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Igraine
April 1st, 2021, 12:05 PM
I am so regretting all the times I’ve come across high end stationary in boutique-type stores, and thought “I should buy this” and then, “Nah, I don’t write letters to anyone, what’s the use?”

What I do see, in local card shops and such, is cheap, boring stationary sets. I don’t have to have something with matching envelopes, but I do like decorative envelopes. My current favorite papers for fountain pens are Tomoe River, and Munken, the latter being a slightly toothy non-coated Swedish paper that comes in Nuuna journals. I do not like really smooth papers, like Rhodia, though I’m not totally against Clairefontaine, which although smooth, seems a touch more absorbent than Rhodia.

Does anyone know of any online shops that sell nice stationary, or can anyone recommend a brand or type that they use for their own letter writing? I prefer A5 size or larger. Cost isn’t an issue, I want something nice and will pay for quality. I prefer not to have to wait half a year for shipping. As it stands right now, my only choices are either a Tomoe River or Clairefontaine pad.

Thanks for any advice!

FredRydr
April 1st, 2021, 12:16 PM
You should include your location in your profile, which will help with replies.

If in the USA, I recommend this vendor who brings a lot of fine stationaries to the pen shows, and then discounts it. Like us, Alan is a pen collector and treats us well.

Alan Cohen
Office Supplies & More - Crazy Alan's Emporium
1129 Weaver Dairy Rd Ste Q
Chapel Hill NC 27514
https://www.facebook.com/officesuppliesndmore

Igraine
April 1st, 2021, 05:44 PM
You should include your location in your profile, which will help with replies.

If in the USA, I recommend this vendor who brings a lot of fine stationaries to the pen shows, and then discounts it. Like us, Alan is a pen collector and treats us well.

Alan Cohen
Office Supplies & More - Crazy Alan's Emporium
1129 Weaver Dairy Rd Ste Q
Chapel Hill NC 27514
https://www.facebook.com/officesuppliesndmore

Sorry, didn’t even think of that. I’m in the US. Thanks for your reply, I will check him out. Hopefully it’s not Facebook only, as I don’t use Facebook.

FredRydr
April 1st, 2021, 07:35 PM
...Hopefully it’s not Facebook only, as I don’t use Facebook.
I don't either, but you can see enough through your browser for email and phone contact info.

Ole Juul
April 1st, 2021, 08:02 PM
I seems that's not a public page. :(

Jon Szanto
April 1st, 2021, 08:17 PM
Info on Book of Faces:

Crazy Alan's Emporium
1129 Weaver Dairy Rd,
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-8595

https://twitter.com/OSuppliesndmore

I've never done business with them but I'd trust Fred for any advice. Well...

FredRydr
April 2nd, 2021, 06:02 AM
If you speak with Alan, you might mention your fountain pen interests and that you look forward to seeing him (i.e., buying more) at the next pen show. I have a habit of loading up at pen shows.

Oh, if you want exquisite paper and are willing to pay for it, see comments about Amalfi: https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/31670-Amalfi-Angel-from-Paper-Arts-of-Dallas

Sailor Kenshin
April 2nd, 2021, 07:24 AM
Stationary bike? :blink:

Igraine
April 2nd, 2021, 07:37 AM
If you speak with Alan, you might mention your fountain pen interests and that you look forward to seeing him (i.e., buying more) at the next pen show. I have a habit of loading up at pen shows.

Oh, if you want exquisite paper and are willing to pay for it, see comments about Amalfi: https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/31670-Amalfi-Angel-from-Paper-Arts-of-Dallas

I saw that thread, and love the looks of that paper...but being an artist, I have some experience trying to actually write on paper like that.
I prefer something smoother. I didn’t know Papyrus made stationary, I buy their pricey cards all the time. Will look into that brand today.

FredRydr
April 2nd, 2021, 07:52 AM
...I didn’t know Papyrus made stationary, I buy their pricey cards all the time. Will look into that brand today.
Papyrus used to have brick and mortar stores. They're gone, now, and I haven't yet seen the impact on their stationary line. My favorite is(was?) their plain deckled edge sheets and envelopes.

Yazeh
April 2nd, 2021, 08:16 AM
You can check Fred's post (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/31670-Amalfi-Angel-from-Paper-Arts-of-Dallas) or get the papers/ or envelope here (https://www.vickerey.com/amalfi.html):

If you're looking for toothy paper, I had the chance to get some handmade paper from Germany...The paper is toothy and spectacular... But the shipping wouldn't make it worthwhile and I'm sure there are better alternative in US...

FredRydr
April 2nd, 2021, 08:57 AM
...papers/ or envelope here (https://www.vickerey.com/amalfi.html)
Thank you for that link, for it appears Vickerey has other stationaries worth exploring, too: https://www.vickerey.com/paperie-shopbytype-stationery.html. Alan (above) carries G. Lalo, and I'll have to ask him about the others.

Igraine
April 2nd, 2021, 11:31 AM
...I didn’t know Papyrus made stationary, I buy their pricey cards all the time. Will look into that brand today.
Papyrus used to have brick and mortar stores. They're gone, now, and I haven't yet seen the impact on their stationary line. My favorite is(was?) their plain deckled edge sheets and envelopes.

Yes, there was a store in the town next to mine. I never paid much attention there to anything but the cards, but I do remember they had a table set up for people ordering invitations. Not much to be seen on the Papyrus website right now.

lsmith42
April 2nd, 2021, 03:27 PM
No clue where to buy stationary...

But for stationery, there are tons of choices... I look for my favorite brands at the best prices I can find. I have little loyalty to vendors. G Lalo, Crane, Smythson are a few traditionalists. Too many new entries in the space to count, some of them are probably very good.


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Igraine
April 3rd, 2021, 10:24 AM
Thanks so much, everyone. I am looking into all these options. I also need to find out how to get my hands on Munken loose paper, the kind that is used in Nuuna journals. The company has a website (Arctic Paper) but I haven’t figured it out yet. To me, their paper is perfection. Thick, sturdy, not slick feeling, no bleed through so back of the paper is pristine, and so pleasing to write on.

I was thinking about something last night....with gold being a soft material, could frequent writing on papers that are more toothy have an eventual negative effect on a gold nib?

Ole Juul
April 3rd, 2021, 11:34 AM
I was thinking about something last night....with gold being a soft material, could frequent writing on papers that are more toothy have an eventual negative effect on a gold nib?

For one, gold nibs are not "gold" as such, they're an alloy, usually about half copper in 14K nibs. But in addition to that, you're not writing on the "gold", you're writing on the tipping. Irindium, osmium, etc., are extremely hard metals.

Janinutah
April 3rd, 2021, 12:22 PM
My current favorite stationary is paper from the Yamamoto Fountain Pen Friendly paper collection which I purchased at Jet Pens. I just fold the sheets in half and put fountain pen ink art on them. (See Nick Stewart Quink and Bleach for ideas). Currently I am teaching a six week class on pens and inks at lifelong.utah.edu. My next class is Gothic- may 19.

Igraine
April 4th, 2021, 09:52 AM
I was thinking about something last night....with gold being a soft material, could frequent writing on papers that are more toothy have an eventual negative effect on a gold nib?

For one, gold nibs are not "gold" as such, they're an alloy, usually about half copper in 14K nibs. But in addition to that, you're not writing on the "gold", you're writing on the tipping. Irindium, osmium, etc., are extremely hard metals.

Ahh, thank you! I had no idea. I thought gold nibs were all gold. Good to know.

Igraine
April 5th, 2021, 10:21 AM
My current favorite stationary is paper from the Yamamoto Fountain Pen Friendly paper collection which I purchased at Jet Pens. I just fold the sheets in half and put fountain pen ink art on them. (See Nick Stewart Quink and Bleach for ideas). Currently I am teaching a six week class on pens and inks at lifelong.utah.edu. My next class is Gothic- may 19.

I have a Yamamoto notebook, which I like. Whenever I’ve looked at the sampler collection on Jetpens, it’s sold out. Will have to keep trying.

Boston Brian
April 6th, 2021, 07:43 PM
The British Company that make Basildon Bond and Three Candlesticks are first class. Available in several sizes, colors, and the best selling stationary sets in UK. Readily available on this side of the pond!

Ole Juul
April 6th, 2021, 08:18 PM
I was just looking in Staples, and noticed they had a fair selection of fancy envelopes and related.

lsmith42
April 7th, 2021, 12:11 AM
May your stationery always be stationary until you deem it otherwise...


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grainweevil
April 7th, 2021, 03:13 AM
The British Company that make Basildon Bond and Three Candlesticks are first class.

Part of Hamelin these days, and according to their website (https://uk.hamelinbrands.com/):

"Hamelin is a French owned family business..."

Every time this thread pops up in the new posts I have a terrible urge to say something like "Wise man looking for stationary must remain still and it will come to him." However, on a more practical note, one can navigate oneself around the stationary/stationery spelling quagmire by remembering E for Envelopes, or ER in papER.

BoBo Olson
October 14th, 2021, 12:16 PM
Shipping from Germany to the States costs 1/3 what it costs to mail the other way.
I pave Papyrus paper...is ok, nothing more.

M&K papers the only paper by Brunner worth owning, comes in two or three papers, one is a typewriter paper so is only write on the front side. I still have two, but my B&M carries it. In I don't do much on online...I would for that paper.

M&K was a big name in the '50-60's until it went under. I'm happily surprised Brunner continued making it a good paper and didn't try to take people with the name like that ball point pen paper that wasn't used by Hemingway...

BlkWhiteFilmPix
October 14th, 2021, 02:31 PM
Laywine's in Toronto has some very nice Pineider stationery (https://laywines.com/collections/pineider/products/pineider-par-avion-boxed-sheets-and-envelopes-set-24-sky-blue) that behaves very well with a broad, wet nib (https://www.bobsoltys.net/musings/paravion). Laywine's promptly shipped my order.

Paper truly has some nice postcards that look like a telegram (https://papertruly.com/telegram-stationery-set/). Price includes shipping, and the paper behaved nicely with fountain pen ink.

MHBRU
October 18th, 2021, 10:31 AM
Try Yoseka Stationery... US based. I've not purchased from them but them bookmarked for when i need something.
https://yosekastationery.com/

Papier Plume in New Orleans is another source. I have purchased from their store when i was in town. Good people.
https://www.papierplume.com/product-catalogue/stationery.html

no doubt many others but those two came to mind first

Chrissy
March 31st, 2023, 04:42 AM
I must have missed this thread when it first appeared. I don't nor ever would buy anything via Facebook. I've heard far too many bad stories about doing that. :(
I usually buy my stationery on Amazon or ebay or from online pen companies when they have offers on it. If I want a specific item I Google it and find the best total price (inc P&P) before I press any Buy Now buttons. :)

calamus
April 5th, 2023, 08:53 PM
Midori is a great Japanese paper that reminds me more of Clairefontaine than Tomoe River. It has a slight cream color. Jetpens.com carries it, and they offer free shipping on orders of $35 or more. They're pretty much my first stop whenever I'm thinking of buying ink or paper. I've even bought pens from them.

calamus
April 5th, 2023, 09:05 PM
Here's another thread about stationary shops: https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/39194-Brick-and-mortar?p=392472#post392472