Every bottle of KWZ Ink has a handwritten swatch on the label. More often than not you get a very accurate idea of what the ink looks like dry. 

This year I made the decision to move most of my ink reviews over to my Tumblr blog, www.bottledup.ink, and to start writing ink reviews in a much more abbreviated format. I did this for a couple reasons. First, there are a number of people out there who do far more comprehensive ink reviews than I was ever able to put together, so in terms of this blog, it seemed like a better use of my time to produce other kinds of content. Second, I honestly was getting a bit bored with the lineup of available fountain pen inks and wasn't having as much fun writing the reviews. Sure, there were still some unique colors out there, but it was getting increasingly expensive to chase "uniqueness" in the form of limited editions that were starting to run upwards of $35 per bottle.  

Enter KWZ. KWZ is manufactured in Warsaw, Poland by Konrad Zurawski, a PhD student in Chemistry. KWZ inks originally attracted attention for their lineup of modern iron gall inks in a wide range of unique colors, such as Mandarin Orange and Turquoise. I'm not aware of another company that offers ink like this: previously, with iron galls you were limited to blue blacks and the occasional "dusty pink/purple", such as Rohrer and Klingner Scabiosa. While I don't personally own any of the KWZ iron gall inks, I've tested them out at pen shows, and it seems as though KWZ has managed to create an iron gall ink that flows well.  (The one knock on iron gall is that traditionally, it can write very dry.)     

NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with Iron Gall ink and its properties, please read the ENTIRE disclaimer on the Vanness website. TLDR version: iron gall ink, while famous for its ability to change color as it dries, can be corrosive, and while the iron gall content in KWZ ink is probably not high enough to damage modern gold or stainless steel fountain pen nibs and parts, it's not a good idea to leave these inks in a pen for weeks at a time, or to mix these inks with non-iron gall inks. I'm not trying to be alarmist - I use a couple iron gall inks on a regular basis, including Platinum blue black and the old school Pelikan blue black - you just have to practice good fountain pen hygiene.  

KWZ Green Gold, in a Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel medium cursive italic ground by Mark Bacas.

Personally, I'm enamored with KWZ's standard line of inks (i.e., the non-iron gall variety). I purchased my first bottle (Green Gold) at the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show, and soon after placed an order for two other inks that caught my eye: Brown-Pink (yes, that's a real color) and Honey (it looks exactly as you'd expect Honey-colored ink to look). 

A macro shot of KWZ Brown Pink on Leuchtturm dot grid paper.

Behavior-wise, these inks tick all the boxes I look for: they flow well, they don't feather or bleed on relatively cheap paper, and they dry quickly with no smearing. Seriously, all three of these KWZ inks have near-instantaneous dry times, which I love when I'm taking quick notes at work and have to be able to flip the pages without worrying whether or not I'll end up with a smeary, unreadable mess at the end of the day.

A macro shot of KWZ Honey on Leuchtturm dot grid paper.

But as it always is with inks, it really comes down to the color.  For work, I prefer muted, offbeat colors that don't scream off the page.  The Brown Pink could best be characterized as a burgundy with purple tones.  It's a nice color that I've used regularly. Honey resembles J. Herbin's Lie de The, only it's a slightly warmer color with less green. The Green Gold is how I expect my "moss green" or "racing green" ink to look. It's not watery like some other inks I've tried in this color (Stipula Verde Muschiato and Papier Plume Moss Green come to mind). Though I'm someone who rotates inks a lot in his pens, these three have seen a lot of repeat use lately.

Where to Buy 

Vanness Pens is the only U.S.-based retailer I'm aware of that stocks KWZ inks, and they always maintain a wide selection in stock, though Honey and Brown Pink tend to sell out quickly. KWZ ink is also reasonably priced, at $12 for 60ml.   

Further Reading

Check out these links for some additional reviews of KWZ Inks.

Brad Dowdy of the Pen Addict reviews Iron Gall Gummiberry. 

Jeff Abbot, writing for the Pen Addict, reviews Iron Gall Gold. 

Azizah over at Gourmet Pens reviews KWZ Honey.

The Pen Habit reviews Iron Gall Turquoise.

DISCLAIMER:  I purchased the inks featured in this review with my own funds for my own collection.  While Vanness Pens is a sponsor of this site, I was not compensated in any way for this review. 

The attention to detail at the price point is impressive.  The "Designed for Arrangement" logo is understated and attractive. 

In the market for versatile, low-cost pen and writing/art supply storage, Lihit Lab remains a popular option. I don't know much about the company - information is sparse but it's been around since 1938 and is based in Osaka, Japan. Their cases rarely top $15, come in a standard - if a bit uninspired - range of colors, and are good enough quality to hold up to the demands of most people's daily use. About a month ago, I acquired two Lihit Lab cases to plug some holes in my daily carry arsenal. One was a huge hit; the other a major fail. 

Lihit Lab Bag-in-Bag

The Lihit Lab Bag-in-Bag portfolio/organizer has quickly made found its way into my daily work carry, and sometimes even on the weekend. 

I love portfolios. I consider them to be one of the most practical bags to carry on a daily basis. I've had several in the past, but I tend to wear them out so quickly I have a hard time spending money on nice cloth or leather options. Enter the Lihit Lab "Bag-in-Bag." The purpose of this case is twofold. The Bag-in-Bag can serve as a standalone portfolio, holding a computer and/or tablet, one or two writing pads (up to legal size), your phone, chargers, notepad, and a few pens. Basically, anything you need for an afternoon of business meetings or a morning working at the coffee shop. It can also serve as an easily swappable insert for a backpack or briefcase, which comes in handy if, like me, you're someone who regularly rotates between the two.

At the $13-15 price point (depending on the color you select), this is really a no-brainer if you're looking for a portfolio and don't mind canvas over leather. The material isn't as nice as the cordura used by companies like Nock Co., and this Lihit Lab bag probably won't hold up forever, but it's good enough for my needs right now. The one draw back is that it stains and shows dirt very easily. Whatever material they use isn't coated and is highly absorbent, so the case has picked up dust, dirt, etc. when I've worked at coffee shops and outside on my patio. With the brown version this probably won't be as much of an issue, but be warned if you're considering lighter colors such as the orange or light green. For those of you who like oversized fountain pens, take note that the pen slots on this case are fairly tight and shallow, so big pens don't fit.

You can carry a lot in this case.  Here, I have a Nock Co. Sinclair stuck in the side pocket, as well as a Pelikan M205 Blue Demonstrator and a Rotring 600 mechanical pencil.  Both fit perfectly in the otherwise snug pen slots. 

I use the larger 10" x 13.8" (A4) version ($15 via Amazon), as opposed to the smaller 7.1" x 9.8" (A5) case ($11 via Amazon).  The larger bag-in-bag easily holds my 12" Macbook and/or my iPad Pro, which is a necessity for the kind of work I do. This case has become part of my daily carry. 

The A4-size Lihit Lab Bag-in-Bag easily holds a 12-inch Macbook in a sleeve (which I'd recommend since it otherwise doesn't offer much in the way of protection.  The sleeve pictured here is the excellent (and inexpensive) Inateck Cover Bag.

Lihit Lab Double-Sided Pen Case

The Lihit Lab double-sided pen case. Great, except for the fact that the smell clears a room. 

As much as I love the Lihit Lab Bag-in-Bag, I simply can't recommend the second case I reviewed, which is the double-sided "Teffa" pen case ($10-12 via Amazon). I can give you a quick overview regarding the build and setup, but I can't speak to durability, practicality, etc. because I couldn't use this product. Why? The smell.

This pen case emits a horrifically strong chemical odor.  I would compare it to oil or gasoline but I (and others, from reading the Amazon reviews) find it much more offensive. I assume that they used some sort of petroleum-based glue to hold parts of the case together. Within minutes of opening the packaging for this case I had a splitting headache.

This pen case is a great idea, in principle, and should be one of those products I can wholeheartedly recommend because it looks nice and can be had for a bargain. For things like markers, gel pens, ballpoints, and any other pen you want to store in bulk and don't mind touching, this case should do the trick.  The back section has pockets to store pencil sharpeners, erasers, post-its, scissors, you name it. I just couldn't get past the smell. Fortunately, Amazon refunded me (and didn't even want the product returned to them). 

Otherwise, this Lihit Lab pen case can carry a lot of pens.  In terms of storage space for gel pens, mechanical pencils, etc., it's got plenty of room. 

Where to Buy: 

You can buy Lihit Lab cases from either Amazon or Jetpens, which carries a wider range of products other than the cases. I purchased mine from Amazon because I have a warehouse near me in Tennessee and they qualified for free Prime "same day" shipping. I ordered them in the morning and they were at my front door by 4:00pm.  Pretty cool.  

One more thing:  I get a lot of e-mail about the pen cases I use, and what I consider the "best" pen case. While I'm working on putting together another "Top 5" list, it's been hard, in large part because everyone's needs are different. There are far more than five solid options out there right now, with more cases coming to market every day.   

DISCLAIMER:  I purchased the products featured in this review with my own funds, for my personal use. This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase something from any of the sites linked to in this article.  While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase an item you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so.  Many thanks!

I'm also cleaning out my desk (which until recently looked very much like this).  Check out my "For Sale" page to see what stuff I'm unloading!

Things have been kinda quiet out there in the stationery blogosphere, with everyone (justifiably) taking some time to enjoy the summer, but that doesn't mean there's no good reading to be found.  To the contrary:  

1. Montblanc Heritage Rouge et Noir Coral Fountain Pen. Susan Pigott (writing for the Pen Addict) reviews the Coral version of Montblanc's new Rouge et Noir special edition. Having tried this model, I agree with Susan that, while gorgeous, the pen is simply too skinny to become a daily writer for me. Kudos to Montblanc for trying something different, though. 
2. Modern Stationer returns! After a bit of a blogging hiatus, Doug from Modern Stationer is back and has a new piece on what he's using now. (Hint, it involves a lot of simplification and a heavy emphasis on Field Notes.)
3. Woodclinched. Andy Welfle (of the Erasable Podcast) wrote a great piece on products that bring him joy, and struggling to eliminate excess clutter.  I've been going through this a bit myself lately (if you've been checking out the "Sale" page). 
4. The Coolest Pencil Sharpener Ever. I want one. Check out the video of this original APSCO (remember them?) sharpener, dating back to the early 1900s.  (Via C.W. Pencils).
5. The Finer Point "Highly Recommended List". Jenny lists her favorite stationery related things. There are some great ones on here, and not just pens/paper/stationery, but podcasts and blogs as well.

Please Visit My Sponsors! 

Please take a moment to visit my sponsors, who help me keep this blog-thing of mine going.  

1. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet is offering a great price right now on the Pelikan M800 in Burnt Orange. Combine with one of the coupon codes floating around out there for unbeatable value. This pen is my current #1 daily writer. 
2. Pen Boutique. Another favorite source of pens and ink, especially limited edition Montblanc inks. 
3. Anderson Pens. The Anderson Pens online store has an absolutely massive selection of inks, including brands such as Roher & Klingner and Organics Studio (yes, they're back!), and they recently became authorized dealers for Sailor's Bespoke line. 
4. Vanness Pens. Vanness is the exclusive U.S. retailer for Sailor's line of Bung Box Inks. They also carry Callifolio Inks from France, KWZ Inks from Poland, and Papier Plume Inks from New Orleans! They recently introduced DeAtramentis ink into their product line.  
5. Kustom Haus. Kustom Haus specializes in wax seal stamps, so it's the one-stop shop for all your wax seal supplies.  This is one aspect of the stationery obsession I haven't personally tried yet, but you know I will eventually.   
6. Tom Barrington Leather Goods. A big welcome to Tom Barrington Leather Goods, which offers a wide array of pen holders, glasses cases, iPhone and iPad sleeves, watch straps, and other quality leather products. This site looks like a huge rabbit hole for me. Glasses cases? I haven't even scratched the surface of my eyeglasses/sunglasses obsession.  
7. Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests. 

Deals and Drops

1. Bungbox Ink (2-Pack) (via Massdrop). Decent opportunity to save yourself a couple bucks, if you don't mind waiting a while to get your ink.
2. Lihit Lab Bag-in-a-Bag. I've been extremely happy with this Lihit Labs portfolio, which is a steal at the price point.  (Check out my review, up on the blog this week.)
3. Sailor Kiwa Guro Nano-Black Ink for under $20. In a fine or extra-fine nib, this ink is great for Field Notes and Pocket Notebooks, not to mention cheapo copy paper.  
4. Other colors in Sailor's standard "Jentle" lineup for a bit of a discount, including Yama Dori ($14) and Miruai ($14).
5. Lamy 2000 for $119. A very good price on this pen, and everyone should have one of these in their collection. 
6. Pilot Custom Heritage 92 in Orange. One of my "Tier One" pens. 
7. Pilot Custom 74 Clear Demonstrator (Prime Eligible) for $83.  Stupid cheap for what this pen is--an excellent Pilot gold nib for just a little more than the price of a TWSBI.  The medium nib is available for as low as $74.
8. Tactile Turn Gist (via Huckberry). If you're new to Huckberry, register using this link and you should receive $10 in store credit towards your first order, which you can put towards the purchase of certain models of the Tactile Turn Gist. 

Digital Divide No. 5 Is Out!

"Digital Divide" is my monthly newsletter devoted to discussing the divide between the "digital" and "analog" parts of our lives, the benefits of making time for analog tools and workflows, and why people draw the line where they do. Issue 5 of Digital Divide is more of a personal reflection on what I've been up to lately: scaling back the number of tools I use on a regular basis and make sure that what I'm accumulating and using is really the "best tool for the job". If you're not a subscriber, and would like to join up, use the link on the sidebar.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed one of my new favorite brands of ink, KWZ from Krakow, Poland. I also reviewed the Lihit Lab Bag-in-Bag portfolio, which is now a regular part of my daily carry. 

Happy Sunday, and thanks for reading! 

DISCLAIMER:  This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase something from any of the sites linked to in this article.  While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase an item you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so.  Many thanks!

The Baron Fig Squire is an excellent liquid ink rollerball option, especially if you like the refill used in the Retro 51 Tornado. 

A couple weeks ago I offered my "Top 5" List of disposable Non-Fountain Pens for Everyday Use, most of which are relatively inexpensive, are sold in packs, and sometimes can be found in your local big-box or art supply store.  Sometimes, however, you want something nicer than a plastic clic pen, so I always keep a handful of nicer ballpoints and multipens handy.  But before I get into the main list: 

Totally Unfair Runner-up Pen

You'll notice that this list is missing a pen that I've promoted in the past, and remains my favorite non-fountain pen: the Tactile Turn Mover.  Personally, I think the Tactile Turn Mover might be the best non-fountain pen in my arsenal, but unfortunately the pen looks like it's being discontinued. Stock has been low or nonexistent for ages. As of the time of writing, Tactile Turn only has the Mover and the Shaker (a shorter pen that accepts Parker-style refills) available in Polished Bronze.  So, other than the Mover, here are my Top 5: 

Top 5 Non-Fountain Pen (Non-Disposable)  

1. Lamy 2000 Ballpoint/Multipen.  Lamy's flagship offering doesn't just come as a fountain pen: they sell ballpoint and multipen versions as well.  I've found these pens to be essentially indestructible. (My pen is vintage and stamped with "W. Germany", and remains in perfect working order at the ripe old age of 25.) If you're into metal pens, Lamy offers the ballpoint in Stainless Steel (at a premium). The multipen uses standard D1 refills, so you're not stuck with the stock Lamy version (which people either lover or hate).  
2. Hi-Tec-C Coleto. My multipen of choice. I prefer the Hi-Tec-C to other ultra-fine gel pens, and the Coleto is my favorite multipen because it's reasonably priced and relatively streamlined (read: not fat and chunky, like some multipens). The refills also last a long time (at least for multipen refills). 
3. Parker Jotter. The Parker Jotter is one of those products that has stood the test of time for decades, and I have a vintage "Made-in-the-USA" model that sits on my desk at work next to my phone.  It's a bit too small for me to use for extended writing sessions, but it does get used on a daily basis for short notes, etc.  
4. Retro 51 Tornado. The only liquid ink rollerball pen that made my list. The Schmidt refill used by these pens is famous for how smooth it is, and comes in either a .7mm or a .6mm size. For an interesting alternative to the Retro 51 Tornado that uses the same refill, check out the recently released Baron Fig Squire.    
5. MaxMadCo Bolt Action Pen. If you like hefty, indestructible pens, and are a fan of the bolt-action mechanism, the MaxMadCo pen is the best that I've used. Personally, it's too heavy for me and the type of writing that I do, but if your use case is for quick notes out "in the field", and you want a pen that's absolutely indestructible, this pen is an excellent option. 

Granted, my experience testing non-fountain pens isn't as extensive as my fountain pen knowledge, but I still use ballpoints and gel pens (not so much rollerballs) on a regular basis. In addition to the pens listed above, which are my personal favorites, others have had good experiences with the machined pens manufactured by Karas Kustoms and Ti2 Design.

DISCLAIMER:  This post contains affiliate links.

Namisu Nova Minimalist Fountain Pen, in polished titanium. 

The Nova is Namisu's follow up to their first successful Kickstarter fountain pen, the Namisu Nexus. The Nova launched on Kickstarter in September 2015 and shipped in early 2016. Namisu is an interesting company. Based in the UK, they've run five successful Kickstarter projects, three of which are pens (The Nexus, the Nova, and the Nova Rollerball). 

Overall, the Namisu Nova is a very nice pen, but I no longer have it in my collection. Most metal pens (even Titanium ones) tend to be too heavy for me, and since I like to post my pens the added weight becomes a problem. Even though I decided to pass this pen along to a new owner, I went ahead and reviewed it here because if you like this style of writing implement, it's a good option!

Build

I've heard people compare the design of the Nova to the Nakaya Piccolo and the Edison Pearl, which isn't a bad comparison because all three pens generally use a variation of the classic "torpedo" shape. The pen is well-machined, and the one that I received did not have any visible flaws on the body or cap. There also weren't any issues with the threading on the cap, something that other machined pens have struggled with (like the Tactile Turn Gist).

The Namisu Nova features a smooth grip section and short cap threads: the cap unscrews quickly and easily, giving it an advantage over the Tactile Turn Gist. 

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Namisu Nova and its predecessor, the Nexus, is the smooth grip section.  The Nexus, which I didn't back on Kickstarter, had a textured grip section, which many people found sharp and uncomfortable to use for long writing sessions.  I won't necessarily say that the Nova's grip section is an "improvement" - many people like knurled or textured grips - but the Nova generally has been much more popular. 

The Nova is a relatively heavy pen, but it's well-balanced. After carrying and writing with this pen for a bit, it's plainly intended to be used without posting the cap. You CAN post the Nova, and it actually works pretty well, but the threading from the inside of the metal cap will scratch the body of the pen. (It will also make some pretty nasty metal-on-metal scraping sounds, so if you're sensitive to that and it gives you that nails-on-a-chalkboard sensation, consider yourself warned.) 

Overall Writing Experience

The Namisu Nova offers a quality writing experience at a very attractive price. Kickstarter backers had the choice of steel, titanium, and gold nibs, all manufactured by Bock. I prefer titanium Bock nibs over steel, and they're the same nibs used on the Conid Bulkfiller and the Tactile Turn Gist. I have not tried the gold. For a writing sample and some more detailed thoughts on how these nibs write, check out my Conid Bulkfiller review.

The Namisu Nova works best unposted, given it's heft and balance. 

The pen sits in the hand well and is comfortable to write with for long stretches. However, what ultimately made me realize that this pen wouldn't work for me long-term is the lack of a clip and the fact that heavy metal pens don't sit that well in a shirt-pocket. At least four days each week I'm in a dress shirt, if not a suit and tie, and if I'm going to carry a pen on a regular basis I'm going to need to clip it. Thus, this pen had to find a new home.     

Where to Buy

If you're drawn to the design of pens like the $1000 Nakaya Titanium Piccolo, but can't or won't shell out that much, the Namisu Nova should be on your list. The Nova can only be purchased directly from Namisu. The titanium version starts at just under $100 US (depending on the pounds to dollars exchange rate), with the black or "comet grey" aluminum versions starting at around $70. Upgrading from the basic steel nib will increase the price.

Unfortunately, as of the time of writing all models of the Namisu Nova are out of stock. If you prefer the design of the Namisu Nexus (now called the "Orion"), it's currently available directly from Namisu for $50-70, depending on the exchange rate and whether you choose titanium or aluminum.   

For those of you interested in non-fountain pens, Namisu recently ran another successful Kickstarter to create a rollerball version of the Nova.  Look for the rollerball Nova to appear in the Namisu store soon.    

Further Reading

Check out these other reviews of the Namisu Nova if you're interested in reading other people's reactions to the pen: 

Ed Jelley reviews the comet grey aluminum version.

Ian at Pen!Paper!Pencils! reviews the black aluminum version.

Disclaimer: I purchased this pen with my own funds for my own use. I was not compensated in any way for this review by the manufacturer or any retailer. 

A shot of the show floor on Saturday at the 2015 Washington D.C. Pen Show. It's coming up soon. Will you be there? 

1. Rotring Quattro Multipen. I like nice multipens, and Brian over at Office Supply Geek reviews one I haven't seen before: the Rotring Quattro. It looks like it has the same "magic view" refill selector as the Lamy 2000 multipen, where you select the color you want to use by turning the barrel so that your preferred color "faces up."  Easier to demonstrate in person than explain on the internet.  
2. Pelikan M120. Azizah at Gourmetpens reviews the Pelikan M120 Green and Black. Initially, I was skeptical of this pen, primarily due to the price point, but since I've become enamoured of my Pelikan M205 Blue Demonstrator, which has one of the best steel nibs I've ever written with, these pens are moving up on my recommendation list.
3. One Book July. Ana at the Well-Appointed Desk talks about her efforts to make it through July using only one notebook.  I've tried this, and always failed miserably, but I love the idea in principle and if you can make it work for you, go for it!  
4. Kaweco Supra. Ed Jelley reviews the "giant Lilliput", the Kaweco Supra.  I have one of these coming my way for review, and look forward to trying it out myself. 
5. The Value of A Pen. Dr. Deans is back with a new post, which talks about the considerations involved in purchasing an expensive pen.  (Here, a very expensive pen.) Honestly, if the funds are available, and your overall financial situation is comfortable enough, I'd say why not. The pen he is talking about costs far less than many high-end watches, and if it will be used regularly....

Are You Coming to the Washington, D.C. Pen Show? 

I currently plan to attend the 2016 Washington, D.C. Pen Show from August 4-7 (Thursday through Sunday).  I'll be arriving Friday morning and staying through the weekend. If you're going to be at the show, please let me know! 

Please Visit My Sponsors! 

Please take a moment to visit my sponsors, who help me keep this blog-thing of mine going.  

1. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.  
2. Anderson Pens. The Anderson Pens online store has an absolutely massive selection of inks, including brands such as Roher & Klingner and Organics Studio (yes, they're back!), and they recently became authorized dealers for Sailor's Bespoke line. 
3. Tom Barrington Leather Goods. A big welcome to Tom Barrington Leather Goods, which offers a wide array of pen holders, glasses cases, iPhone and iPad sleeves, watch straps, and other quality leather products. This site looks like a huge rabbit hole for me. Glasses cases? I haven't even scratched the surface of my eyeglasses/sunglasses obsession.  
4. Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests.
5. Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community for creative skills, featuring classes on, among other things, calligraphy, hand lettering, creative writing, photography, blogging, and many more subjects that might be of interest to readers of this blog. By signing up through this link (or through the advertisement on the sidebar), you can get 3 months of Skillshare premium for $0.99.  

Deals and Drops

1. Two Massdrop Exclusive Bungbox Inks (Sweet Potato Purple and Yellow). 
2. Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel Fountain Pen.  A nice deal here, if you've had your eye on this one. (via Amazon)
3. Pelikan M120 Green Black Special Edition. Another good discount here, which approaches the price point this pen probably should be selling for. (via Massdrop)
4. Italix Parson's Essential Fountain Pen. I've heard that these pens are good introductions to stub/cursive italic nibs in the $50-60 price range. (via Massdrop)
5. Kaweco Lilliput Fireblue. If only they made a Fireblue Kaweco Supra.... (via Massdrop)
6. Levenger L-Tech 3.0 fountain pen. I had one of these once. If you're into the Rotring 600 aesthetic, but don't want to shell out a couple hundred dollars, try this. (via Massdrop)
7. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Makrolon). A staple that everyone should have in their collection. (via Amazon)
8. Pilot Custom 74 (Clear Demonstrator). If you're considering a Japanese pen with a gold nib, you can't do much better on the value front than starting here. (via Amazon)
9. Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (Color Demonstrator). Great value and one of my tier-one pens. (via Amazon)

Sign up for Digital Divide

"Digital Divide" is my monthly newsletter devoted to discussing the divide between the "digital" and "analog" parts of our lives, the benefits of making time for analog tools and workflows, and why people draw the line where they do. Issue 5 of Digital Divide is more of a personal reflection on what I've been up to lately: scaling back the number of tools I use on a regular basis and make sure that what I'm accumulating and using is really the "best tool for the job". If you're not a subscriber, and would like to join up, use the link on the sidebar.

In Case You Missed It …

This week on the blog I discussed my Top 5 Non-Fountain Pens for Everyday Use (non-disposable pens) and also reviewed the Namisu Nova Titanium Fountain Pen. 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Like any hobby, the online community surrounding stationery and pens can become a bit of an echo chamber at times. The buzz about the latest and greatest "must-have" products is largely driven by a handful of high-traffic sites and blogs that everybody knows about and reads. But sometimes good advice can be found in lesser-known places, whether it's a niche site looking at a specific product or brand in exacting detail, or a site written by someone living in a different part of the world who has access to products unavailable elsewhere. I try to read as broadly as I can, and I've found that it helps me identify potential purchases that will actually work for me, as opposed to those that have become popular or trendy. Here's a list of pen and stationery websites that you should be reading regularly (if you're not already). 

1. Pens!Paper!Pencils! Ian writes an excellent blog that focuses on product reviews from the perspective of the artist, as well as the writer. His drawings are amazing - be sure to check them out.   
2. All Things Stationery. Tessa focuses on much more than just pens. While All Things Stationery is a UK-focused site that brings a unique perspective, Tessa maintains the Stationery Shops Map, which can help you locate a nearby stationery shop wherever you are in the world. 
3. The Finer Point. Another UK-based blog with excellent product reviews.   
4. Fountain Pen Economics. A blog written by Dr. Jonathon Deans, an Australian Economist who writes about pens and, more frequently, the pen industry from his unique professional perspective. If you've ever wondered why certain brands take off and others fail, give this blog a read.
5. Gorgeous.ink. A relative newcomer, Paul Joynes's blog has excellent photographs and an even better name. 
6. Inkdependence. Mike Matteson reviews ink. Lots of ink. He also has the occasional pen review as well. 
7. The Pelikan's Perch. One of the excellent brand-specific sites that I mentioned, devoted entirely to Pelikan fountain pens, including news on upcoming releases and product reviews. Pelikan's Perch also contains a lot of resources on the history of the brand, various models, etc. 
8. Three Staples. Jinnie devotes her entire blog to reviews of her Field Notes collection. The photography on this blog is something we all aspire to. 
9. On Fountain Pens. Maybelline writes her blog from Singapore, does a lot of reviews, and also has a lot of information about local pen clubs and meetups. Apparently Singapore has a very active pen community! 
10. Too Many Inks. David has over 350 (!) bottles of ink and an exceptional collection of Pelikans, and publishes his notes on various pen/ink combinations as he rotates pens in and out of daily use.  

I also follow a relatively large number of other excellent websites that aren't exclusively stationery-focused or updated as often, but contain delightful writing and I look forward to reading them whenever a new post comes out. 

1. Penucopia
2. Leigh Reyes, My Life as a Verb
3. Cronicas Estilographicas
4. From the Pen Cup
5. Reverenced Writing
6. Pete Denison
7. My Pen Needs Ink

Pennaquod.  While it's not a stationery website, per se, Ian from Pens!Paper!Pencils! has created a search engine that will comb through an extensive list of pen-related blogs and sites. If you're considering a purchase of a specific pen, and are looking for an easy way to sort reviews, give Pennaquod a try.   

Submit and Share!

This list contains links to sites that I read on a regular basis. It is NOT intended to be an exhaustive list, and I've not been compensated by anyone for listing a site here.  If you think readers should know about another site that you read regularly, feel free to leave a link in the comments, as long as the site is pen and stationery related, and isn't primarily a store. (Extraneous or irrelevant links will be deleted.)  Just to be clear, I'm aware that I haven't included The Pen Addict, Well-Appointed Desk, SBRE Brown, The Clicky Post, Ed Jelley, Gourmet Pens, FP Quest etc. The purpose of this post is to increase exposure for new or different pen and stationery websites that readers may not know about. To that end, please share with anyone who you think may be interested! 

The Aurora Optima Nero Perla, in Aurora's simple, yet gorgeous, presentation box. The Italian pen companies always seem to do packaging well. 

Aurora is one of the three remaining major Italian pen companies, now that Omas is out of business. It's also a company with which I have relatively little experience, at least with respect to their fountain pens. I'm a huge fan of Aurora's inks: they make two colors, black and blue, and both are among my go-tos for safe, standard colors. I've owned an Aurora Ipsilon Quadra in Sterling Silver, and while the pen was nice, it didn't stick in my collection. 

Recently, my friend Thomas decided to unload a few pens in his collection, and asked whether or not I would be interested in reviewing one of Aurora's flagship pens, the Aurora Optima, before he sold it. I've always wanted to test drive one of these pens, so I jumped at the chance. 

"Auroloide" material and Build

The Aurora Optima Nero Perla is a visually stunning pen. The material (which the company refers to as "Auroloide") is cellulose acetate: an acrylic variant intended to reproduce the depths of color and warmth found in vintage celluloid, but without the long curing period and manufacturing difficulties. Indeed, the Optima feels like a celluloid pen in hand. The material is slightly translucent, allowing you to see the ink level once the pen is filled. This particular color scheme is called "Nero Perla" ("Black Pearl"). Trim appears to be a combination of sterling silver and Rhodium plating, and the piston-filling system gives the pen heft.

This pen feels solid, like it will stand up to heavy use. The one critique I have on the build, however, is how difficult the pen is to clean. Aurora's piston fillers have a "hidden reservoir" of ink behind the piston, which they pitch as a feature that allows you to write for a full page after the main ink chamber is empty. I can see this feature being useful if you carry one pen, and take a lot of notes in meetings, etc. where you wouldn't want to run out, but it also means that it takes a LOT of flushing to get rid of all the ink. If I had kept this pen, it would've ended up as a "one-ink pen" just to avoid having to deal with the cleaning.   

Writing Experience

The Aurora Optima features a 18k nib. This one started life as a medium but has been ground to a cursive italic.

The nib on this Optima was tuned and ground to a smooth .4mm cursive italic by either Mike Masuyama or Shawn Newton - Thomas couldn't remember. (Hey, that happens when you have so many pens!) It's an excellent writer, though I can't speak to how the pen wrote straight out of the box. Other Aurora pens I have tried have been nice writers, though the nibs tend to have feedback. They're not scratchy, but they're not glassy smooth either, which isn't an issue for me but can drive some people crazy. 

This .4mm cursive italic (formerly a medium nib) writes perfectly for me.  Ink is Aurora blue. 

The Optima's 18k nib is a better writer than the nib on my old Aurora Ipsilon Quadra. The nib is stiff, without much give or flex.  If you like firm nibs, you'll like this pen. 

Takeaways

A close-up of the Optima in its box.  You can get a sense of the translucency of the material if you look just below the cap, where you can tell the pen has been filled with blue ink. 

The Aurora Optima Nero Perla is a gorgeous Italian fountain pen. As a fan of celluloid (and celluloid-like material), I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making a pen look this good. At the same time, the price point is very high, even taking into account the recent price drop That's not to say I think the pen is unreasonably priced - it's not, given the quality of the craftsmanship and the materials used - but Sailor's Professional Gear series has a similar shape and fits my hand better at $200 or so less. I do know, however, that there are people out there who find the Pro Gear too small and light, especially when writing with the pen unposted.     

Where to Buy 

Fortunately, if you're interested in the Optima, Aurora recently dropped the price. Both Pen Chalet and Anderson Pens carry Aurora, and both currently have the Optima listed at $445. Aurora issues annual "special edition" versions of the Optima, so if you're a fan of gold trim, you'll want to check out the "Abissi" Optima 365 Limited Edition.  

If you're a fan of cursive italic nibs, and you'd like to purchase a barely-used Aurora, Thomas is offering the pen featured in this review for sale. As of the time of writing, the pen is up on my "For Sale" page and priced to move (especially once you take into account the custom nib, which otherwise would add $40-50 to the price, not to mention the wait time for nib work). 

DISCLAIMER:  The pen featured in this review was loaned to me at no cost for review purposes. This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase an item from any of the sites linked to in this article.  While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase something you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so.  Many thanks! 

I'm looking forward to joining the crowds at the 2016 D.C. Pen Show this coming weekend. 

There are lots of interesting links this week. I'm not sure what the status of next week's "Sunday Reading" post is going to be, since I'll be on the road at the DC Pen Show, but I'll try to get something up if at all possible. At a minimum, please follow me on Twitter and Instagram for some real-time photos! 

1. A Report from the Pilot Pen Clinic (via Alt. Haven). Junee attended the Pilot Pen Clinic at Aesthetic Bay in Singapore, featuring Mr. Atsushi Takizawa. She even got to interview Mr. Takizawa. So. Jealous.
2. Diplomat Aero. Mike at Inkdependence reviews this pen from Diplomat, which I've been ogling for quite some time. Any matte black pen calls to me. With very few exceptions.  
3. Pens!Paper!Pencils!  Check out Ian's new site redesign, featuring the work of Matthew Morse.  Looks great!
4. Blackwing Diversity. Some interesting ideas here on potential themes for future Blackwing Volumes Editions. Also check out similar lists from Andy Welfle over at Woodclinched and Less at Comfortable Shoes Studio.
5. Guide to Fountain Pen Friendly Notebooks. Ed Jelley published his most recent guide to his favorite fountain pen-friendly notebooks.
6. Ballpoint(ed) Questions. Ana from the Well-Appointed Desk answers readers' ballpoint-focused questions. 
7. The Parker Vacumatic. Ron Gilmour, writing for the Pen Addict, looks at my favorite vintage pen in the latest entry in his series on various vintage pen models. 

Visit My Sponsors

Please take a moment to visit my sponsors, who help keep this blog going! 

1. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.  
2. Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of Sailor's Bespoke line (one of only three worldwide). 
3. Tom Barrington Leather Goods. A big thank you to Tom Barrington Leather Goods, which offers a wide array of pen holders, glasses cases, iPhone and iPad sleeves, watch straps, and other quality leather products.   
4. Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests.
5. Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community for creative skills, featuring classes on, among other things, calligraphy, hand lettering, creative writing, photography, blogging, and many more subjects that might be of interest to readers of this blog. By signing up through this link (or through the advertisement on the sidebar), you can get 3 months of Skillshare premium for $0.99.

Good Deals and Drops

There are a LOT of good deals on pens, ink, paper, and other analog accessories right now. I know it's more than I normally put up, but I kept running across stuff I wanted to include and couldn't help myself.

1. Wolf Meridian Valet Stand with Pen Drawer. I don't need this. I don't need this. I really, really want this. I don't need this. (via Massdrop)
2. Bung Box Special Edition Sweet Potato Inks (via Massdrop)
3. Levenger L-Tech (via Massdrop)
4. Andy Lambrou Fountain Pen Book Bundle.  Incredible deal on Fountain Pens: United States and United Kingdom, and Fountain Pens of Japan. (via Massdrop)
5. Pelikan M205 Green Highlighter Pen/Ink Combo (via Massdrop)
6. White Fox Mechanical Keyboard. A Massdrop exclusive.  I love the color scheme.  It's pricey, but the components are quality. Cherry MX Green switches FTW. (via Massdrop).
7. Tomoe River Paper now available on Amazon (currently Prime eligible).  
8. Nanami Paper's Seven Seas Journals are now available through Amazon, with Prime Shipping. Both the Standard Seven Seas Writer and the Crossfield are currently in stock.  Perhaps availability will be better now?
9. Camel Traveler's Notebook. More and more people are moving to the Traveler's Notebook format. I like the Camel leather the best. (via Amazon)
10. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Makrolon). A staple everyone should have in their collection, at a great price. (via Amazon) 
11. Pilot Custom 74 (Clear Demonstrator). If you're considering a Japanese pen with a gold nib, you can't do much better on the value front than starting here. (via Amazon)
12. Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (Color Demonstrator). Great value and one of my tier-one pens. (via Amazon)
13. Sailor Yama Dori Ink (via Amazon).
14. Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikibu (via Amazon).

Are You Coming to the Washington, D.C. Pen Show? 

I currently plan to attend the 2016 Washington, D.C. Pen Show from August 4-7 (Thursday through Sunday).  I'll be arriving Friday morning and staying through the weekend. If you're going to be at the show, please let me know! 

Sign up for Digital Divide

"Digital Divide" is my monthly newsletter devoted to discussing the divide between the "digital" and "analog" parts of our lives, the benefits of making time for analog tools and workflows, and why people draw the line where they do. Issue 5 of Digital Divide is more of a personal reflection on what I've been up to lately: scaling back the number of tools I use on a regular basis and make sure that what I'm accumulating and using is really the "best tool for the job". If you're not a subscriber, and would like to join up, use the link on the sidebar. New edition coming in August!

In Case You Missed It …

This week on the blog, I reviewed the Aurora Optima Fountain Pen in Nero Perla Auroloide, and also published this piece on Stationery Blogs and Websites that Everyone Should Be Reading.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

A selection of pens from the Edison Pen Company at last-year's D.C. Pen Show. 

It's that time of year again, folks! The Washington, D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow will be held this coming weekend, and I'm in the throes of Pen Show Prep. If you're completely unfamiliar with pen shows, you can check out the three-part "Pen Show Primer" series I did earlier this year: 

• Why Visit a Pen Show? 
• Getting Ready for a Pen Show
• Tips for Surviving the Pen Show

Packing for a Pen Show

The essentials are comfortable shoes, a camera, and cash. Since I'm going for all four days this year (getting my money's worth out of that $45 weekend pass), I'm probably going to have to pack differently than I normally do.  I'm not about to check a bag on the way there (airline fees = less money to spend at the show), but I'll have to be smarter about what I choose to take with me in order to account for extra clothes and some work I'll have to bring along (bleh). Some other things you don't want to be without: 

1. Backpack. Better ergonomics than an over-the-shoulder messenger bag. (I like my North Face Surge because it has lots of pockets). You'll have a bag with you all day walking the show floor so make sure whatever bag you bring isn't too big and has comfortable straps. You can always opt for a fishing vest. Or maybe just a fishing vest pin.     
2. Expandable Rolling Duffel. Expandable because I'll almost certainly come back with more stuff than I left with, and depending on how much ink I purchase, I may have to check a bag on the way home. For the record, people worry about packing bottles of ink in a carry on, but in years of pen-related travel, I've not had an issue with the TSA. Most bottles of fountain pen ink are less than 3.4 fluid oz/100ml. Still, don't push your luck if you decide to buy the entire line of Iroshizuku.
3. Paper. Some vendors will have paper that you can use to test pens, but it's always a good idea to bring a sample of your own paper - preferably the same paper that you will be writing with at work or home. Some people recommend that you bring a bottle of "safe ink" to dip pens to test how they write, but I've not done this in recent years because (1) most vendors of modern pens have "tester pens" for you to use and (2) many vintage dealers won't let you dip pens.
4. Pens to Share. The hotel bar is an active scene every night, and the D.C. Pen Show Sheraton is no exception. For the last few years, they've had a few long tables where people gather to show off that day's finds or share pens from their collections at home.  
5. Pens and Ink to Sell. If you know other collectors/enthusiasts who are going to be at the show, it's a great opportunity to sell or trade pens. Note that it's not always the best deal to try to "trade" or "sell" pens to dealers at the show, because they are typically looking to buy for resale, not for their own use, and therefore won't offer the best price.

What to Buy at a Pen Show

My haul from a recent pen show.

I've slowed my pen acquisitions/purchasing substantially, and I want to limit show purchases to no more than one or two pens. Here's what's on my radar:

1. Visconti. I've had my eye on a Homo Sapiens for a while now, but I'm not sure which model. If I could find a gently used pen in decent condition, I'd jump at it.
2. Diplomat. Everyone is raving about the Diplomat Aero. I've been tempted by this pen before but have never given serious consideration to this less well-known German pen company.  
3. Ink and Paper. Pen shows are a great way to save on shipping for heavier items, such as ink and paper. Both Anderson Pens and Vanness Pens will be in attendance at this year's DC Pen Show, and both bring a massive selection of ink to browse. Every major ink brand should be represented. 
4. Nib Work. I don't have any pens that necessarily need work done this year, but if I end up buying new pens (and I'm sure I will), they'll likely need to be tuned. Dan Smith of The Nibsmith is working his first D.C. Pen Show, so I'll try to get a slot at his table. 

Contact Info and Events I'm Attending

If you're going to be at the show, I'd love to meet up. I can be reached through the "Contact Me!" link on the site, via Twitter (@vintagegntlmn), or instagram (@gentlemanstationer). I will be attending Thursday, August 4 through Sunday, August 7, and will be at most of the major events. You can find the official show schedule here. Highlights include a beer and wine welcome party and a meetup organized by the Pen Addict, Vanness Pens, and Fountain Pen Day on Friday night. 

Seminars will be offered throughout the weekend, including a Copperplate Calligraphy workshop with Deborah Basel from 9am to 1pm on Friday, Richard Binder's nib-smoothing workshop at 8:30am on Sunday, and the Pens for Kids Workshop at 2:00pm on Sunday.

Further Reading

You can check out last year's D.C. Pen Show recaps here: Thursday and Friday Recap; Saturday and Sunday Recap.

DISCLAIMER:  This post contains affiliate links.   

I'm pretty stocked up and don't need to go shopping, but if you do, I hope this list is helpful. 

I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to believe that schools are ALREADY back in session in certain parts of the country (even if research shows that shorter breaks are more conducive to learning). And now that the summer vacation season is also coming to a close, many of us are getting ready to head back to work as well. My daughter’s not yet old enough to have to worry about that, but it still doesn’t mean you can’t have fun getting geared up for the fall.  Here are a few of my “picks” for restocking your desk, backpack, or briefcase, whichever the case may be.  

Gel/Ballpoint Pens. Don't be caught using a pen from someone else's dentist's office in your next meeting or class. Even if all you want/need is an inexpensive click pen, there are better, more reliable options. 

• Uniball Jetstream. For all you ballpoint fans out there, you can't go wrong with Uniball's hybrid-ink Jetstream.
• Pilot G2 or Uni Signo 207. I love the G2, and consider it one of the smoothest writing pens around, but some people find them too wet. 
• If you'd like a longer list of options, and especially if you're into ultra-fine point Japanese gel pens, check out this list for further reading. 

Fountain Pens. If you're a regular reader of this blog, there are endless options out there for selecting the perfect fountain pen in any price range for any purpose.  If you pushed me to make off-the-top-of-my-head recommendations, however, I would go with: 

• Work or School: Pilot Metropolitan. I continue to be impressed with the Metropolitan. This is a pen that has made its way in and out of my collection over the years, as I tend to give them away to friends, family, and coworkers who express interest in fountain pens. Available in both a fine and a medium, Pilot's steel nibs are exceptionally smooth and the quality control is top notch. The Metropolitan comes with a converter included, so you are ready to use bottled ink. 
• Heavy Notetakers: If you prefer a pen that accepts ink cartridges, go with the Pilot Metropolitan.  However, the TWSBI Eco would be an excellent option for a college student that needs an ink tank. 
• A Bit More Money: If you're in the "back to work" crowd and looking for an understated pen that won't look out of place at the office, the Lamy 2000 is always a good bet. 
• Further reading for pen recommendations at various price points.  

Fountain Pen Ink. Unfortunately, if you're a fountain pen user in today's world, you need to pay attention to the ink you use on the cheaper papers most commonly found in today's offices and schools. I tend to stick with Pilot and Sailor inks for my everyday writing.   

• Pilot Blue-Black. An often overlooked, versatile ink that is easily available in cartridges (for your Metropolitan), and in VERY LARGE bottles as well if you can find a vendor who will source it from overseas. 
• Sailor Ink. Sailor's line of ink is reasonably priced, and the entire line is available at most major pen retailers, including our sponsors at Anderson Pens, Pen Chalet, and Vanness Pens. 
• Note that both Sailor and Pilot cartridges are proprietary, meaning that they will only work in Sailor and Pilot Pens, respectively. 

Paper (Looseleaf/writing pads). I tend to prefer tear-off writing tablets (8.5 x 11 inch letter size), because I can either leave the pages attached (when I have a one-subject pad) or tear them out to punch holes and stick them in a binder. My choices here are the same for work or school. 

• Rhodia Ice Pad (Grid). I prefer grid/graph paper to lined paper because I find it much more versatile. For fountain pen-friendly paper, Rhodia is one of the better values, and I enjoy the white pad with the grey lines. I've gotten more "where did you get THAT?!" comments at work from this pad of paper than any other piece of stationery I carry. 
• Staples Sustainable Earth. When I don't want to spend a ton of money, Staples' sugarcane-based Sustainable Earth paper is my go to option, and I always have these in my desk drawer at the office. They handle most fountain pen inks decently, especially with Japanese fine or medium nibs. Unfortunately they are getting hard to find in-store at Staples, so I order them online. 

Writing Notebooks. Whether you use them for note-taking, writing your rough drafts, or journaling, you need some good notebooks in your kit. Here's what's normally in my carry. 

• Leutchturm 1917. The "black bound notebook with better paper." 
• Baron Fig Confidant. A lay-flat clothbound notebook that is exceptional to use with pencil, and works fine with most fountain pens as long as they are not too wet. 
• Clairefontaine. A colorful option that's probably better for school than the office (though I use them for both), Clairefontaine is the gold standard for fountain pen-friendly notebooks. They come in both clothbound, staple-bound, and spiral-bound.  

Pocket Notebooks. You'll also need a good pocket notebook to capture thoughts, make quick lists, and serve as a scratchpad. I always have at least four on me. (Don't ask.) 

• Nock Co. Dot Dash.  Staple-bound reporter-style notebooks that I've been using a lot lately.  The paper quality is very good, and handles most fountain pen ink well. 
• Baron Fig Vanguard. Formerly called "the Apprentice", these pocket notebooks use the same great paper found in the Confidant.  
• Field Notes. The ubiquitous staple-bound pocket notebook that you can find at stores in most cities. The paper is not the greatest for fountain pens, but if you're a ballpoint/pencil user, these colorful little notebooks are a lot of fun to use (and collect).  

Planners. Even if you're not a "planner person," consider one of these. I don't use planners in the traditional sense, and use my iPhone to handle my schedule, but I still find it very handy to keep a "date book" to log certain things and do short form journaling. My recommendations here would be the same for work or for school: 

• A5 Filofax. My go-to when I was in college/university because of how customizable it is. If you don't want to shell out the money for an actual Filofax, Day Runner is another option that I've used, especially when I was in school.
• Hobonichi Techo. My current choice, that serves a combination of personal and professional uses. The One-page-per-day format works if you don't have a crazy, ever-changing schedule. You may want to hold out and start this one in January, as the 2017 version has just been announced.
• Traveler's Notebook.  Many people use the Midori planner insert for the Traveler's Notebook so they can use it as a combined planner/daily writer. 

Wood case Pencils. I typically reach for a woodcase pencil before a ballpoint pen, especially if I'm editing or I need to write very small. Pencils are in the midst of what seems like a renaissance, with new products being issued regularly. My current stalwarts are: 

• Palomino Blackwing 602. Based off of the classic Eberhard Faber pencil, and emblazoned with the slogan "Half the pressure, twice the speed," Palomino's version of the Blackwing 602 holds a point for a very long time, while still leaving a dark line. 
• Forest Choice. A super-cheap, very high-quality pencil that will make you abandon your Ticonderogas for good. 

Mechanical Pencils. If mechanical pencils are more your style, Rotring and Uni tend to have the high-end market cornered at the moment. 

• Rotring 600. The classic hexagonal barrel, German-made mechanical pencil. If you need one mechanical pencil, this is it. 
• Uni Kuru-Toga. The Kuru-Toga has a proprietary mechanism that rotates the lead as you write, keeping the point sharp. An excellent, relatively inexpensive mechanical pencil option. 

Of course, there are many, many more options for all of these categories, but I thought it would be a fun little exercise to compile this list of recommendations since everyone's getting ready to bring summer to a close (prematurely, IMHO). Enjoy! 

DISCLAIMER:  This post contains affiliate links. 

The pens that Bryant Greer of Chatterly Luxuries brought to this year's DC Pen Show. 

This year’s Washington D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow might have been the craziest pen show I’ve attended to date. Not so much in terms of crowds, but more in terms of the energy in the room and the enthusiasm shown by all the attendees. Needless to say, I’m absolutely exhausted, so there’s not going to be a links post this weekend, and Digital Divide will have to wait until next week. Instead, you all get to enjoy my pictures from the show, along with a brief recap. 

Friday

Brian and Lisa Anderson of Anderson Pens with their assortment of Sailors. 

Friday was your typical Friday at a pen show. The show was well-attended, but I wouldn’t say it was overcrowded. To get in on Friday, you have to purchase a weekend pass, which costs $45, and I think it’s worth it to “get first crack at the good stuff” before the crowds arrive on Saturday morning and it becomes a fight to get in front of some of the more popular tables like Anderson Pens, Franklin-Christoph, and Vanness Pens. It's also easier to get an appointment for nib work with Mike Masuyama or Dan Smith on Friday. Unless you arrive extremely early on Saturday, you can forget about getting nib work done. 

Franklin-Christoph also had their customary trays of new prototypes that were snatched up first thing on Friday and Saturday morning. 

I did my major pen shopping on Friday. I scored the only Visconti Homo Sapiens Dark Ages in extra fine that Bryant Greer of Chatterly Luxuries brought with him, much to the dismay of some. I also picked up a Vintage Pelikan M400 with a sweet oblique medium nib that wrote like a dream and did not need any work whatsoever. Finally, right before the show closed, I picked up a matte black Diplomat Aero, a pen that I’ve been eyeing for some time. I'll do a full review at some point, but this pen has one of the smoothest JoWo steel nibs I've ever written with.  

Kobe-Nagasawa brought 57 colors of Sailor Ink to the D.C. Pen Show, and were sold out of many of those colors by the end of the day on Friday. 

I also bought some ink. One of the big surprises of this year’s DC Pen Show was the appearance of Kobe Nagasawa, operators of a large department store in Japan, along with 50+ varieties of Sailor inks that Sailor makes especially for them. The Kobe inks are sometimes available through eBay sellers, but in general they are difficult to find outside of Japan. I picked up two colors: #6 (“Bordeaux”) and #9 (“Suma Purple”). Next, I paid a visit to the Anderson Pens table to grab a bottle of Montblanc Toffee Brown and the new Montblanc Ultra Black Special Edition Ink, which is a really interesting black ink that has some blue and green undertones to it. 

Saturday

A shot of the crowds in the main ballroom on Saturday. This was earlier in the day, and it only got crazier as the day went on. 

Since I blew it out on Friday, I took it somewhat easy on Saturday and limited myself to nib work. Good thing, too, because the show was so crowded it was difficult to navigate at times. I had Mike Masuyama tune the nib on my Visconti Homo Sapiens, and grind the nib on my Montblanc Heritage 1912 to a fine cursive italic, which gives the pen exceptional line variation. 

Mike Masuyama happily grinding away. As usual, Mike stayed busy all day. 

One of the highlights of the afternoon was getting to spend some time with Ernest Shin of Hakumin Urushi Kobo. Ernest stopped by the show to drop a pen off for my friend Thomas, and brought along some pens from his personal collection, all of which were hand lacquered by Ernest himself. There were some gorgeous pieces. Ernest accepts work on commission, and also works with Brian Gray of the Edison Pen Company. 

Ernest has been perfecting his craft for years. The detail and craftsmanship in his pens is outstanding. This picture does not do his work justice, as the lighting in the ballroom was terrible. 

More Later

Sunday was pretty quiet, though I’ll have some additional updates later, along with a report on the “after-hours” pen show scene in the hotel bar. I saw some crazy (pen-related) stuff!  Here's a gallery of additional fun pictures from Friday and Saturday at the show. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links to companies who sponsor or advertise on this blog. 

Part of the Legendary "Wall of Ink" that Lisa Vanness of Vanness Pens brings to pen shows. Believe it or not, most of this was gone by the end of the day on Sunday. 

Now that I've had a few days to think on it, this year's D.C. Pen Show probably went down as one of the best I've experienced, at least in terms of the people who were there. This was the first year I've attended all four days, and in the future I plan to make a point of attending at least a portion of the Sunday show. Sundays are MUCH less crowded than Fridays and Saturdays, and they give you an opportunity to interact with the vendors and other attendees when they're not slammed with customers. 

Sunday Recap

Ok, so I ended up buying more pens and ink on Sunday. I thought I had finished with my buying on Friday, but as always happens, that's never the case. I had been eyeing two newer models that Franklin-Christoph had out on their table - in prototype color acrylics - and when they were still available at 2:00pm on Sunday... well, I was weak.  I picked up a Pocket 20 in red urushi acrylic and a Model 45 in transparent orange acrylic. 

My Franklin-Christoph Model 45. This orange acrylic is a prototype. The color is slightly brighter than the "Amber" color in the standard line.  Franklin-Christoph sometimes sells their prototypes online in the "Stock Room" section of their website. 

At the urging of Leigh Reyes and Thomas Hall, we tried to fit a 1950's Eversharp Skyline nib into the housing from a JoWo #5 nib, which would make the vintage nib compatible with the Model 45. Despite the best efforts of Franklin-Christoph's incomparable Jim Rouse, we couldn't make it work. I had to "settle" for a Masuyama-ground needlepoint that writes like a dream. The pocket carry pen that I've been looking for, in clear orange! 

Jim Rouse tunes a newly purchased pen at the Franklin-Christoph table.

I finally got a chance to visit the Vanness Pens table and thankfully they had plenty of Akkerman Ink left. I grabbed this bottle of Akkerman #28 (Hofkwartier Groen), which went directly into my Franklin-Christoph Model 45. Also, Vanness purchased whatever Kobe Nagasawa did not sell at the show, so if you're interested in these inks head on over to Vanness and get them while you can. Certain colors are already sold out so they won't last long.  

Overall Show Impressions

This year's D.C. Pen Show had a lot of buzz and energy, especially on Saturday. I'm happy to see that every year I've attended, there have been more and more attendees from all age groups, which gives me a lot of hope for the future of the pen show scene. That said, most of the "new group's" attention seemed to be focused on modern pens, with steady crowds mobbing Vanness Pens, Anderson Pens, and Franklin-Christoph. Brian and Rachel Goulet also made an appearance and made the rounds throughout the weekend. On the vintage side, things didn't seem as busy for some reason, though there were plenty of vintage dealers there.  

Pleasant Surprises

• The Kanilea Pen Company launched this weekend. I had not heard anything about this new company prior to the show, but several people went home with multiple pens. Hugh and Carol Scher did a beautiful job building out this brand, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with in the future. I didn't get to spend as much time at their table as I would've liked. 
• Stylo Art Karuizawa. Japanese pen-makers and urushi artists Stylo Art were in D.C. for the first time this year, after a strong showing at the Los Angeles Pen Show. Lots of people were purchasing Stylo Art's wood and urushi pens, and one of these is on my list for my next big purchase at a show next year.  
• Omas and Conway Stewart Re-launch. The word on the street is that distributor Kenro Industries is relaunching the Conway Stewart brand. On a similar note, the group that reintroduced Wahl-Eversharp is in the process of inking some sort of a deal to bring back Omas, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. Stay tuned for more developments. It's unclear from the post whether they have actually purchased the name, or rather just the pens and materials, but something is in the works. 
• Montblanc Ultra Black Special Edition Ink. Though I find the ink a bit wet, it has gorgeous undertones and shades very nicely. I currently have it inked in several pens and I'm liking it so far.
• Better Ink Testing Station. The ink testing tables at the D.C. Pen Show are notorious for having dozens of bottles of really old ink (as in, more than 5 years old) that no longer resemble their original colors due to mixing, mold, dilution, etc. A couple years back, organizers of the San Francisco Pen Show came up with a new idea for an ink testing station, which uses inexpensive piston filler fountain pens to avoid having people dip dirty pens in multiple bottles of ink. They built one for Vanness Pens, and it was ready to go in D.C.  
• Lots of people stayed through the weekend. We still had a fairly large group of people Sunday night, and we all got together and had dinner in the hotel restaurant. You get to know people better over the entire three days, especially when we all finally had a chance to kick back in the hotel restaurant over dinner and drinks after the show closed on Sunday.   

Brad of the Pen Addict and Cary from Fountain Pen Day, in the hotel bar Sunday night as the show closed down. Yes, Cary is that tall. 

Biggest Disappointments

• Montblanc Ultra Black 146. Prior to the show, I had one of these on order, but after having the opportunity to hold the pen in person I decided to cancel. The pen just didn't "click", and at that price point it has to be a perfect fit. Also, the matte black finish on Montblanc's resin looks as though it might be prone to scratching very easily. Since I post my pens, that makes me nervous.  
• No Bung Box! One of the highlights of last year's D.C. Pen Show was Japanese retailer Bung Box, who showed up with not only their entire line of ink but their special edition pens. Kobe Nagasawa made up for that this year, and Vanness Pens carries all the Bung Box inks, but I was really looking forward to picking up one of their special edition Sailor Pro Gears.   
• Very Few Vintage Japanese Pens! Ok, I'm reaching here, since I know that this is more the scene in L.A. and San Francisco, but I'm really on the hunt for a Pilot M90 and/or a Pilot Myu.  

It makes me sad that I can only do two or three shows a year, but my wallet can't take any more than that. As good as this year's DC Pen Show was, I'm thinking of mixing it up a bit and taking a year off in 2017, perhaps attending the Los Angeles or San Francisco show? We'll see!

A repeat picture, I know, but this new and improved ink testing station is awesome.  The one at the San Francisco Pen Show has over 500 different inks! 

Further Reading

So many bloggers were in attendance this year, it would be impossible for me to list them all without unintentionally leaving someone out. Other recaps will coming, so check out the Pen Addict, the Well-Appointed Desk, FP Quest, Inkdependence, and others! I'll be retweeting and linking throughout the week.    

If you missed my Friday/Saturday recap, you can check it out here. 

Disclaimer: This post contains links to sponsors and/or advertisers on this blog. However, all of the loot that I bought at the DC Pen Show was purchased with my own funds, for my own collection, at full show prices, even where purchased from my sponsors and advertisers. 

Introducing the Sostanza, a new wooden clutch pencil from Sotteranea Officina Sperimentale in Torino, Italy.

I've laid off the pen Kickstarters recently. Last year, the Tactile Turn Gist and the Namisu Nova really were the only two that piqued my interest in any way. A lot of projects now tend to involve designs that either aren't original enough to justify spending $50-100, or "tactical pens" that double as a weapon, which I don't have any use for. 

Long story short, I haven't been monitoring Kickstarter as closely as I should have, and I would've missed the Sostanza clutch pencil entirely had the folks at Sotteranea Officina Sperimentale, a design studio located in Torino, Italy, not reached out and asked if I wanted to review their new project. 

Design Overview

The Sostanza is a clutch pencil/leadholder. Part of its appeal lies in its simplicity: the pencil consists of only three pieces: the wooden body, the 2mm lead, and a silver ring that fits around the body of the pencil and acts as a clamp that keeps the lead from sliding out the front. It's not quite as simple in its design as the Penxo leadholder, but it's much easier to operate and won't rip your fingernails off when you try to release the lead.

The clutch mechanism on the Sostanza is simple: a split piece of wood held closed by a silver ring.

The pencil comes in various wood grains, including pear, mahogany, black walnut, ebony, and amaranth. (Note that ebony and amaranth are more expensive, being more exotic woods). I opted for the mahogany version. It's beautiful and smells great. All woods are said to have been sustainably harvested. The metal ring is made from sterling silver, but is cast in different tones to match the wood. 

The Sostanza tucked inside my Write Notepads Kindred Spirit Edition (which I would advise you to get while supplies last). 

What I find interesting about this product is that the creators of the Sostanza appear to be trying to break the assumptions people have about clutch pencils and leadholders: people seem to assume that they are strictly artists' tools that are used for drawing. Instead, the creators of Sostanza have been very careful to refer to the Sostanza as a "wooden pencil that never ends," which to me strongly implies that this pencil is intended to be used as much for writing as it is for design work.  

Sostanza is very light and well-balanced. 

Sostanza works well as a writing tool. One thing that makes many leadholders unsuitable for long-form writing is their weight: they can be heavy and cause your hand to cramp. That's not an issue here. The Sostanza is extremely light, to the point where I can even comfortably tuck it behind my ear like a standard woodcase pencil. The pencil is also very well balanced, and feels similar to a fat "jumbo-style" woodcase pencil in the hand. Initially, I worried that the metal ring might make for an uncomfortable grip, but I've not had any issues based on how I hold the pencil. 

I found the Sostanza very comfortable to hold, with the silver ring causing me no issues. 

Pricing/Value

The Kickstarter price for the Sostanza was 25 euros for the Early Bird, 30 euros for the regular reward, and 35 euros for the "deluxe packaging," which is a glass test tube with a cork stopper. I'd stick with the standard packaging: the test tube is cool, but the cork really can't be used as a stand for the Sostanza, as the pictures on Kickstarter imply. Mine kept falling over. While not inexpensive - there are cheaper leadholders and clutch pencils out there - the Sostanza is a unique-looking piece that tries to bring something new to the table.

The Sostanza in its deluxe "test tube" packaging. Shipping from Italy was very fast. The Sostanza made it to me in about a week.

Takeaways

I enjoy clutch pencils, and it's nice to find one that seems like it was made for writers as much as artists and designers. The Sostanza is beautiful and, in my opinion, worth the price. It's made it's way onto my desk at work and I've been using it regularly since it arrived.

The one drawback to the Sostanza is that it's definitely a "desk tool" for me: there's no clip, so it can't easily be transported around, and it's a touch long to fit comfortably in a pen case.  Plus it's thin: I don't think Sostanza would survive having much pressure applied to it in the event something accidentally got dropped on my Nock Co. Sinclair, which is where I've been storing the pencil during my review.  

If the idea of a leadholder intrigues you, but you either can't wait for the Sostanza to hit the open market, or you'd prefer more of a traditional mechanical-pencil design (including a clip), I'd recommend that you try the Caran d'Ache Fixpencil.   

Where to Buy

The Sostanza Kickstarter successfully raised over $12,000, so hopefully we will see this project on the market after the rewards are fulfilled. You can preorder the Sostanza here. Please note that the Sostanza does not ship with either extra 2mm leads or a lead pointer (i.e., a sharpener). I'd recommend Uni 2B Leads and Lead Pointer.    

Further Reading

The Sostanza has been reviewed favorably elsewhere. Ian over a Pens!Paper!Pencils! wrote a nice review, and is also giving a Sostanza away. Mike Dudek at the Clicky Post also has a review up, which, as always, is excellent.    

Disclaimer: Sotteranea Officina Sperimentale sent me this Sostanza free of charge for review purposes. This post may also contain affiliate links to third parties.

Check out everyone's recaps from last week's successful - and very busy - DC Pen Show! 

It's good to be back, but being gone for a long weekend really does put you behind the proverbial eight-ball everywhere else. Therefore, these links are just a bit late. But enjoy - this is more or less an epic DC Recap list! Last weekend was a truly great experience, and it shows in pretty much everyone's reflections. I apologize if I've miss anyone! Please let me know and I'll update! 

1. Inkdependence DC Pen Show 2016 Mega-Post!
2. Reverenced Writing (Father Kyle Sanders)
3. The Pen Addict Podcast, Episode 217: Complete Systems Failure
4. The Well-Appointed Desk
5. Gorgeous.Ink (and I echo Paul that DC really was a cure for blogger burnout!)
6. Fountain Pen Quest
7. Sparetime Today (another blog that you should be adding to your feed!)
8. And, of course, my own recap from Friday/Saturday, and then my Sunday Recap and Overall Reflections, in case you've missed these. 

Thank You To My Sponsors This Week!

Please take a moment to visit my sponsors, who help keep this blog going! 

1. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc. They are currently running a "Back-to-School" Sale through tomorrow, where you can save an additional 10% with the coupon code SCHOOL10.    
2. Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of Sailor's Bespoke line (one of only three worldwide). 
3. Tom Barrington Leather Goods. A big thank you to Tom Barrington Leather Goods, which offers a wide array of pen holders, glasses cases, iPhone and iPad sleeves, watch straps, and other quality leather products.   
4. Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests.
5. Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community for creative skills, featuring classes on, among other things, calligraphy, hand lettering, creative writing, photography, blogging, and many more subjects that might be of interest to readers of this blog. By signing up through this link (or through the advertisement on the sidebar), you can get 3 months of Skillshare premium for $0.99.

Deals and Drops

1. Kobe-Nagasawa Sailor Ink from Vanness Pens! Vanness bought up whatever Kobe-Nagasawa had left at the end of the D.C. Pen Show, and has it available for sale on their site. It's going fast, so if you want to grab some of these great colors, made by Sailor, act fast. 
2. Bexley Prometheus Fountain Pen (via Massdrop)
3. Two-Pack of Diamine Shimmertastic Inks (via Massdrop)
4. J. Herbin Refillable Rollerballs (via Massdrop). Use fountain pen ink cartridges with a rollerball pen. These actually work decently. 
5. Rotring 800 Mechanical Pencil (via Amazon). The one with the retractable pipe. A better deal than the current Massdrop offer. Prime Shipping is included.  
6. Lamy Pico Ballpoint. You can get a similar deal to the one Massdrop is currently offering by purchasing through Amazon, with Prime Shipping.
7. Lamy 2000 (via Amazon). The lowest current price is on the broad nib, which is a wide nib great for customization.
8. Midori Traveler's Notebook in the new Camel Color (via Amazon).
9. Nanami Paper Seven Seas (via Amazon). Of course everyone bought out most of their stock, but at the DC Pen Show I got to try out the blank version (the "Standard") and it's both really nice and still available. 
10. Das 4C Keyboard (via Massdrop). If you're looking for your first mechanical keyboard, many people recommend Das, especially to get your feet wet. Full-size keyboard is here (via Amazon), if that's more your thing.  

Digital Divide No. 6: Burnout Edition

"Digital Divide" is my monthly newsletter devoted to discussing the divide between the "digital" and "analog" parts of our lives, the benefits of making time for analog tools and workflows, and why people draw the line where they do. Issue 6 of Digital Divide discusses the concept of burnout, which has really made the rounds on podcasts and blogs recently. Spoiler: I don't really make an effort to "resolve" the issue of burnout, because I don't think it's possible given the direction in which our economy/society is headed. If you're not a subscriber to Digital Divide, and would like to join up, use the link on the sidebar. 

In Case You Missed It …

It's been a bit of a weird week since I've been catching up on just about everything other than blogging, but I did manage to get a few things done (in addition to my DC Recaps). While I was at DC, I published my "Back-to-School/Back-to-Work" recommendations for various stationery, and yesterday I took a look at a recent Kickstarter project, the Sostanza Leadholder/Clutch Pencil.  

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

I've become a fan of the Write Notepads pocket notebooks, especially their latest Kindred Spirit limited edition.

I use a lot of pocket notebooks, and go through them fairly rapidly, so I'm always shuffling something in and out of the rotation. I started off using Field Notes many years ago when they were the only game in town, and even though the paper wasn't very fountain pen friendly, I stuck with it. One of my first reviews on this blog (and one of my personal favorites, if only for the sake of nostalgia) was my review of the original Kraft Paper Field Notes. Fast forward to 2016 (over two years later) and there are now a ridiculous number of new pocket notebooks on the market, ranging from the excellent to the gimmicky. Write Notepads, one of the newer entries to the market, are uniformly excellent. 

Note: Most of this review is applicable to Write Notepads pocket notebooks in general, but the notebook pictured in this review, that I've been using for the past week or so, is one of the "Kindred Spirit" limited edition notebooks. More about the Write Notepads limited editions and subscription service towards the end.

For the first year-or so of the company's existence, Write Notepads focused on making their spiral-bound notebooks. Spiral bindings aren't really my preference, so I never pulled the trigger on ordering any. I took the opportunity to test the paper at the 2014(?) DC Pen Show, and came away a bit disappointed because I didn't feel that the full-size notebook handled fountain pen ink all that well.  When they released their pocket notebooks, however, I went ahead and ordered a couple packs, because (1) paper weight and fountain pen-friendliness is far less important to me in a pocket notebook; and (2) the designs were more attractive to me than the increasingly offbeat Field Notes Colors editions. 

Build and Writing Experience

For me, Write Notepads pocket notebooks offer a near-ideal pocket notebook writing experience. Chris Rothe, the founder, is a third-generation bookbinder from Baltimore, Maryland, and his experience as a bookbinder shines through in these products. One of the first things that you notice is the craftsmanship. Whether it be their standard spiral-bound notebooks or their perfect/glue-bound pocket notebooks, Write Notepad products are very well-made. These things aren't going to fall apart after a week of being carried in your pocket or your bag.  

The glue-bound Write Notepads pocket notebook, with the Sostanza in the foreground. The paper in this notebook is excellent for pencil.

Initially, I was a little hesitant to use a notebook that wasn't staple bound, thinking that the glue binding would have trouble laying flat. While the notebook doesn't "lie flat" in the same way you can get a staple-bound Field Notes book to lie flat, it does well enough to allow me to comfortably write on both sides of each page, and I'll take the increased durability of the glue binding over a slight loss of flexibility. 

Ruled paper isn't typically my favorite, but I do like the "boxes" in the left-hand margin, which makes this notebook good for bullet journal-style lists.

I find the paper to be a step-up from Field Notes. According to the company, this is 70 lb. paper "meticulously selected to perform the best for most writing instruments." I think that's a fairly accurate summary: this is some of the most well-rounded notebook paper I've used. It's excellent with pencils, ballpoints, and gel pens, and handles fine/extra-fine point felt-tip, liquid ink, and fountain pens pretty well. Occasionally, if I'm pressing down too hard, I'll see some pinpoint show-through and/or bleeding on the reverse of a page, but I've never been unable to use both sides of the paper (which is a key consideration for me). The cover stock is sturdy. The standard Write Notepads pocket notebooks sports a 100 lb. cover stock, while the Kindred Spirit limited edition features 80 lb. "butcher orange" cover stock. (Yes, THAT butcher orange.)  

The notebooks are 64 pages (another bonus over the typical 48-page staple-bound pocket notebook), and the standard edition comes in lined, graph, and plain paper.  The limited editions thus far have come in graph (Lenore) and lined (Kindred Spirit) paper.

The design of the Kindred Spirit Edition (including the packaging) was well-conceived and well-executed. I'm a barbecue guy, so the charcoal theme spoke to me. 

A word about the limited editions: Write Notepads turned heads a bit when they first announced that they would be launching a quarterly subscription service, similar to Field Notes colors. There was even a little bit of annoyance expressed in places, and doubts about whether a second notebook subscription service could even be successful in an area where Field Notes supposedly dominates. I initially shared some of the doubts about whether it would be successful, but when I saw the inaugural Edgar Allen Poe-themed "Lenore" edition, I immediately became a fan. They've created a product that both tips the hat to the predecessor (butcher orange covers) while remaining distinctive enough to bring something new to the table.  

Overall Impressions and Takeaways

These are high-quality notebooks, and Andy Welfle got it right: the Kindred Spirit edition is one of those products that just makes you smile and want to use it. And I've been using it a lot: I've not torn through a pocket notebook this quickly in a long time. I'll probably purchase a subscription this fall once the next quarterly edition launches, in order to grab some of the "extras" available to subscribers. 

Where to Buy

I purchased most of my Write Notepads products directly from Write Notepads via their website. If the product you are looking for is out of stock, they also sell via a few select retail channels, including Amazon. Unfortunately, the Kindred Spirit notebooks pictured here are now sold out. I purchased two packs from Papernery, which from what I could tell was one of the last U.S. retailers to have these notebooks in stock. You may have better luck with non-U.S. retailers: at the time of writing, Pocket Notebooks in the U.K. still had Kindred Spirit in stock.

Disclaimer: I purchased the notebooks featured in this review with my own funds for my own personal use. I was not compensated in any way for writing this post, though certain links contained in this post are affiliate links. 

The KOSMOS Pen comes in four color options inspired by Apple devices. 

My inbox has exploded with pen and pencil-related Kickstarter news over the past couple days, so I thought it would be fun to do a short post highlighting some of these new projects. 

KOSMOS: The World's Best Pen in 2016. Maybe a touch of hyperbole in the tagline, but the KOSMOS (pictured above) apparently did win the 2016 Red Dot Design Award. This is a nice-looking aluminum pen with a magnetic retractable "cap" that slides forward to protect the tip. The creators tout the pen as perfectly balanced and inspired by Apple's designs. (The four color options are designed to complement your Apple Devices). Early bird rewards are gone, and regular rewards start at 49 euros. With 21 days to go, this project is fully funded and has raised over $26,000. 

The Ti Arto from BIGiDesign will accept 200+ refills without any hacking. 

Ti Arto: The Ultimate Refill Friendly Pen.  BIGiDESIGN is back with a new pen that accepts over 200 different refills "without even a smidgen of tip-wiggle."  (Only a true pen enthusiast/addict would know what that means.) The pen is made from a grade 5 titanium alloy, allows you to use basically any refill you could possibly imagine without hacking, and comes with a tool that you can use to repair the clip if it gets bent. The pen looks like it is designed to be used posted and unposted. Rewards start at $65, and with 37 days to go this project already has raised nearly $100,000. 

Magno: The World's First Magnetically Controlled Pencil. If you caught my recent review of the Sostanza pencil, you know that I have a thing for 2mm leadholder pencils. Magno uses an integrated magnet to control the position of the lead. There's a gif on the project page showing how it works. Rewards start at 25 euros. With 31 days to go, this project has raised nearly $58,000 and is fully funded.  

Personally, I've backed the Ti Arto and the Magno, but I'm on the fence about the KOSMOS because it uses Parker-Style refills and I haven't yet found one of those that I like. That doesn't mean I won't ultimately back it, though - there's a lot of time left! 

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated by any of these three Kickstarter projects for this post, and I have backed two of the projects referenced herein using my own funds. Do note that if you choose to back a Kickstarter project, you are assuming a certain degree of risk. Please review Kickstarter's rules and terms and conditions before deciding whether or not to back a project.  

My favorite of this year's Pelikan Special Editions is the reissued M205 Transparent Blue Demonstrator. 

Apparently 2016 is the year of bringing back old pens out of the Pelikan archive. In addition to reissuing their classic M120 fountain pen (a school pen popular in the 1950s and 1960s), Pelikan, to my delight, also decided to reach back not quite so far and resurrect the M205 Transparent Blue Demonstrator, an extremely popular special edition pen that ended its run five years ago before I could pick one up. Once I found out that this pen was coming back, there was no chance I was going to miss it again.     

Build and Writing Experience

The Pelikan M205 on its white faux-leather envelope-style packaging.  (A "penvelope?")

The "new" M205 transparent blue demonstrator is basically the same pen as the original, with one change. Per the Pelikan website, the ring at the top of the cap is now chromium-plated, as opposed to black on the original model. Like the original, it's a piston filler and sports a stainless steel nib. I purchased a fine. 

I opted for a fine nib on my Pelikan M205, which has been ground to a cursive italic by Dan Smith (The Nibsmith). 

The nib on my Pelikan M205 was excellent, both out of the box and after being tuned and ground by Dan Smith at the 2016 D.C. Pen Show. Pelikan steel nibs are some of the highest quality steel fountain pen nibs out there, and Pelikan's steel nibs write relatively true to size, as opposed to their gold nibs, which in my experience run extremely wide. I'd characterize the fine nib on my pen as a true western fine, but it definitely had enough tipping material to grind into a smooth cursive italic. 

The line variation on this fine cursive italic is excellent. The ink used in this writing sample is Iroshizuku Asa-gao. 

Otherwise, the M205 is your typical well-constructed Pelikan. The piston mechanism is smooth and reliable. The only potential issue I can spot with this pen's construction is the size: the M205 is relatively small, and the grip section is relatively short. If you tend to hold your pens high up on the section, the threading on this pen may cause you problems. I don't write with a death grip, and I tend to hold my pens fairly close to the nib, so it hasn't been an issue for me. The pen posts nicely, and given its compact size, I need to post to use it comfortably for more than short notes. 

Overall Impressions

The Pelikan M205 is a sturdy, versatile little pen that fills a niche in my collection. Part of my love for this pen is nostalgia, since the blue demonstrator version is a reissuance of one of my early "grail" pens that I missed out on the first time around. My main criticism is price: I do think that this pen is a little high at $140, but I don't think it's a bad deal. Pelikan's steel nibs tend to write very well out of the box, and I you get a step up in quality and reliability from something like a TWSBI 580. The real competitor at this price point would be a pen like the Lamy 2000 or the Pilot Custom Heritage 92, both of which you can find with a gold nib for less money. However, the Pelikan M205 has the option of interchangeable nibs, and features Pelikan's distinctive design. I also love the color of this blue demonstrator, and I wasn't going to miss it a second time.

Where to Buy

PenChalet currently has the M205 transparent blue in stock in all nib sizes (EF-B), priced at $140 before any applicable discount. Pelikan categorizes the M205 Transparent Blue as a "Special Edition", which I understand means that there won't be a fixed quantity (like a "Limited Edition"), but the pen will only be manufactured for a limited amount of time - probably a year. If the design and the color of the pen appeal to you, don't hesitate like I did five years ago.  For a limited time, there is also an Amethyst Demonstrator (to match last year's Pelikan Edelstein Ink of the Year), and the upcoming Aquamarine Demonstrator. I might be adding both to my collection soon!

Disclaimer: PenChalet provided me with this pen at a discount for review purposes. This post also contains affiliate links. 

Now that the post-DC Pen Show hangover has passed me by, it's time to get back to the basics. A lot of new products have launched over the past couple weeks, and there have been a ton of reviews and other pieces written during my recent travels. Enjoy!

1. Laywines Fine Writing. Azizah at Gourmet Pens took a trip to Laywines Fine Writing in Toronto. I love a good pen store profile, and this ship looks amazing. 
2. Inky Fingers Notebooks. If you haven't tried Matt Armstrong's new Inky Fingers Notebooks yet, please do so. I picked up one of the pocket-sized "currently inked" notebooks at the 2016 D.C. Pen Show and I've enjoyed using it as one of the inserts in my Galen Leather notebook cover. 
3. Guide to Handheld Pencil Sharpeners. CW Pencil Enterprise posted this comprehensive guide to handheld sharpeners on their blog. Well worth a read. KUM Masterpiece FTW. 
4. Pen Addict Retro 51. Blink and you missed it! Like me. I was tuned out for a couple days this week due to work commitments and didn't get a chance to grab one of these. If you did, they look awesome! Hope this is the first of many collaborations. 
5. Nock Co. Sinclair. Ian from Pens! Paper! Pencils! shows us how he uses the Nock Co. Sinclair case (one of the most versatile pen cases out there, IMHO, as part of his portable sketching kit. 
6. Vintage Stainless Striped Pilot Pens. Mike Dudek over at The Clicky Post published a video review of the vintage Pilot Pens from the 1970s he's been collecting. I recently acquired my first Pilot Myu, so watch for a review in the coming months! 
7. Interview with Sebastian Gutberlet of Kaweco. Bob from My Pen Needs Ink wrote up this great piece, which is chock full of insight into new things that Kaweco will be introducing in the coming year. (Rhodium plated 14k gold nibs? Yes please!).
8. Anne Trubek is Back. She doesn't mince words this time, with the latest opinion piece titled "Handwriting just doesn't matter." This one's a little out there. Among other things: typing is superior to handwriting in all instances because it is "faster," and people are "writing more than they ever did" because they use Twitter and Social Media (??!!?).  I know it's clearly labeled as an opinion piece, but NYTimes, come on...
9. Work Habits Manifesto. On the other hand, I enjoyed this piece by Jimmy Daly, who writes the Swipe File newsletter. Among other things, "Buy yourself a notebook and pen you love. Spend enough on them that it feels a little uncomfortable. This is a subtle way to remind yourself to actually use them."  

Please Visit My Sponsors

Please take a moment to visit my sponsors, who help keep this blog going! 

1. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc. Among other things, they have a great deal on the Parker Sonnet Great Expectations Edition with a Parker Notepad at 50% off.     
2. Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of Sailor's Bespoke line (one of only three worldwide). They also recently added Robert Oster Inks to their lineup.
3. Tom Barrington Leather Goods. A big thank you to Tom Barrington Leather Goods, which offers a wide array of pen holders, glasses cases, iPhone and iPad sleeves, watch straps, and other quality leather products.   
4. Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests.

Good Deals and Drops

1. Kaweco AL-Sport Fountain Pen. Nice price here. (via Massdrop)
2. Karas Kustoms Render K. A chance to grab one at a discount. (via Massdrop)
3. Fisher Space Pen 2-pack. A great pocket pen, especially if you need one that writes anywhere. (via Massdrop)
4. Lamy AL-Star. Looking to upgrade your Safari? Start here. (via Massdrop)
5. Das 4C Mechanical Keyboard. Looking to get started with a mechanical keyboard? This is a great one, at a great price. (via Massdrop)
6. Lamy 2000. If you haven't added one of these to your collection, here's a nice price on the medium nib. (via Amazon)
7. Sailor Yama Dori. I can't wait for the new colors to come out, but in the mean time stock up on the current line. Also check out Kiwa-Guro and Souten. (via Amazon)
8. Pilot Custom Heritage 92. Continues to be one of the better pen buys out there, especially in the colored demonstrator versions. (via Amazon)
9. Nanami Paper Seven Seas Standard. This Tomoe River Journal is a great journal for long-form writing. I use the lined and "Crossfield" versions (not currently in stock), but the blank version is nice as well. (via Amazon)

Digital Divide No. 6: Burnout Edition

"Digital Divide" is my monthly newsletter devoted to discussing the divide between the "digital" and "analog" parts of our lives, the benefits of making time for analog tools and workflows, and why people draw the line where they do. Issue 6 of Digital Divide discusses the concept of burnout, which has really made the rounds on podcasts and blogs recently. If you're not a subscriber to Digital Divide, and would like to join up, use the link on the sidebar. 

In Case You Missed It …

This week on the blog I reviewed the Write Notepads Kindred Spirit Edition, as well as the Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue Demonstrator, a pen that I've been coveting for quite some time. On Friday, I tried something new and wrote a "news update" piece on three pen and pencil-related Kickstarter projects that recently launched. 

The San Francisco Pen Show is this Coming Weekend

Last but not least, if you're in the Bay Area this coming weekend (August 26-28), the San Francisco Pen Show will take place. Please be sure to visit Anderson Pens, Vanness Pens, and Franklin-Christoph, all of whom will be bringing a TON of pens and ink, and who are driving a very long way to attend.  

DISCLAIMER:  This post contains affiliate links.

J. Herbin recently introduced their latest entry in the 1670 Line of Inks: Caroube de Chypre. 

J. Herbin has gone all-in on their "1670 Anniversary" line of inks, releasing their fifth ink in this line, Caroube de Chypre (Carob of Cyprus, or Cypriot Carob). The color is a nice reddish brown, and yes, the ink does contain the signature gold flakes. If, like me, you need a pronunciation lesson, check out this short video. 

Even after shaking the bottle and filling, the gold sheen was less pronounced in my bottle of Caroube de Chypre than in my bottle of Emerald of Chivor, though this probably has something to do with the fine italic nib that I used. You can see the distribution of gold flecks in this Macro Shot. 

The red in Caroube de Chypre really emerges when used in a finer nib. The pen I've used for this review is my Scriptorium Balladeer, outfitted with a Franklin-Christoph 14k fine cursive italic nib that I picked up at this year's D.C. Pen Show. I'm sure this ink would look even more interesting in a broad, wet stub (and probably would show off the gold sheen better), but I don't really have many broad nibs since they don't fit my handwriting and generally aren't practical for my day-to-day needs.

In terms of how it behaves (bleed/dry time, etc.), Caroube de Chypre is comparable to Emerald of Chivor, which I've reviewed here on the blog. I do think that Caroube de Chypre dries slightly quicker, because I've had fewer issues with smearing. Perhaps because of the reddish tint to the ink, the gold-flecks are a touch more understated and only really emerge when light hits the ink directly. 

A writing sample of J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre in my Hobonichi Techo. 

Regardless of whether you can or want to take full advantage of the gold dust sheen, Caroube de Chypre is a nice reddish brown ink that is easy on the eyes. I've enjoyed the last two J. Herbin Anniversary inks (this one and the Emerald of Chivor), and even though I like to poke fun at the "glitter ink" phenomenon from time to time, the effect is subtle enough in these past two inks that I've occasionally been able to use these inks at work (in a very staid environment) without comment. As I've said before, the Herbin 1670 inks aren't inks that I use everyday, but I enjoy having them as options because they bring something different to the table. They're also festive, so as we head into the fall (and eventually, the holiday season), they'll get more use. 

Where to Buy

Pen Chalet currently has J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre in stock, priced at the standard rate for J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Ink ($24). Pen Chalet also offers the full range of other Herbin 1670 inks, including Rouge Hematite, Ocean Blue, Stormy Grey, and Emerald of Chivor.

Further Reading

The be-all, end-all review of Caroube de Chypre (at least in my mind) is Ed Jelley's video review of this ink that he did with a folded nib.  Ed really captures the ink's special properties.

Disclaimer: Pen Chalet sent me this bottle of ink at no charge for review purposes. This post also contains affiliate links.