On the Paper Trail Episode 7: Underappreciated Stationery Gems

In this week’s episode of On the Paper Trail, we discuss a topic that’s close to both of us: Underappreciated Stationery. For a variety of reasons, a wide range of exceptionally good stationery items don’t get the attention that we think they deserve. In some instances, entire brands can be underrated. We each picked items from three categories (pens, paper, and ink), and also talk a bit about why certain stationery can fly under the radar.

Additionally, we discuss our upcoming On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville weekend event, currently slated for October 16-18! We talk a bit about our vision for this event and how we both wanted to create the type of event we personally want to attend, with a more balanced approach to shopping, seminars/classes, and opportunities to socialize!

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.

Episode 7 Show Notes and Links

Note: We discuss a LOT of individual products this week, therefore this longer list has been moved to the bottom of the post.

1. Pilot e95s (Lisa’s Weekly Pen).

2. Blackwing Matte (Lisa’s Weekly Pencil).

3. Midori Soft Color Spiral (Lisa’s Weekly Paper).

4. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

5. Uni Style Fit Meister 5 Multi Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

6. Life Noble Note A5 6-Ring Paper (Joe’s Weekly Paper).

7. Kaweco Perkeo (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

8. Lamy Pico Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

9. Conway Stewart (Underappreciated Pen Pick.

10. Ohto Ceramic Rollerball Pens (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

11. Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

12. Jetstream Prime Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

13. Levenger Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

14. Yamamoto Ro-Biki (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

15. Original Crown Mill (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

16. Wearingeul Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

17. Callifolio Ink (Underappreciated ink Pick).

18. KWZ Old Gold (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

19. Laban Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

20. Papier Plume Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

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.

New Arrivals: Stationery Sets from Belle & Union, Plus Washi Tapes from Papier Platz and Oeda Letterpress!

We’ve continued to build out the written correspondence section of the shop, adding additional notecard/envelope sets as well as traditional half and full-sheet letter sets. San Antonio-based Belle & Union uses 100% cotton paper printed with snail mail and analog-themed motifs, and they’ve even assembled a desk box that contains both notecards and letter paper so you have a complete correspondence set ready to go for whatever type of writing you need to do. Be sure to check out the full line of Belle & Union products both online and in-store!

We’ve also expanded our washi tape offerings to include new designs from Papier Platz and Oeda Letterpress, two Japanese brands specializing in stationery and calligraphy-themed tapes and other accessories. Papier Platz has collaborated with Japanese artist Eric Small Things on a line of washi tapes that includes fountain pen ink, bookshelves, and desk art - these are among my favorite of the new washi tapes, particularly the “My Desk” and “Writing Utensils” designs.

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We will be open normal hours this week in our Nashville shop, from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm Saturday. Stop by to see these and more in-person!

Sunday Reading for April 12, 2026

1. 2026 San Francisco Stationery Fest Recap (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). An epic recap of an event that featured some of the best after-hours events that I’ve experienced at any sort of pen or stationery event. Karaoke, anyone?

2. USPS Shipping Updates (via Vanness1938). An important update for everyone to hear as it doesn’t just apply to Vanness - it applies to everyone. Shipping delays are endemic right now with slow delivery times, missed pick-ups, and missing packages. These aren’t just affecting customer orders but our own attempts to restock and get additional inventory.

3. 2026 Atlanta Pen Show (via Olive Octopus). I missed Atlanta this year due to a conflict with another event, but hopefully will be able to catch up with everyone next year. Many thanks to Lisa for running the shop (almost certainly better than I can) in my absence.

4. Interview with Richard Polt Author of the Typewriter Revolution (via dwrdnet). I’ve played witness to Derek’s emerging interest in typewriters over the last year or so, and this is a great opportunity to hear from one of the luminaries in the typewriter community.

5. “Planner Reset” (via Philofaxy). Personally, while I make tweaks to my planner/notebook “system” (loosely defined) throughout the year, I try to limit complete resets to year-end unless something is absolutely not working.

6. Visit to Bungu no Mori in Osaka, Japan (via Inkredible Colours). Since I’ll be visiting Osaka in late May, early June, I’ve added this one to the list!

7. Pelikan Edelstein Pyrite Ink Review (via Pen Addict). A step too far into the shimmer, perhaps?

8. Moving from a Franken-Bujo to a Wonderland222 Planner (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’ve really enjoyed my Wonderland222 Planner this year and find it to be one of the more versatile layouts in either the undated or dated formats.

9. What Would You Put in Your PPK (via Well-Appointed Desk). What would you bring along if you were only allowed a box the size of a relatively slim A5 notebook?

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In Case You Missed It….

While I always enjoy traveling to pen shows (and stationery fests!), I’m usually glad to get back to my writing routine! This week I compared two popular multi-pen systems: the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto and the Uni Style-Fit, which is somewhat timely given that I took both with me to San Francisco and their appearance at the table prompted a lot of questions that needed answering. I also wrote a post offering my hands-on impressions of the Uni Zento Signature, a coveted “it” pen that’s received much attention on the stationery intranets over the past year or two and unfortunately remains largely unavailable. It’s a nice pen, and a great EDC option, but I may actually prefer the mid-tier Zento Flow for longer writing sessions due to how the pens balance in my hand.

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I think I forgot to mention this week we have all sorts of new washi tapes from Papier Platz (including the Eric Small Things collaboration tapes), plus new tapes from Oeda Letterpress.

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

We’ve fully restocked on select models of the Uni Zento, the Uni Jetstream Prime and Prime 3 Multi Pens, and Kuru Toga and Mono Shaker mechanical pencils! We also finished listing our recent restock of Midori paper, including Soft Color staple and spiral notebooks, and new MD Product (formerly Midori MD) notebooks in dot grid rulings beyond A5! Check out each week’s Thursday Drops posts for a full list of new arrivals and restocks.

Our Nashville Shop will be open this week for normal hours, from 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. Please come by and see these products and more in-person!

Midori Paper

Herbin

Tombow

Uni

How YOu Can Support us further: AND SAVE THE DATE FOR OCTOBER 16-18, 2026 for On The paper Trail Live in Nashville!

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. In addition to exclusive content, Discord access, and online meetups, Patreon supporters have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released. Also, as we noted in yesterday’s post, we are planning an On The Paper Trail Weekend Event in Nashville the weekend of October 16-18, 2026! Stay tuned as we plan to release additional details in the coming weeks.

First Impressions: Hands-on with the Uni Zento Signature!

Ok, so I finally got my hands on a Uni Zento Signature - Uni’s latest “it” gel pen that flies off shelves so fast in Japan that it hardly ever makes it’s way into the U.S. market, and when it does, it often appears at grossly inflated secondary market prices. (I’ve seen these pens priced as high as $200+, but fortunately as they become more available this degree of silliness is less common.) I’ve been trying to get my hands on a Zento Signature for about a year, and when Vanness Pens obtained a (very) small shipment for the California Pen Show in February, I managed to snag one of the black ones in the .5mm tip size. After a few weeks of use, here are my initial impressions.

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What I Like About the Uni Zento Signature

• Magnetic Cap. The Zento Signature features a magnetic cap which closes and posts securely. This feature alone makes the Signature an excellent pen for everyday carry. Standard “click” gel pens can accidentally deploy in your bag or pocket, causing a mess. You don’t have that issue with the Signature.

• Sturdy Clip. The Signature features an upgraded metal clip that’s a bit heavier duty than the wire clip on the standard and Flow pens. I haven’t had the pen long enough to know whether it will make a real long-term difference in terms of durability, but it feels secure and does lend the pen a higher-end look.

• Matte Grip. The grip section on the Zento Signature has a matte texture that reduces slippage in the hand. The metal barrel on the Zento Flow might be a touch slick for some people. If you’re writing outdoors, in a variable travel environment, or if you tend to have sweaty hands, the Signature is a good choice.

• All-Metal Construction. The Zento Signature feels durable due to the nearly all-metal construction, including interior metal threads. There’s even an o-ring to prevent leakage if a refill goes bust.

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The Zento Signature posted in-hand. The grip section is comfortable, though I find the overall shape of the pen a touch short for my hand.

The Uni Zento Flow, which is a traditional click pen format with a lower aluminum barrel.

Do I Prefer the Zento Signature Over the Zento Flow? A Few Considerations that have me leaning towards the Zento flow

• Price Point. Even at the standard pricing ($30), the Zento Signature is nearly 3x more expensive than the Zento Flow, and 10x more expensive than the standard Zento. All three pens use the same refill, so in order to justify the price difference, you need to really like the format. I would NOT suggest that anyone pay $100-200 on the secondary market for a Zento Signature under any circumstances - it was never intended to be sold at this price point and the value proposition is not there.

• Balance. I don’t consider the Zento Signature unbalanced, but for longer writing sessions the Zento Flow fits my hand better. Posted, the Signature is only slightly shorter, but the difference in weight and balance feels more pronounced. I think I prefer the more front-weighted Flow overall.

• Hype. The stationery industry goes crazy over certain products from time to time, and I’m usually able to ignore the hype but with the Zento Signature it can be impossible. This pen has drawn so much attention that I dislike using it in public and carrying it with me at shows and meetups due to the number of people constantly asking whether I’m willing to sell it. (I’m not.) In my opinion, this pen is nice but does not justify the level of social media FOMO-driven hype that it receives.

Most of the price point of the Zento Signature goes into the metal barrel. As you can see, the barrel threads are metal as opposed to plastic, which suggests that the pen will be more durable over time as one would expect for the price point. That said, both pens use the same refill, so your writing experience is nearly identical.

Further Reading on the Uni Zento Lineup

I’ve previously reviewed the standard Uni Zento and the “mid-tier” Zento Flow, which uses the same refill and features an upgraded metal barrel in five different finishes. I think the Zento refill is excellent, and consider these pens exceptionally good everyday writers for those who value a smooth writing experience. The Zento is designed to be “low friction”, and performs as advertised. At the end of the day, is the coveted Zento Signature 2-3x as good as the Flow? If you’re just looking to write with a Zento, probably not, but if you are looking for a pocket-carry EDC pen with a magnetic cap, at $30 the Zento Signature is a reasonable choice as long as you can find one at standard pricing.

We currently have a fairly large selection of Standard Zentos and Zento Flow pens in stock in our shop, including the cool “Birch” Flow that pairs a white upper barrel with etched aluminum. We recently added some .7mm options for those who prefer a wider tip size. Unfortunately, we do not have any Zento Signatures available for sale as they remain largely unavailable in the U.S. Our friends at Vanness Pens are also currently sold out. Please note that I am not interested in selling my personal pen and generally do not respond to emails and comments regarding purchases from my personal collection. Thank you for understanding!

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.

Thursday Drops: Jetstream Prime, Kuru Toga Pencils, Zento Flow and More!

Four huge boxes arrived from Japan after making their way through customs, allowing us to finally restock on Kuru Toga and Tombow Mono “Shaker” mechanical pencils, Uni Zento Flow pens, new Jetstream Prime Pens, and, yes, more ink from Teranishi and Herbin! My favorite of these new arrivals are the all-matte-black Jetstream Prime (clip included) with a .7mm refill, and the Zento Flow “Birch”, which features a half-white, half etched aluminum barrel and a .38mm refill. Uni Jetstream ink is among the smoothest of the low-viscosity ballpoints, and the Zento gel ink has a matte texture that writes with little friction and dries extremely fast.

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The latest Uni Zento Flow arrival is this “Birch” version which features a combination white and etched aluminum barrel.

If you come visit us in store, we have testers of all these pens and more at the back of the shop to try out in person. We’re open this week Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, and on Saturday from 10am-6pm. We hope to see you soon!

1. Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch Mechanical Pencil. Available in seven different colors and two tip sizes (.5mm and .3mm), the Switch features a comfortable gel grip and a switch that allows you to turn the Kuru Toga engine on and off, depending on whether you want the lead to rotate.

2. Tombow Mono Graph “Tune” Mechanical Pencil. The Tombow Mono “Shaker” style pencil now comes in four dark matte colors replete with matching matte trim.

3. Kuru Toga KS Mechanical Pencils. These entry-level Kuru Toga pencils are available again in muted pastel shades, as well as “Iron Blue” and Olive Green.

4. Uni Zento Flow Gel Pen. The Uni Zento Flow is the “mid-range” Zento, with a metal barrel that adds a touch of heft while maintaining a reasonable price point. As I mentioned above, we’ve recently added two new colors: Hematite (a dark grey) and “Birch” (a white barrel with etched aluminum finish).

5. Uni Jetstream Prime Ballpoints (including the new All Matte-Black). The Jetstream Prime is a go-to recommendation of mine for those looking for a standard “professional” ballpoint, and the new all matte-black finish with a .7mm refill might be my standard gift recommendation for graduation and holiday season.

6. Uni Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3 Multi Pen. We have all four colors of the excellent Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3, including the yellow and “Ivy Green” (which is definitely more like a blue). The Prime Lite Touch 3 is a three-slot multi pen that holds three Jetstream Lite Touch refills (black, blue and red). No mechanical pencil.

7. Uni Jetstream 4+1 Lite Touch Multi Pens. For those who want a mechanical pencil option, we stock the Jetstream 4+1 as well (black, blue, red, and green + .5mm mechanical pencil).

8. Uni Pure Malt “Oakwood” 4+1 Multi Pen. The “Oakwood” multi pen features a matte black barrel with a grip made from reclaimed whiskey barrels. We’re happy to have more of these unique pieces.

9. Herbin “Couleurs de Paris” Fountain Pen Inks. Colors inspired by scenes from Paris, France. Go figure that “Tour Eiffel” is the winner so far in terms of in-store popularity!

10. Teranishi Guitar Fountain Pen Inks. One of our top-selling ink line has been restocked, including favorite colors like Gentle Green, Lady Emerald, and Traveling Sepia.

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The latest addition to the Uni Jetstream Prime lineup - an all-matte-black version that includes a matte black clip similar to that found on the Prime Lite Touch 3 Multi Pen.