week in the shop before we head to the San Francisco Pen Show from August 29-31. We will be open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, and from 10-6pm on Saturday. We likely will have special hours the following week (maybe Sunday and Tuesday/Weds) before we head to the show. Keep an eye on this page for updates.

Anterique

Iroful

Lamy

Yamamoto

Consider Further Supporting T.G.S.!

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive shop releases (including the Taschenstift “Violet Tendencies”), the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. As noted above, we’ve recently started a Discord community for all paid Patreon supporters.

Pen Review: Is the Uni Zento Gel Pen Worth the Hype?

One of the most-discussed releases of the past year has been the Uni Zento gel pen, which has captured the attention of the stationery communities in both Japan and the U.S. In particular, the “Zento Signature” - which features a cap as opposed to your typical retractable mechanism - prompted rushes reminiscent of the Uni Kuru Toga Dive mechanical pencil. While I’ve yet to get my hands on one of these “upscale” models for an extended test drive, I’ve had the opportunity to write with both the standard Zento and the slightly upgraded “Zento Flow” (both retractables) for a couple of weeks now. While I’m not sure I would pay more than standard retail for any version of this pen, the Zento is an excellent gel pen and so far I prefer it over the Uni One and any of the basic Uni Signo “office” inks.

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The Uni Zento Flow Gel Pen in the Jade Colorway, in-hand. I also went with a Canary Yellow standard Zento.

So What’s the Story Behind the Zento?

Uni’s gel pen lineup can be confusing - the company has released multiple iterations of your standard black/blue/red gel pen and left them all on the market simultaneously, the only difference supposedly being different inks that to most people will seem quite similar. The Zento is advertised as formulated for “stress free” writing, which apparently refers to a combination of smoothness and cushion. The Zento is indeed quite comfortable to write with - the pen feels very smooth with little to no scratch, and the ink glides on the page and dries instantaneously. The ink is also advertised as formulated to reduce feathering and bleedthrough, and I can confirm there is none. Now was this actually so much of an issue with Uni’s other pens that it warranted an entirely new product line? I’m not sure, but it doesn’t change the fact that the Zento is good.

Ink Comparison: Zento Black Ink (top) has a more matte look, vs. the glossy black Uni One (bottom). To draw a comparison to fountain pen inks, I’d compare the Zento ink to something like Platinum Carbon Black or Sailor Kiwa-Guro, while the Uni One ink is more of a glossy black like Aurora.

How Does the Uni Zento Compare to the Uni One?

As I noted, in addition to the Zento, Uni released the Uni One a few years ago, which was supposed to be another “specialty” ink that’s a step above your standard office gel pen. I’ve found the Uni One and the Zento to offer somewhat different writing experiences, so I can confirm the distinction is real. The One contains an ink formulated to be extremely dark (standard black) and/or vivid (other colors), with a glossier finish. So if you prefer a darker, wet look to your gel ink, you might prefer the Uni One, especially if you’re using the pen for drawing or doing layout work in a bullet journal or planner. The Zento seems better suited to pure writing, as it lays down a remarkably smooth line and, in my opinion, has the more comfortable barrel.

Update: You can now view the Uni Zento companion video review on our YouTube Channel!

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The array of barrel colors available for the Uni Zento standard. There are some great colors available.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Uni makes a great gel pen, and I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed the Zento as I don’t typically do much writing with gel ink beyond quick notes and annotations. I strongly prefer the barrel on the Zento over the One and pretty much any other standard gel pen - it’s got a nice balance, the perfect diameter for my hand, and on the standard model, a soft texture that’s comfortable over longer sessions. I will also say that the clips on both the Uni Zento and the Uni One are excellent - the wire design is highly functional - with the slight edge to the Zento as it feels a bit tighter on both the standard model and the Flow. That said, if you prefer the barrel on the One but want to try Zento ink, the Zento refills fit the Uni One, and vice-versa.

We currently have a large selection of the standard Uni Zento gel pens available in our shop, as well as a smaller selection of the Zento Flow, with the upgraded barrels. Zentos are priced at $3 and $11, respectively, with extra refills available for $1.75. You can get a nice pen at a reasonable price, or pick up a refill that will fit one of your existing Uni pen bodies.

Come see these pens in person! Visit our shop, currently open Thursday and Friday 1-6pm, and Saturdays 10-6pm. Check this page to keep up to date on our current hours, which may change depending on travel schedules during pen show season.

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You can tell the difference between the clip on a Zento (top and bottom) because it has the round holder, whereas the holder on the One is rectangular.

Friday Drops: New Platinum Preppy Wa Edo-Monogatami, Colorverse Colorvent Top 3, and More Viarco!

This week’s Drops post is a bit late, and it’s because I had to spend yesterday listing a bunch of new inventory as it arrived. New arrivals include the latest Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” series, dubbed “Edo-Monogatami” and themed around various aspects of life during Japan’s Edo period. (You may recall that the Taccia Ukiyo-e fountain pen inks reflect Edo period art, so consider whether these pens and inks might be a good match!)

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After a somewhat lengthy wait, we also have the much-anticipated Colorverse “Top 3” inks from the 2024 Colorvent Calendar, and the three colors chosen were Christmas Star, Pulsar Pulse, and Milky Way. You can purchase a set containing three 15ml bottles (one of each color) plus four complementary washi tapes, or you can purchase a standard 65ml bottle of individual colors. Finally, we have the new Lamy AL-Star pens and pencils highlighted in Tuesday’s post, as well as a full Viarco pencil restock.

Another reason why it’s been a bit quiet here recently - in addition to Pen Show travel - is that we are expanding our store! Next week we will be taking over a larger showroom to create dedicated viewing and shopping space (though we will still have our current location as our warehouse, office, and event space, and it will likely be some time before the new space is open.) Come see us this week on Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, as well as Saturday from 10am-6pm, so you can see all of these and more in-person!

1. Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Edo-Monogatami Special Editions. All of the most recent Platinum “Modern Maki-e” releases are now available, themed around life in Japan’s Edo period.

2. Colorverse Colorvent “Top 3” Ink Sets and Bottles. We knew it was coming, but Colorverse has finally released the Top 3 inks from the Colorvent Calendar, available either in a set of three 15ml ink bottles with matching washi tape, or as individual 65ml bottles.

3. Lamy AL-Star Dark Dusk and Mint Special Editions. The latest Lamy AL-Star pens and pencils have landed, in two new green and blue colorways.

4. Laurett’s Ebonite Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils. I picked up several of these Laurett’s machined ebonite ballpoints and mechanical pencils at the D.C. Pen Show after visiting the Laurett’s table. The combination of precision knurling and ebonite is unlike anything I’ve seen before.

5. Archer & Olive Traveler-sized Notebooks. These A5 Slim hardcover notebooks have proven popular so we are likely going to bring in additional sizes, as well as more of the Traveler’s-size notebooks.

6. Viarco Pencil Restock! We spent most of yesterday afternoon listing a half-dozen different varieties of Viarco pencils and accessories, including all of the standard office pencils in HB and B hardnesses as well as the vintage series. Oh, and…

7. Viarco Pencil Caps. Pencil caps are back! These simple metal spring-style pencil caps protect your long-point-sharpened wood pencils in transit. Available in the boxes of 8 or larger packs of 20.

8. Blackwing Volume 140 Pencils. We have some remaining stock of the latest Blackwing Volumes release, inspired by stainless steel cookware and the Maillard Reaction. These are very nice looking pencils, and there are also high-quality recipe cards to pair with the release.

9. Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil. The Perfect Pencil is back! We have the more reasonably priced version, which you won’t be afraid to carry and use as intended, as an everyday sharpener and pencil extender.

10. Faber-Castell Grip Trio Sharpener in New Colors. The Grip Trio pencil sharpener allows you to sharpen standard, jumbo, and colored pencils, and now comes in three new colors.

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And yes, we’ve added to our selection of Bicolor annotation pencils!

Pen Show Resources: What To Do At A Pen Show, and How Do You Prepare? (Plus a Further Roterfaden Update)

We’re entering a busy stretch for pen shows, even though the 2025 D.C. Pen Show is in the books! Later this month we have the San Francisco Pen Show (August 29-31), and after that Orlando, Commonwealth (Boston), and Dallas in September. (Check out the full calendar here.) Many of you have shared that you are planning on attending your first show and have asked for some “pen show prep” posts. I’ve done a bunch of these over the years, and need to pull them together onto one page, but they tend to need very little updating as the show experience has remained surprisingly consistent.

To start, I generally link back to a series of “Pen Show Primer” articles I’ve written including Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show; Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show; and Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show. While these particular articles have some age on them, I stand by pretty much all of the advice. (You’ll also note that “get a good pen show bag” has remained consistently high on the list of tips for a positive pen show experience, along with “take breaks” if you can.) For those looking for information on nib grinds, earlier this year I did a YouTube video walking through a nib grind I had done by Matthew Chen at this year’s Arkansas Pen Show.

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Be sure to build plenty of “browsing time” into you pen show schedule.

A Quick Update on Upcoming Shows and Roterfaden Restocks

I will be teaming up with Vanness Pens once again at the upcoming San Francisco Pen Show, helping at the table and with various seminars and discussion panels. There won’t be a “T.G.S. Table,” but I may have some exclusive items available at the show through Vanness, including any remaining Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters from shipments scheduled to arrive in the next two weeks. The initial shipment should arrive next week, and it will contain a restock of A6, B6, B5, A5, and A4 sizes. I do have another order of the A5 Slim TGS_25 special editions on the way, which I expect to have in hand before San Francisco provided there are no delays. Many people have e-mailed asking whether they can reserve, prepay, or receive an e-mail notifying them when they are available. Unfortunately, due to the volume of messages, I am no longer able to respond individually, and I cannot promise pre-sale or prepayment opportunities because I do not know how much lead time we will have and I generally am uncomfortable taking money until I know international shipments have cleared customs. I will be posting updates in the Patreon (members will have some stock set aside for first refusal), here on the blog a few days prior to the launch, and via the T.G.S. mailing list. I will try to give everyone as much advanced notice as possible, but due to the small-batch nature of the product, it’s possible that there won’t be enough to meet demand, and if that’s the case I will try for a third shipment.

Come see us in person, either at a show or at our spot in Nashville! We will be open this week from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday and from 10am-6pm Saturday.