stationery-matters

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There is exciting but as yet unsubstantiated news that Visconti will soon announce their latest pen, “Neanderthal”. The word on the street is that compared to “Homo Sapiens” it will have a squatter design, more rudimentary components, and lower cost. Another selling point is that it will have superior cold weather performance. It’s also rumored to have a limited run, so if you see them, grab yours before they vanish.

Photo: Unidentified men at the Milano pen show suspected to be associated with “Neanderthal”.

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So I’m having a great time with the hobby until my wife calls to say she left a day early and is driving into the neighborhood right now.😑

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My current inked pens (r to l) and the roles they play:

1. Waterman 7 lever filler for the novelty of using a very old ebonite pen and its bouncy medium flex “red” nib. It’s filled with Pelikan blue black.

2. Platinum 3776 (“Black Diamond” variant with rhodium trim) converter filler for its Japanese extra fine nib that produces an exquisitely thin line. It has Platinum’s blue.

3. Montblanc 149 piston filler for its classic design and a John Mottishaw EF nib. I’m using Rohrer and Klingner Salix (iron gall ink).

4. Parker 75 (USA) converter filler for its ergonomics (nib can be rotated relative to the beveled grip so you can set your preferred writing position every time you hold the pen) and a spherical tipped medium nib that writes at almost any angle. I also love the sterling silver cap and barrel with a cisele pattern. It’s filled with Montblanc Oyster Grey.

5. Parker 51 vacumatic, medium nib for its legendary reputation of form and function. It also has sentimental value; it was my deceased uncle’s pen from 1947 and a 51 was also my first fountain pen. I also like that its hooded nib doesn’t draw attention in public. It has Pelikan royal blue.

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I thought you might like to see my rubber stamps which I use to make fanciful envelopes for correspondence. It sort of brings together my love of travel, stationery, letter writing with fountain pens, and postal marks. I especially like the South Seas/marine theme for the exotic vibes. Some of the more amusing stamps were originally created by Nick Bantock. Some are facsimiles of postal marks of Tin Can Mail, the fascinating postal history of Tonga. Most of the fish stamp images were originally imprinted by the traditional Japanese technique called gyotaku.

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A Platinum 3776 with a 14k fine nib. It writes like a western extra fine. Beautiful line. I bought it in Seoul. I was impressed by the salesperson’s expertise in selecting the best nib for me. Better service than most retailers I have experienced in the states.

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India inks added to water and paper laid on top to capture marbling effect.

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Signo uni-ball um-151, black. Recommended for check writing to prevent check washing. The 0.38 mm point is a bit too fine, so I also ordered a box of 0.5 mm in blue black.

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A 1947 Parker 51 vacumatic with a 14k medium nib. It’s filling mechanism requires restoration, but otherwise appears okay. Stay tuned.

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This template makes it easy to use whatever paper you have on hand to create envelopes.

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Here’s a gel pen that’s been recommended for check writing. It won’t be erased by conventional methods of check washing.

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A Platinum 3776 (platinum trim) with a smooth extra fine 14kt nib. Japanese are very good at making the finer nibs. Purchased in Seoul, summer 2022.

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A Waterman Red Ripple #7 with a smooth medium flex nib. Introduced in 1927

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Faux postal marks by Nick Bantock

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Some fun rubber stamps, most invented by Nick Bantock.

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Re: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I mentioned to the publisher that a ballpoint pen would not have been available to a German soldier during WW2, and they listened. The author presciently wrote, “one among a vast series of trivial problems he must put right.”😁 The error is found on page 286.