As you might imagine, pen storage becomes an issue around the TGS office. Between my own personal collection and the archive of pens that I keep on hand for review and comparison purposes, space is at a premium, and I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to upgrade my storage game. Back in 2016, when I first wrote about storage options and ways to organize your pen collection, I relied heavily on multiple three-to-five pen “daily carry” style cases and wraps, which quickly became unmanageable as my collection grew. Over the years, I’ve moved towards pen boxes and “album-style” folios that not only protect my pens a bit better but allow me to organize things while taking up less space overall. So what do I use? Let’s take a look.
Pen Chalet Pen Display Cases (via Pen Chalet). If you’re looking for a classic padded pen display box with a glass top, you can’t beat these relatively inexpensive wood-veneer pen boxes. Available in 10, 20, 30, and 60-pen sizes, Pen Chalet’s “house brand” cases feature sturdy construction with lined padded inserts. The only drawback to these boxes is that the slots in the drawers on the larger-capacity models might be a bit tight for larger pens such as Montblanc 149s, Pelikan M800s and M1000s, etc. I personally own the 10-pen case, which sits on my desk, as well as the 30-pen model, which I have on my bookshelves.
Franklin-Christoph Covered Pen Tray (via Franklin-Christoph). For a premium, ultra-classy look, you can’t go wrong with the Covered Pen Tray. I acquired my black leather model nearly three years ago, and it’s held my “currently inked” pens ever since. One advantage to the Covered Pen Tray over a wooden box is portability - Franklin-Christoph created this display box as a way to transport pens to shows and display them without having to remove them from their travel case. It’s perfect for a pen meetup or smaller gathering of friends where you don’t want to bring your entire collection.
Monteverde 36-Pen Zippered Case (via Pen Chalet). Most of my more expensive pens live in the Pen Chalet Display Cases or the Covered Pen Tray, what about the rest? To conserve storage space, I have these pens “archived” in album-style cases on my bookshelves. By far, the most cost-effect means of storing pens in this way is Monteverde’s spacious 36-pen zippered case. The quality is excellent for the price point, and if you need high-volume, low-cost storage, this is definitely the way to go. As the pics below show, it’s not the most visually appealing storage option, but it won’t kill your wallet.
Galen Leather Zippered 40-Pen Leather Case (via Galen Leather). Zeynep at Galen Leather reached out recently and asked whether I would be interested in reviewing one of their 40 pen leather cases. Though I only recently received this item, I have a lot of experience with Galen Leather products and have always enjoyed their work. This zippered pen case is no exception, and while it’s more expensive than the Monteverde option, it’s also more compact, holds a few more pens, and will look quite nice as the leather ages.
Aston Leather 10 Pen Carrying Cases (via Pen Chalet). While my pens don’t live permanently in these cases, the Aston Leather 10 Pen cases are my choice for transporting pens to pen shows. The leather has held up well over time - the one pictured here is nearly ten years old - and the soft insert protects your pens well. I’ve also been able to get up to 14 pens into one of these cases, as there is extra elastic that can hold 4 more pens as long as they’re not too big.
You won’t go wrong with any of these options, and you should pick one that matches up with your needs. If you carry pens around frequently to shows and meetups, an album-style case will likely be the best option. But if you want to spruce up your workspace or display your pens openly, I’ve been very happy with both the Pen Chalet pen boxes and the Franklin-Christoph Covered Pen Tray.
Disclaimer: The only product featured here that I received free for review purposes is the Galen Leather Zippered 40-Pen Case, though I may have used store credit to purchase some of these items over the years. (I’ve had most of them for some time - I can’t remember.)