Saturday Updates and Scenes from the Arkansas Pen Show, Day 1

March 22, 2025

It’s going to be relatively quiet this weekend on the blog as we’re attending the Arkansas Pen Show in Little Rock. I thought it might be fun to post some “Day One” pics from Friday, which was surprisingly busy for a Friday afternoon at a smaller pen show and definitely bodes well for Saturday! While I spent most of my time behind the table, I did get to visit Matthew Chen of Matthew’s Nibworks (@pactagon on the socials) to get a Kodachi grind on my Lamy 2000 in Stainless Steel. I also spent some time perusing the Newton Pens table. While I haven’t picked anything up YET, there are definitely some muted multicolor ebonites that caught my eye….

Note that our Nashville brick and mortar location is closed this weekend while we are in Arkansas but the online store remains open. If you’re in driving distance of Little Rock, please come see us at the show! We will return to normal operating hours next week.

Matthew Chen working on my Lamy 2000 in Stainless Steel — Matthew hard at work on my Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel.

Matthew Chen Tester Pens at the Table — Even if you don’t get a nib ground, Matthew has tester pens out on his table with all of the different nib grinds that you can try them all out to see what might appeal to you.

A tray of Newton Orville Fountain Pens, ready to go — Anyone venture a guess as to which one appealed to me?

Newton Prospector Fountain Pens — The Newton Prospector is one of my favorite small-maker fountain pens. (Don’t be fooled by the imitators out there - Shawn is the original creator of this particular design.) He’s working a lot with ebonites lately and there are some gorgeous pieces out there.

Lochby Journal Cover Aged Leather — I posted this yesterday to show the difference between a new Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter LTD_022 and my 7-year old version on the right. These covers age beautifully, with the leather becoming more supple over time. If you’re attending the show, I have a handful of Roterfadens left behind the table. Note that what’s shown in the online inventory is available for online purchase only, as I have not brought those specific items with me to the show.

Behind the Scenes: Preparing for the First Pen Show of the Year

March 19, 2025

It’s time for the Arkansas Pen Show, which will be the first pen show that I attend in 2025. Since we’ve opened our own brick-and-mortar shop, I’ve been operating on a reduced travel schedule, but I’m still planning on taking T.G.S. to at least a couple of shows this year. Despite it being a smaller, regional show, Arkansas has a lot to offer that the bigger shows do not. More on that later.

Hightide Sandglasses TGS Pen Show Table — One year I brought the Hightide Sandglasses to Arkansas and they were a big hit. One reason I enjoy this show is because it’s within driving distance, and I can be a bit more creative with what I pack.

How I Pack For a Pen Show As a Vendor

Whenever I pack and prepare for shows, I carefully consider exactly what I’m going to bring. My tables are usually organized around notebook systems such as Roterfaden, Lochby, and Traveler’s Notebooks, since those are all items many people enjoy seeing in person before purchasing, particularly if they are having a difficult time selecting a specific color or refill. I also make a conscious effort to bring pens, pencils, and other writing instruments that I know other vendors probably won’t have at the show, as opposed to more common brands like TWSBI and Lamy that nearly everyone carries. Past show favorites have included the entire Anterique line and all the Uni Jetstream variants that we import from Japan. Despite most U.S. pen shows being focused on fountain pens, recent years have seen more general stationery enthusiasts attend shows, and they tend to appreciate the additional options. This year in Arkansas I will have two tables (up from one last year), so you can expect a bigger selection and more room to browse.

Shawn Newton Pens Arkansas Pen Show — Pens such as the Newton Prospector (bottom row) are typically made in very small batches, so if you see one you like in a special material, you’ll want to pick that pen up earlier than standard releases from larger companies, where there might be more available.

How to Prepare for a Pen Show as an Attendee

A smaller pen show like Arkansas or Atlanta is easier to prep for as an attendee than a larger show like San Francisco or the D.C. Pen Show. You don’t need to worry about “missing” anything, as there are fewer vendors. You can easily visit every table in a single day, and certainly over an entire weekend. Vendors usually have more time to spend with each customer, since the tables aren’t always slammed, and I’ve personally always enjoyed the ability to have more engaged conversations with customers who come to see me at the smaller shows. Last year I actually wrote a piece after the 2024 Arkansas Show discussing the benefits of smaller shows.

Pen Shows After Dark — You really won’t believe some of the things you see in the bar after-hours.

But regardless of the show you are attending, there are three main things I always advise people to prepare for, at a minimum:

Nib Grinds and Repair Work. Regardless of how big a show is, nib grinders and vintage pen repair appointments can fill up fast. If you have work that you absolutely need to get done, identify who you want to work on your pens and make their table your first stop. If there’s an “early access” pass available, buy it to ensure you’re near the front of any wait list.
Visit Smaller Makers Early. Especially if you are looking for a less-common model or special material, because one-offs and less common items can sell out quickly. Bespoke penmakers sometimes only have one rod of a given resin or other material.
Take Breaks. Even smaller shows can be overwhelming, especially for those who haven’t been to a pen show before. Don’t spend all your money in the first hour (unless of course, you only have an hour to spend). And most of all, be sure to make an effort to hang out for just a little while after the show closes! You’d be shocked at the knowledge you pick up around the table in the hotel bar, especially if you’re interested in more esoteric nib grinds and vintage pens.

I’ve been to many pen shows over the years, and the site has nearly a decade of show recaps that you can read through in the blog post archive. I’ve also written a “Pen Show Primer” Series of Articles, including Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show; Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show; and Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show. Some of these articles have some age on them, but I stand by pretty much all of the advice!

Please note that our brick-and-mortar shop will be closed Thursday through Sunday of this week since we will be in Arkansas. We will reopen with regular hours next week. Online orders will continue to be processed in our typical 2-3 business day time frame. Many thanks for all your support, and I hope to see as many of you as possible in Arkansas!

2024 Arkansas Pen Show Recap: Or, 5 Reasons to Attend a Smaller Pen Show

March 27, 2024

Well, that was a weekend! I always enjoy my trips to Little Rock for the Arkansas Pen Show, and this year was no exception. Run by the Arkansas Pen Club, the Arkansas Pen Show is a smaller, regional pen show that draws excellent vendors - both vintage and modern - and pulls in a good crowd of friendly attendees. While I don’t have official numbers, this year appeared even more well-attended than last year, following the move to a new location with a bigger ballroom. Kudos to Shawn Newton and the rest of the Arkansas Pen Club leadership for organizing a great show. I thought it might be fun to orient this show recap around a more general discussion of why it’s fun to attend local shows in general, even if they’re not as big as the pen shows that get the most hype and attention online.

Smaller pen shows are more relaxed and easier to navigate. While bigger “events” like the D.C. Pen Show and San Francisco Pen Show feature international vendors unique to those shows (mainly due to the logistics of attendance), the sheer size of these shows can be overwhelming even to seasoned pen show veterans. There’s no way you can see everything, and the fear of “missing something good” creates a level of anxiety and frenetic energy that sort of lingers through the weekend. At a smaller show, particularly one that’s confined to a single ballroom, you really are able to visit every table, and when the foot traffic slows down, vendors are more than happy to have extended conversations about the pens they sell and stationery in general. You also never know what people will bring by to show you - just check out that Traveler’s Notebook pictured below!
Smaller shows offer more time to consider purchases. Larger shows draw larger crowds, and vendors can only bring so much product with them, especially if they are flying. Some tables come close to selling out of certain in-demand products by the end of the first day. At a show like the Arkansas Pen Show, however, there’s no such rush, and unless you have your eye on a very specific pen from a custom maker, you almost certainly have time to think about and consider your purchase without worrying that something will be gone ten minutes later. You can also have nibs tuned or ground on a walk-up basis - Matthew Chen (Matthew’s Nibworks) attended the Arkansas Pen Show, and while he kept busy all weekend, there was never a long line or even a wait list, to my knowledge.
Smaller pen shows have a friendlier atmosphere. While the pen community in general is pretty friendly and welcoming, the smaller, regional shows are often run by tight-knit local pen clubs. As a result, the shows themselves have more of a “party” atmosphere, as opposed to the trade show/convention/flea market hybrid you see elsewhere.
Smaller pen shows are typically less expensive to attend. If you’re within a few hours of a pen show, always take the opportunity to drive rather than fly! In addition to saving on airfare, smaller regional shows often have cheaper hotel rates (Arkansas was around $100 per night for the show rate at a fairly decent hotel), and the price of admission was $10 for the entire weekend.
Smaller pens shows support smaller sellers and independent makers. The Arkansas Pen Show features several vendors who don’t attend the major market pen shows, including many excellent, reputable vintage sellers. For example, I purchased both of the vintage pens discussed below from Danny Fudge of The Write Pen, and I’ve never had anything but good experiences buying from him in the past. Other unique vendors included Chad from Eel and Anchor, who was my table neighbor and came with dozens of custom pen blanks. Let’s just say I have some commissions and potential exclusive releases in the prototyping stage? You can check out the full list of show Exhibitors here.

Traveler's Notebook Passport Setup — Talking to customers can be a master class in how to truly USE stationery: This is a Traveler’s Company Passport-sized notebook!

So What Did I Sell and What Did I Buy?

On both they buying and selling front, my recent strategy has been sort of similar: bring stuff that nobody else is going to have and buy stuff that I probably can’t find elsewhere. At my table, I brought Roterfaden, Lochby, and Traveler’s Company notebook systems, a selection of fountain pens, as well as a pretty varied selection of mechanical pencils and leadholders. Pencils tend to be underrepresented at pen shows, even though I always have nearly a dozen people approach me at any given show asking where to find them. Uni Kuru Togas and the Penco Prime Timber 2.0 lead holder drew the most attention, as did the Anterique Brass Ballpoints, Craighill Caro keychain pens, and other less common offerings. Over the years, I’ve discovered that as a smaller vendor (both online and in person), the key to having a successful show is to add to the “treasure hunt” experience by ensuring that you’re not just selling the same stuff as your table neighbor, or items that are easy for attendees to find online.

For the same reason, I’ve become more selective about what I purchase at shows. At this particular pen show, I added two more vintage pens to my collection: a Parker 51 Flighter (with the “wedding band” trim), and a Sterling Silver Parker 75. Both of these pens are fairly clean examples - though still “user grade” - and I’ve had the Parker 51 inked up since the night I bought it. The Parker 51 has a smooth extra-fine nib and the Parker 75 sports a broad, both of which are somewhat unusual. I also visited the Esterbrook table and picked up two pens that I suspect might be discontinued soon in these colors: the “Big J” in Lotus Green ebonite, and the “JR” in Pumpkin Latte. (Of course the two latter pens now have nib grinds from Matthew Chen!)

2024 Arkansas Pen Show Haul Pens — From left, the “Big J” and “JR” pens from Esterbrook, a Parker 75 pen and pencil set, and a Parker 51 Flighter.

Overall, I enjoy my trips to Little Rock, which always includes an opportunity to shop at Vanness Pens in person! The current plan is to return next year, and I hope to see the show grow even more in the future. Thanks so much to the Arkansas Pen Club and all the attendees for showing us out-of-towners such a good time!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoyed this content, please consider supporting us directly!

Weekly Drops: Hi from the Arkansas Pen Show!

March 22, 2024

I’ve been quiet for the past few days, both here on the site and social media, and it’s because most of my time has been occupied by prep for and travel to Little Rock for the 2024 Arkansas Pen Show! Now that I’m here at the show, I can put out the public code for the standard pen show weekly discount and also highlight some new arrivals and special discounts. Take 10% off most shop orders (excluding certain brands that we are not allowed to discount) using the coupon code “PENSHOW10” at checkout. A few of the things we will be spotlighting at the show, plus new arrivals can be found listed below:

E+M Clutch Pencils in Various Finishes. We have wood E+M clutch pencils that can be used as either sketching tools or highlighters available for purchase! From the contoured “sketch” model to the round workman, these cool pencils are made in Germany and come in a wide range of both colorful and natural stains.
Blackwing “Illegal Pads”. We talked a bit about Blackwing last week, when we launched the Blackwing pencil collection as well as their sharpeners and other accessories. What I’m really excited about, however, is their range of legal pads that feature very good paper in a variety of rulings. These are good for both pen and pencil.
Anterique Brass Ballpoints. These well-balanced ballpoints pair a brass barrel with the excellent “Mach Ball” low-viscosity ballpoint refill. Nearly everyone who handles one of these pens in person loves them.
Lamy 2000 Multi Pens. The Lamy 2000 Multi Pen (or “4 Color Ballpoint”, for the purists) is one of my favorite workhorses because it’s capable of holding four different D1 refills, including the Uni Jetstream D1 or your preferred brand of choice. You can read more about why we like this specific pen here.
Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens. On our table this weekend we have the full range of Pilot Custom 74 fountain pens in all the various colors and nib sizes. If you’re interested in seeing them in person, do stop by, and of course we also have them available online!
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pens. Another classic workhorse, the Vanishing Point fountain pen is perfect for those who don’t want to give up retractable pen convenience when they want to write with a fountain pen. Plus you can amass quite the collection of interchangeable nibs!
Lamy Special Edition Safari Ballpoints. The latest Lamy Safari ballpoint releases have arrived! Pink Cliff and Violet Blackberry have a more “blacked out” look than the brightly accented fountain pen and rollerball options.
Lamy Special Edition AL-Star Fountain Pens. The Safari’s slightly larger aluminum sibling is now available in several additional special edition finishes, including Whitesilver, Azure, and Cosmic. We’ve been trying to get whatever stock we can! Ballpoints are also available in Cosmic and Azure finishes.
Camel Pencils. These Japanese pencils with an integrated eraser are a longtime favorite among pencil aficionados. Available in two different wood stains with grey or white erasers.

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

Pen Show Adventures: Dipping Back into Vintage, or Pursuing Vintage-Style Modern Pens?

March 25, 2023

Up front, I will admit that I’m neither a vintage collector nor even a vintage pen enthusiast, and my knowledge of most brands and specific models pale in comparison to others in this community. So take whatever I say regarding vintage pens and the vintage market with a (very) large grain of salt. That said, I attended both the Baltimore and Arkansas pen shows - and particularly Arkansas - looking to pick up a few vintage pens for my collection, mainly to replace certain models I wish I hadn’t let go during “catch and release” phases over the years.

Smaller shows like the Arkansas Pen Show make excellent opportunities to shop for vintage pens. Larger shows like D.C. can feel overwhelming, and because the shows are both crowded and geared towards higher-end collectors and sales between dealers, they can be difficult for the newbie or the casual buyer to navigate. Pens also tend to be more expensive because they are either more pristine collectors pieces, or outright overpriced. (I also advise people to adopt a “buyer beware” attitude at these larger shows. In my early days of collecting, I had more than one experience at D.C. where I purchased a vintage pen that later turned out to be “not as advertised,” to put it politely. More on this later, as I plan to update my vintage pen resources.)

My two vintage Parker 51 fountain pens, one of which includes a stub nib.

Vintage Pens Parker 51 Aurora 88 — I enjoy interesting vintage pens that I can still use on a daily basis, including both the Parker 51 and the Aurora 88.

Smaller shows - particularly shows run by a local pen club - are friendlier, with many of the “dealers” being club participants and collectors selling for “show money”, to rotate pens out of their own collection, and/or to help grow the hobby. Many are happy to talk with new enthusiasts, and will give you honest appraisals of pens, flaws and all. If you have to deal with the same show attendees and club members year after year, reputation matters. At the Arkansas Pen Show, I purchased two Parker 51s from Danny Fudge (aka “The Write Pen”), both of which are excellent “user grade” pens, expertly restored, with character. One had a broader nib that I had Matthew Chen shape to a semi-Naginata, and the other sports a hammered gold fill finish (“possibly by Ariel Kulloch”) with an excellent stub nib. The first pen cost me $100, and the second $175, which I consider to be very fair pricing for functional vintage pens restored by a reputable dealer.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage in Pomegranate (top) and Honeycomb (bottom). These are piston fillers with 18k gold nibs. The top is an oblique medium and the bottom a 1.1mm stub. Not sure if these two are going back to Vanness….

If You Don’t Want to Fiddle with Actual Vintage pens, the Current Market Has a TON of Vintage-Style Options

While vintage pens like the Parker 51 are fairly durable, easy to repair, and timeless, other models don’t translate as well to the experience sought by many modern users. For example, I’ve always admired the oversized Sheaffer Balance fountain pens, and have even owned a few over the years, but found the material prone to cracking and I’m not a huge fan of lever-fillers. Fortunately, these days you have a wide range of modern options in a similar “vintage” style, and I spent many hours next to the Vanness Pens table eyeing (1) the Tibaldi Bononia Limited Editions; (2) the modern Conway Stewart lineup in their classic materials; and (3) both the modern Onoto Magna and Scholar fountain pens, which have garnered rave reviews and which I’m in the process of reviewing. If you appreciate vintage design, but perhaps not the “adventurous” nature of writing with an actual vintage pen, you have plenty of options!

From left, the Tibaldi Bononia in Pomegranate, the Onoto Scholar in Mandarin, and the Tibaldi Bononia in Honeycomb

Lately, this trend has even started to extend beyond fountain pens. I wrote the entire first draft of this review on a series of airplane flights and in the back row at a work conference using an Anterique “Mach Ball” click pen. I love the aesthetics of vintage Bic Clic-style ballpoints, but generally can’t stand the refill. Anterique uses a .5mm low-viscosity hybrid gel-ballpoint ink refill that even fits some actual vintage ballpoints.

Stay tuned, because Anterique is doing some really fun stuff, and I just received a big box in the mail….

If you’re not a purist, you can sometimes find the best of both worlds: vintage-style design without the unpredictability of finicky filling systems or refills. As a user of fountain pens and other writing instruments, as opposed to a collector, I’m equally drawn to both vintage writing instruments and quality modern alternatives. It certainly offers a wider range of options to enjoy everyday writing!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links or advertising. Vanness Pens did loan me certain of the pens pictured in this review. I am not being compensated for content, and The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.