October 2021 London Pen Show (via Dapprman). The October 2021 London Pen Show looked like a great success, and I’ve been contemplating trying to hit one of these shows once our direct Nashville-to-Heathrow flight resumes. Honestly, it’s not really that much longer of a trip than San Francisco or LA, and there are so many vendors who don’t travel to the U.S. pen shows.
October 2021 London Pen Show (1 of 5) (via Penultimate Dave). If you’re looking for more of a video walk through of the London Pen Show (and an excellent example of what a good pen show looks like), check out this series of videos from the October 2021 London Pen Show.
Franklin-Christoph: So Many Models, So Little Time (via Pen Addict). There’s no better person to given an overview of this beloved brand than Kimberly, one of its most die-hard adherents.
The (Nearly) Heavenly Visconti Divine Bordeaux (via UK Fountain Pens). A gorgeous pen, but extremely expensive, and for that money, I would expect significantly better quality control on the nib tipping.
Five Reasons Wy We Collect the Same Pens… Over and Over (via Well-Appointed Desk). This is as comprehensive an exploration into the psychology of pen collecting as I’ve seen! A lot of these looked very familiar.
Breezing Through the Cosmo Air Light Paper Review (via The Poor Penman). Cosmo Air Light paper hit the mainstream earlier this year, as people were scrambling for a replacement in advance of the (possible?) demise of Tomoe River. It’s received mixed reviews, and people either love this paper or hate it. I haven’t used it extensively, but I didn’t have major difficulties and rank it among the top tier of fountain pen friendly paper.
The Rotring 600 Lineup Lightens Up: Gold, Rose Gold, and Pearl White (via Penquisition). This year’s new colors from the Rotring 600 lineup are tempting me. I may need to pick up one of those Pearl White pencils.
Reflection: Falling Back Into Pocket Notebooks (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Sometimes it just takes a change of scenery (or a new job!) for a piece of stationery we’ve set aside to become relevant again.
Diamine Writer’s Blood Ink Review (via Pen Addict). The latest in Diamine’s series of inks developed in conjunction with the community over at r/fountainpens has received a lot of acclaim. It’s a dark red / “black cherry” color that I need to try out.
Platinum Procyon Maki-e, Brush Warbler on Plum Tree (via Well-Appointed Desk). So Platinum is now taking the Procyon “up-market,” huh? This is an interesting choice, though perhaps it makes sense for those looking to add a maki-e pen to their collection at a more accessible price point than the hundreds they typically command.
In Case You Missed It…
This week on the blog I explored nib and pen customization: I published an article on nib swapping, looking at different options from “easy” to “expert,” and how you can change the nib on your fountain pen to maximize the enjoyment you get from your writing experience. I followed that up with a post on why I consider Opus 88 fountain pens to be versatile workhorses, and part of the reason is their ability to accept interchangeable nib units!
This Week in the Curated Shop
It’s “Planner Season,” and we’re fully stocked and ready to go in the T.G.S. Curated Shop with new dated and undated planners from Traveler’s Company, as well as other options from Midori MD and Field Notes. Check out this week’s Deals & Drops post for more details. We also have planner-friendly pens and more!
Please Remember to Support Enthusiast-Owned Businesses and Stationery Community Participants!
As we enter the holiday shopping season, it’s important to remember to spend your money consciously. While in these unpredictable times, it’s tempting to save a handful of dollars here and there by purchasing from discounters, those decisions do have consequences, and in the past I’ve been as guilty of this as anyone. The saddest reminder is the closing of C.W. Pencil Enterprise, which is holding its final in-store sale this weekend and will close down entirely later this month or in November, depending on when inventory runs out. If you’re in the neighborhood, today is your last chance to drop by. (Sadly, my own plans to visit in person were scuttled by a cancelled flight, but I did place one last online order.)
My first trip to C.W. Pencil Enterprise, 2015. It’s sad to think that my own daughter won’t be able to experience this, even online.
Every year those of us who participate in this community on a business level have to reevaluate whether to keep on. It’s not always an easy decision. You don’t make a lot of money, and it takes a lot of love for the hobby and this community to justify the effort and time away from families, day jobs, etc. even to keep something as “simple” as a blog going. In short, where you choose to shop matters. If you value enthusiast-owned retailers who engage in the hobby themselves (by attending shows, interacting with customers in real time, and even opening a retail storefront), and draw on their own experience and tastes in choosing what to stock and/or make themselves, please support them. It can be as easy as spending a small portion of your budget at their shop, or giving them $1-3 per month via Patreon or Kobo or however they choose to support themselves. Believe me, every little bit helps!
This post does not contain affiliate links. I purchased the pens, nibs, and nib units featured in this post with my own funds, for my own collection. The Gentleman Stationer is reader-supported. If you would like to support us, please consider purchasing from the T.G.S. Curated Shop or checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!