Thursday Drops: What To Expect in Atlanta, Plus a Pen Show Weekend Paper Promo!

It’s showtime again, with the Atlanta Pen Show on tap for tomorrow. While I was feeling a bit worn down, after the “excitement” of the past few days I really need an escape and am looking forward to socializing with everyone this coming weekend. I’ll be bringing a similar setup to what I had in Arkansas (though with a single table), and will focus on Roterfaden, Traveler’s Company, assorted paper that fits all the covers, as well as my multi pens and reading accessories.

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I will have paper testers at the table!

Take 10% off paper orders with “ATLANTA” at checkout!

Many thanks to everyone who has supported us as a small business through these uncertain - and certainly unpredictable - times. As a thank you, for this weekend, through Sunday, take 10% off your paper orders with the coupon code “ATLANTA” at checkout. (It might be a good time to stock up on favorites, just sayin’….). Orders should ship within our regular 2-3 business day time frame since Atlanta is a short trip. Some exclusions, such as Roterfaden, apply. Sale ends Sunday 4/6 at 11:59pm CT.

We are open in-store today from 1-6pm before we have to leave. Be sure to stop by as we will be closed Friday and Saturday while we attend the pen show!

1. Grown-Up Washi Tape (and Super-Floral Grown-up Washi Tape). Not for the kids. But super appropriate this morning. Let’s lead with this one!

2. TWSBI Slate Blue with Onyx Fountain Pens. We still have a few of the latest TWSBI release, though many of these sold out nearly immediately in the store yesterday.

3. Kaweco Student Fountain Pens. The Kaweco Student is an underrated fountain pen that’s well-balanced and reliable, and I’ve always enjoyed the music series which pairs muted pastels with a cream barrel and gold trim.

4. Uni Signo DX Gel Pens. We recently brought in the line of Uni Signo DX gel pens in the .28mm and .38mm tip sizes, in a wide array of different colors and a comfortable cushioned grip.

5. Lamy Petrol and Sepia Inks. We received a big shipment of Lamy ink today, including a restock of the recent Petrol re-release. I will have some bottles in Atlanta and some in the shop for purchase.

6. Anderillium “Ichthyoformes” Series. Moray Eel Green and Whale Shark Grey are here! So far, Moray Eel Green is winning the popularity contest, but the Whale Shark Grey is the match for the new TWSBI ECO.

7. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Folios. I’m bringing all of my remaining Roterfaden stock from the most recent shipment to the Atlanta Pen Show, so if you’ve had your eye on one of the most recent arrivals, please get your order in before I leave late tonight.

8. Lochby Field Folio and Field Journals in A5. The new Lochby Field Folio was a big seller at last month’s Arkansas Pen Show, and I’ll have fresh stock in Atlanta. I do have enough to sell online.

9. Lochby Venture Pouch. The Venture Pouch is back in all three colors, including Navy. To see exactly how this unique case works, check out this YouTube video demonstration!

10. Lamy AL-Stars and Safari New Releases. We have the Denim and Aubergine AL-Star Fountain Pens, as well as the new Lamy Safari in Scarlet.

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Petrol and Sepia are in stock!

5 Reasons Why General Stationery Is Important at Pen Shows

Pen Shows and “Stationery Fests” have been drawing growing numbers of attendees, as more people discover these events and, in general, turn to analog as a way to push back against ever-encroaching digitalization of life. When longstanding events - pen shows in particular - start to change, you always hear a certain amount of griping. A few years ago the complaints centered around how shows were focusing more on modern pens, as opposed to vintage fountain pens. Today, you’re more likely to hear talk about the growing presence of “stationery” (i.e., not just pens, but the broader category of journals, planners, letterpress cards, pencils, and more), and the fact that fewer vendors are showing up with pure fountain pen displays. While some may not like this development, for several reasons, which I discuss below, I don’t think that it’s a bad thing at all. Great, in fact, because it helps grow our community!

1. General Stationery Expands the Community By Drawing in People with Different Interests. I’ve long believed that if we want pen shows to continue to grow and be sustainable, they need to expand their appeal beyond the fountain pen enthusiasts who started the shows and who have continued to form the core of show attendance. Opening up the shows to different types of vendors by encouraging existing vendors to bring a broader range of products to shows creates a broader and more stable attendee base.

2. A Range of Less Expensive Items Allows More People to Participate in the Fun. While there certainly are less expensive fountain pens, some people - especially new pen and paper enthusiasts - aren’t yet comfortable spending even $15 or $20 on a pen. Having a selection of excellent stationery products in the $2-5 range encourages newbies to participate in the show experience and lets everyone had the chance to take home something fun, whether it be a fine-tipped Japanese gel pen or a roll of washi tape.

3. Expanding into Non-Fountain Pens Makes the Show Experience (and the Entire Industry) Less Sensitive to Price Fluctuations. So what happens if prices skyrocket due to tariffs or other price pressures, and there are high-end fountain pens are less economically accessible? Well, because general stationery (gel pens, ballpoints, washi, notebooks, etc.) can be relatively inexpensive, demand for these products might be less sensitive to the price swings that could be coming. (i.e., a gel pen increasing from $3 to $3.75 feels like less of a big deal than a $400 fountain pen increasing to $500). I suspect that if we see steep price increases due to the tariffs that were just announced, traditional pen shows could start to feel more like general “stationery festivals” catering to a more cost-conscious consumer. Of course, some would argue that buyers on the higher end are less price-sensitive to begin with, so all we can really do is wait and see what actually ends up happening.

4. For Those of Us Who Use Our Pens Everyday, We Like to See Complementary Products and Accessories in Person. And, perhaps, view them together with the accessories we plan to buy or already own so that we can better pair our planners, notebook covers, pen cases, and more. In recent years, I’ve been most excited to see more case and bag manufacturers (like Rickshaw) attend shows and give people all sorts of options for bringing home their new pens.

5. Encouraging Vendors to Diversify What They Sell Leads to a Better Result for both Vendors and Attendees. I’ve always wondered why people try to sell the same pens and ink that everyone else at the show is carrying. Be unique, which not only gives people a reason to shop with you (and remember your table) but also offers attendees a fun show experience. My tables at the recent Arkansas show were somewhat unusual, in the sense that I decided to bring those things particular to my shop, like Roterfaden, Anterique, Tom’s Studio Lumos Fineliners, and assorted multi-pens. (I know I’m not the only one who carries these things, but at shows they do tend to be under-represented.) I’m planning something similar for Atlanta this weekend!

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Ask for the “special washi”. I have lots of it.

So what’s in store for the Atlanta Pen Show? For starters, I’ll be bringing what’s left of my current Roterfaden stock, my Traveler’s Notebook setup, Lochby cases, and all of my recently arrived Uni gel pens and Jetstream Multi Pens. I’ll have some fountain pen options as well, and maybe some washi tape surprises! While the Atlanta Pen Show website is a touch behind schedule, and I can’t see an official layout, I understand that I’ll be next to Hinze Pens in the first room.

Is there anything you all would like me to bring to the show? Anything you wish dealers would bring more of to pen shows and events in general? Drop a comment! Also, we will have regular hours tomorrow (Thursday) in our Nashville shop from 1pm-6pm before I have to take off for Atlanta.

New Arrivals: Anderillium Moray Eel Green and Whale Shark Grey, Plus a First Look at the New TWSBI ECO!

After having paused their new releases for a bit, Anderillium is back with the new “Ichthyoformes” Series (inspired by fish). Two colors are currently available: Moray Eel Green and Whale Shark Grey, which are a golden green and blue-grey, respectively. I’ve swatched both inks and, personally, favor the Moray Eel simply because it’s so unusual, but I do enjoy greys as well! We have also restocked on my favorite Anderillium Green-Blacks like Colossal Squid Dark and Green Kingfisher Green.

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Anderillium Moray Eel Green

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Whale Shark Grey

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TWSBI ECO Slate Blue + Onyx: Real-Life Photos Now Available

By the way, Whale Shark Grey is what I’d consider a perfect match for the new TWSBI ECO in Slate Blue + Onyx fountain pen, which arrived yesterday and already has begun shipping out to pre-orders. I can’t decide whether the pen leans more grey or blue, and sometimes I even see purple undertones depending on how the light hits it? Anyway, I really like ambiguous colors, and this one checks that box. Eventually I plan to add one to my collection. We’ve also generally restocked on TWSBI, including the Bronze-trimmed “Breakfast Collection.”

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The slate blue matches the onyx trim better than the green, but that’s just me.

Update: We will be at the Atlanta Pen Show this weekend! Be sure to stop by our table and see us, as we will have a wide selection of pens and stationery, including Roterfaden, Lochby, and more. Check out our Arkansas Pen Show setup for more of what you can expect. Our brick-and-mortar shop in Nashville will be closed Friday and Saturday but OPEN on Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm-6pm, so if you’re not driving down to Atlanta for the show stop by and see us in the afternoon!

Sunday Reading for March 30, 2025

1. The Best Stationery and Pen Shops in London (via Inky.Rocks). I guess I missed a few when I was in London last fall. This is an excellent in-depth video exploring what the different shops have to offer.

2. On Finding a Notebook System and Getting Minimal: Lochby Field Journal Mini (via Urban Adventure League). I’m looking forward to Lochby’s Field Journal Mini coming back into stock (June, I’m told) because it’s a common size that will appeal to many people.

3. Chicago Stationery Fest 2025 Recap (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana has a recap of the much-publicized Chicago Stationery Fest. Regional stationery-themed events are popping up all over, and while there are bound to be growing pains, it shows just how big the demand for analog is.

4. What Do I Bring to a Pen Meet? (Via UK Fountain Pens). Pens! All of them. Even if you feel that what you own is “basic.”

5. The Place for Analog and Digital (via Stationery Pizza). How do you divide your tasks between Analog and Digital? Other than organizing due dates on an electronic calendar, I find my brain works best on paper.

6. Two More Bookcases Filled (via Fueled by Clouds and Coffee). I love seeing how people organize their art/writing/stationery supplies. I also make use of bookcases.

7. Endless Stationery Creator Fountain Pen (via Dapprman). Endless released it’s “Creator” retractable fountain pen to mixed reviews, and are now working on another.

8. Reviving Refills (via Bleistift). I don’t know whether this trick works with refills other than the specific gel refill mentioned here, but I plan to try it. Air bubbles in older gel refills are super annoying.

9. Results of Values Journaling (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I’ve been reading up on different journaling practices, and values-based journaling keeps coming up.

10. Lamy Petrol 2025 vs. the OG 2017, and Lamy Sepia Too! (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I had the opportunity to compare the original Petrol to the new ink (thanks Lisa!) and came to the same conclusion as Kimberly. These two are very close, and I actually prefer the new release because I don’t love sheeny inks. (We have more Petrol coming this week.)

11. Blackwing Illegal Pad Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). I think people enjoy this particular pad, and particularly the lined version, because it has a traditional legal pad layout (line down the center) and works pretty well with most types of pens.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog (and on YouTube), I recapped my adventures at the 2025 Arkansas Pen Show (you can also check out the on-site “Saturday Updates” post), and yesterday I posted my relatively modest show “haul”, which focused heavily on nib grinds. Don’t miss the more in-depth YouTube walkthrough of all the various items I brought home, which includes writing samples of the Kodachi grinds and ink swatches.

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This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Signo DX, Jetstream Lite Touch, and more!

Despite it being a pen show travel week, we still managed to get all the new arrivals up on the site. Of course, the latest TWSBI ECO release is up and available for purchase, with shipments starting to go out tomorrow. I had teased these Uni Signo DX gel pens and Uni Jetstream Lite Touch single-refill pens in my Arkansas Pen Show content, and they are now available for purchase. We also have additional Jetstream Lite Touch Multi Pens (4+1 versions) and the Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3. We also had a very large Anderillium Ink restock, including the new Moray Eel Green and Whale Shark Grey from the new “Ichthyoformes” line. Favorites such as Colossal Squid Dark and Flying Squid Blue are also back.

Uni

Kaweco

Anderillium

New Lamy

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Unboxing the Arkansas Pen Show Haul! Two Nib Grinds, Inks, and a New Pen

Ok, so I was pretty good this past weekend, all things considered. I managed to keep the 2025 Arkansas Pen Show haul down to one pen, two nib grinds, and two inks. I’ve become much more deliberate about not accumulating stuff unnecessarily and taking a longer-term approach to bigger-ticket items (such as some more expensive vintage pens I’m considering). Here, the pen I purchased was one that I’ve been considering for at least a year; the nib grinds were to pens that I use a lot but need to tweak to make them a better fit for my handwriting, and the two inks were likewise long-sought additions to my everyday rotation.

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My Lamy 2000 in Stainless Steel (Broad Nib), ground to a Kodachi.

Arkansas Pen Show: A Great Show for Nib Grinds

Because the Arkansas Pen Show tends to be hyper-local and vintage-heavy, it can be easier to have nib work done because there simply isn’t as much demand/competition for the slots as at the larger shows. While Matt Chen (Matthew’s Nib Works) was definitely occupied all weekend, the wait didn’t ever seem to be longer than 2 or 3 people, and I had no trouble obtaining walk-up time to have two pens ground. I added Matt’s Kodachi grind to my Lamy 2000 in Stainless Steel and my broad Schon DSGN Monoc nib, both of which were a bit too broad and wet for me to use regularly. The Kodachi grind is a newer fascination of mine, as it offers what I consider to be similar line variation to an architect nib without some of the sharper angles and edges of that grind. On his site, Matt describes the Kodachi as “a grind made to emulate brush strokes with thin vertical lines, thick horizontal lines, and a sharp hairline at high angles,” and his particular take is inspired by the Naginata Togi developed by Yukio Nagahara. You can read more about the different grinds that Matthew offers here.

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My Schon DSGN Monoc nib, formerly a broad, ground to a Kodachi. The natural shape of the Monoc lends itself to this grind but is not as pronounced as the Lamy 2000 grind, above.

While I’m planning a longer, more comprehensive post (as well as a video) on nib grinds, I will go ahead and note that these more complex grinds can be proportionately more expensive so you should plan accordingly. Matthew charges $80 for a Kodachi grind, compared to $30 for a general adjustment and $50 for a more “basic” grind such as an italic or stub. Before you invest in a grind like this, you definitely want to try a similar pen with a similar grind, and the optimal place to do so is at a pen show. Most nib workers have their own take on each grind, and most will have a selection of “tester” pens that you can write with at their table.

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Matthew Chen’s table features a full set of pens (Pelikans) with all of the various nib grinds he offers. You can test them out yourself before you make a final decision.

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Writing samples with the two Kodachis that I had ground at the show.

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Some of my doodles from the tester pens at Matt’s table.

In-Person Pen Selection: The Best for Unique Materials

After the show, I went to visit our friends at Vanness Pens. I’ve been coveting one of the Leonardo Momento Zero Nuvola fountain pens for some time, though I didn’t want to order online because this specific material features a grey/cream swirl that can vary wildly from pen to pen. I was able to go “behind the curtain” at Vanness and look at all of the various pens they had in stock to select my favorite, along with a medium nib with plenty of tipping.

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I prefer the Leonardo Momento Zero Nuvola with a balanced mix of grey and cream.

Two New (To Me) Inks from P.W. Akkerman: No. 7 and No. 18!

I have far too little Akkerman Ink in my collection, and I regret having sold off many of the colors over the years. The bottles are superb, in that they feature the signature inkwell in the neck that makes it easy to fill a pen, no matter the nib size. The two colors I chose were No. 7 (KoninginneNach-Blauw) and No. 18 (Garuda Rood). No. 18 is a burgundy/maroon, and No. 7 is a blue-black with grey undertones. I love both of them and have waited far too long to add them to my collection. The “rumor” (which to my knowledge has never been denied by either party) is that Akkerman inks are private-labeled by Diamine, so these are all excellent safe inks that will work well in most fountain pens. I have never had an issue with any Akkerman ink and have used them regularly in my rotation over the years.

Which one is your favorite? I’m digging the slight multi-shading effect on the Akkerman No. 7. Just don’t ask me how pronounce it.

If you’d like to see a real-time unboxing of everything I brought back, plus some extended discussion of the two nib grinds PLUS real-time writing samples and ink swatches, you can view the full video on YouTube here.

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I think I’m going to call this one the “all the things” table, since we’ve added a bunch new items ranging from new Jetstream Lite Touch pens to the Uni Signo DX gel pens! Come see these in person this weekend, and I’m in the process of loading them onto the site as well.

Physical Shop and Future Pen Show Schedule

We’re open today (Saturday) from 10am-6pm, and will be having special hours next week because on Thursday night I’m off to the Atlanta Pen Show, where I will be sharing table space with Hinze Pens. Be sure to stop by because we will have a fun selection of highly curated items at the Atlanta show, including Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters, lots of Lochby pouches and notebook covers (including the new A5 Field Folio), and maybe some of the new pens we’ve been stocking, depending on space! Since I won’t have a lot of space, I’ll have to curate my selection this weekend, but I am open to requests if you reach out before Tuesday or Wednesday and I’ll do my best to make it happen.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.