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The Gentleman Stationer

Vintage Living in the Modern World.
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Thursday Drops: Fun California Pen Show Finds from Galen Leather, the Blackwing Pen, a Massive Kaweco Restock and More!

February 26, 2026

Returning from the California Pen Show, we arrived to find a massive stack of packages waiting for us, including a large restock from Kaweco that contained Kaweco Collection Sports (including Honey and Apricot Pearl!), Brass, Steel, Bronze, and Titanium metal pens, and more piston fillers! The entire line was essentially restocked, so be sure to check out all of our Kaweco offerings, including the Sketch-up Clutch Pencils! (If you recall, we did this eternally popular YouTube video a while back showing how you can use this as both a clutch pencil and a Kakimori nib holder.) We also received a large shipment from Portuguese pencil manufacturer Viarco, including the popular spring pencil caps!

The new Blackwing Pen has landed, and is available both in-store and online.

Other new arrivals traveled home with us from Los Angeles, including Galen Leather products (the wood pen holders), more Laurette’s knurled ebonite ballpoints, and new Musette tote bags from Rickshaw Bagworks to complement the rest of our “Clouds” series of exclusive editions.

We are back to normal Nashville shop hours this week, open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. I look forward to being back behind my own counter after a week of pen show time!

  1. Galen Leather Mahogany Pen Stands. You all asked for them, and now they’re here! This mahogany 3-pen rest has been featured in TGS reviews for the better part of 10 years, and I’m thrilled to be an authorized Galen retailer with the ability to stock them.

  2. Blackwing Pen. The latest release from Blackwing is…a pen? Featuring a unique half-moon rollstop design, a smooth knock, and a Schmidt refill, there’s always room in my kit for a good capless rollerball.

  3. Laurette’s Waka Ebonite Ballpoint Pens. These pens are machined from ebonite by Laurette’s, a Japanese company known for their ultra-fine knurling technique that they have used on parts they manufacture for automotive companies.

  4. Rickshaw Bagworks Musette Tote Bag. When I asked Rickshaw for a recommendation for a new addition to the “Clouds” series for pen show season, they recommended the Musette, a classic tote with a strap long enough to be worn cross-body, making it useful for pen shows and other crowded events.

  5. Kaweco Collection Sport Fountain Pens (Yes, Including Honey Yellow!). Honey was by far the most popular Kaweco color of the past two years, and we’re thrilled to have a restock. We also have more Mellow Blue, Apricot Pearl, Cyan and Teal.

  6. Rickshaw Bagworks T.G.S. Exclusive “Clouds” Fillmore Cases. We’ve restocked our supply of Fillmore cases with the 3+3 layout that allows you to store pens on both sides and open the case flat to use as a tray on your desk.

  7. Roterfaden TGS_25 Taschenbegleiter (Pre-Order). I’ve been inundated with messages regarding Roterfaden restocks - specifically the TGS25, and I can report that we should have a new shipment in the next week or so. If you would like to reserve one there is a pre-order opportunity for green Taschenbegleiters with green or grey cords.

  8. Blackwing Pencil Clip. The latest addition to Blackwing’s line of pencil accessories is designed to fit a Blackwing and most other woodcase pencils, this clip will attach to notebooks, standard books, pads, or anywhere else you need to rest your pencil while working.

  9. Viarco Pencil Caps. These sold out super fast last time but we ended up with a huge restock prior to the California Pen Show! We have the boxes of eight caps as well as larger quantities available for purchase.

  10. Viarco Vintage Pencil Series. We have a fresh shipment of Viarco Pencils from Portugal, including the popular Lapis copying pencils.

Introducing the Musette Tote, the latest addition to our Rickshaw Bagworks “Clouds” Collection.

In TGS Curated Shop Tags Thursday Drops, TGS Curated Shop, Blackwing, Galen Leather
2026 California Pen Show Recap Episode 4

On the Paper Trail Episode 4: Recapping the 2026 California Pen Show!

February 25, 2026

In Episode 4 of On the Paper Trail, we discuss our visit to the 2026 California Pen Show, one of the larger pen and stationery events in the U.S., and recap everything we saw. This two-part episode includes a pre-show discussion of how vendors prep for a show and decide what to bring, while the post-show recap talks about impressions of the event and the different brands and vendors in attendance. The YouTube episode includes footage of the event itself and a short vendor tour that follows the podcast portion, including visits to Stationery Stack, Laurette's Japan, Bungubox, and more!

Show Notes and Links

  1. ⁠California Pen Show Website⁠

  2. ⁠List of Pen Show Classes and Seminars⁠

  3. ⁠Nagasawa 6-Ring Binder Refills⁠

  4. ⁠Brelio 6-Ring Binders⁠

  5. ⁠Roterfaden TGS25 Pre-Order⁠ (Green Binders with both cord colors)

  6. ⁠Musgrave Pencils⁠

  7. ⁠Stationery Stack⁠

  8. ⁠Nagasawa Stationery⁠

  9. ⁠Nagasawa Kip Leather⁠

  10. ⁠Notsu Index Cards⁠

  11. ⁠Bungubox⁠

  12. ⁠Laurette's Japan⁠

  13. ⁠Galen Leather

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

In On The Paper Trail Tags On The Paper Trail, Podcast, California Pen Show 2026, California Pen Show, Pen Show

New Arrivals: More Index Cards, and Introducing Notsu Dot Grid Sticky Notes!

February 24, 2026

We’re back from the 2026 California Pen Show, and happy to report that one of our favorite product lines, Notsu notecards, were a hit! These ink-friendly index cards come in a wide range of formats and sizes (including new 4x6 To Do Cards) and Notsu has recently introduced a line of dot grid sticky notes as well. We’ve also received a shipment of new Rite-in-the-Rain index cards, for those who need weatherproof paper or just want more durable index cards that will withstand spills. Index cards are a core category for us and we’ll continue to bring in as many different varieties as possible!

ROTERFADEN UPDATE: I received notification this morning that we have a shipment of Roterfaden TGS_25 Taschenbegleiters in the green leather that are set to leave Germany this week. I have made a number of them available for pre-order on the site for those who have expressed interest and would like to reserve one. Please note that any additional items placed in the same order will ship with the Taschenbegleiters when they arrive, probably within two weeks but customs delays can be unpredictable so a time frame is not guaranteed. We do have one grey TGS_25 with a green cord that is available for immediate shipment. 

Normal shipping times and store hours will resume this week! All orders placed while we were in California should ship in the next day or two, and we will return to normal store hours (1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm Saturday).

In TGS Curated Shop Tags New Arrivals, TGS Curated Shop, Notsu, Rite in the Rain, Index Cards

Sunday Reading for February 22, 2026 (California Pen Show Edition)

February 22, 2026
  1. Behind the Stationery Stack with Addy (via dwrdnet). Derek interviews Addy of Stationery Stack, creator of some excellent pen trays and pen cases, and who it was fun to meet in person at this year’s California Pen Show!

  2. Four Grey Inks: Taccia Budounezu, Ka-Ku x Ink Mazeru Gray of Ash Haze, Ka-Ku Black Jade, and Arcus Artisan Raven’s Shadow (via A Gathering of Curiosities). These new Taccia inks have been slightly delayed stateside but I can’t wait to get my hands on them, both personally and for the shop!

  3. On Maintaining Friendships in My Adult Life (via Urban Adventure League). A great post and a reminder of why I make efforts to attend several pen shows a year to keep in touch with friends in-person.

  4. Does Your Handwriting Change with Different Fountain Pens? (via SBRE Brown). An interesting question, and for me the answer is definitely more about the nib than the pen. Certain nibs favor a certain style of handwriting, and sometimes I have to switch it up.

  5. Keeping a Notebook vs. Keeping a Diary (via Notebook Stories). A distinction that merits some consideration, as many people conflate keeping a diary, keeping a journal, and keeping a notebook as the same thing when in reality the process is intensely personal and specific to how each of us records thoughts.

  6. What’s in My Bag: Travel Edition (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana walks us through her travel bag that she brought with her to Los Angeles. Charging cords and pens are a common theme among pen show vendors!

  7. Analog Defaults Page Now Live (via Pen Addict). A constantly changing reference guide to products currently in use? Now that’s a good idea.

In Case You Missed It….

We attended the 2026 California Pen Show from Wednesday through Sunday! This week I will have a more fulsome recap of the experience, but it was great to meet so many new and longtime readers and customers in person. Check out our short recap of Friday, including a few pictures of our setup and my one new find!

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

The biggest news from this week in the shop was the arrival of a second shipment of Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog fountain pens, of which we have only a couple remaining, hopefully with more on the way. In recent weeks we’ve received shipments of the new Lamy AL-Star fountain pens in Pine and Flamingo, TWSBI ECO Black and Marble fountain pens, and many unique paper formats including Life Noble Note in 6-hole looseleaf and A4 Canopus paper! Be sure to check out this week’s Thursday Drops for a full list of new arrivals and restocks, as well as details of this week’s special promotion using the code “CAPENSHOW26” at checkout, which expires at 11:59pm tonight!

We will return to normal store hours this coming week, open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. We’re bringing back a ton of new stuff from Los Angeles so be sure to stop into the shop and see it all!

View fullsize Lamy
Lamy
View fullsize Diamine Ink
Diamine Ink
View fullsize Pilot
Pilot
View fullsize Notsu
Notsu

How to Support T.G.S. and Our Various Projects

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. The T.G.S. Patreon includes early access and discounts on exclusive shop releases, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly meetups. As of this morning, ALL Patreon supporters (including non-paying free members) have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released.

In LInks Tags Links

2026 California Pen Show Friday Recap and Where To Find Us!

February 21, 2026

Friday at the 2026 California Pen Show is in the books, and so far it’s been a great one. The California Pen Show succeeded the old Los Angeles Pen Show, and for the past few years has been held at the Torrance Marriott in Redondo Beach. While I skipped last year (2025), I’ve long felt that this is one of the best current pen show venues, with an excellent ballroom layout, good after-hours and restaurant options, and clean hotel rooms. So far, this year hasn’t disappointed, even though we’re only one day in. I will have a full show recap next week, since in order to truly evaluate a show you need to have Saturday in the books, but for now I do have some pictures of the pre-show setup, our location in the ballroom, and my first find of the show!

Flying out the weather was gorgeous, even though we arrived to rain in the L.A. area!

An overhead shot of the TGS Table at CAPS 2026, with a selection of products that we brought to Los Angeles. While a lot of this sold I have two suitcases full and will replenish today. You may spot some new Rickshaw items that I will be bringing home with me.

Aaaand my first find of the show: The elusive Uni Zento Signature gel pen in the dark finish with a .5mm tip. Vanness Pens (our table neighbor) had about 10 of them and they went super quickly!

Don’t Forget to Take Advantage of Our Pen Show Weekend Promotion!

Pretty much everything we brought with us from Lochby, Rickshaw Bagworks, Craft Design Technology, Notsu, Musgrave, and more remains available online and in our Nashville store (which is open for modified hours today). We usually run a pen show weekend promotion whenever we’re away, and this weekend you can take 10% off Lochby, Notsu, and all pencils through 11:59CT Sunday using the code “CAPENSHOW26” at checkout. If you’re looking for us in Los Angeles, see the map below!

In Travel Tags CAPS2026, California Pen Show 2026
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Store Hours and Location
Visit the T.G.S. Curated SHOP
Updated "Best Pens" Guide
On the Paper Trail Podcast
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