Pen And Paper Shopping Guide To Finland

[Mangrove]

HELSINKI

 

The Academic Bookstore (Downtown)

Keskuskatu 1 - www.akateeminen.com

 

Supposedly the largest bookstore in the Nordic countries. Carries limited selection of Cross, Parker and Waterman fountain, rollerball and ballpoint pens but also Pigma Microns, Edding and Uniball pigment pens. For example Waterman Hémisphère fountain pen costs 78.90 €, Microns 2.50 € and Eddings 1.70 €. Has some selection on stationery: ELCO, Moleskine, Royal Paper and generic Finnish brands. E.g. ELCO James Satiné A6/20 cards costs 5.50€.

 

Tempera

Uudenmaankatu 16 - www.tempera.fi

 

The largest and probably the best art supply store in Helsinki. Represents Caran d'Ache brand and other than selling their chalks and colour pencils, has a small selection of their fountain, roller and ballpoint pens. Dunnas rollerball costs 46.40 €, Clou de Paris ballpoint 141.15 € and Leman fountain pen 432.50 €. Again small selection of dip and fountain pen inks, such as Rohrers Antiktusche (100 ml / 9.50 €), Pelikan cartridges and bottles & Parker Royal Blue Quink (57 ml / 6.95 €). Carries also dip pen nibs and Copic brands, a Multiliner SP costs 7.95 € a piece. The best paper selection I have seen in Helsinki: Fabriano, Schoellershammer, Hahnemühle and Lana.

 

Suomalainen

Several stores around Helsinki - www.suomalainen.com

 

Your average bookstore. Small selection of Pilot pencils, rollerballs & ballpoint pens and two Parker fountain pen models. Parker Urban fountain pen will fetch for 39.95 € and Parker IM 29.00 €. 57 ml bottle of Parker Quink costs 7.95 €. Canson and ELCO are the only brands of stationery other than generic Finnish brands. Canson "1557" A5/180g pad containing 120 leaves costs 5.50 €.

[DrNik]

Hm, slim pickings..

Still, it beats what we have here in Tartu and, as far as I can tell, in Tallinn - a few low-end Parkers in office supply stores, Moleskine in book shops, and an occasional Leuchtturm notebook.

[Mangrove]

Verkkokauppa.com

Tyynenmerenkatu 11 - www.verkkokauppa.com

 

Interesting enough, an electronics retailer with a huge store in new Jätkäsaari district of Helsinki. Deals with Cross fountain pens (e.g. Cross Century II is 91.90 €) and Faber-Castel pencils. However most of their Cross products are not available through the store but have to be ordered in advance. Also very basic set of stationery.

[JeanManuel]

There should be a finnish brand of fountain pens with wooden bodies.

[Mangrove]

There should be a finnish brand of fountain pens with wooden bodies.

 

I would love to see a birch bark fountain pen. Imagine a dark and light brown striped Art Deco style bark body with a gold tip.

Edited December 23, 2012 by Martti Kujansuu

[JeanManuel]

There should be a finnish brand of fountain pens with wooden bodies.

 

I would love to see a birch bark fountain pen. Imagine a dark and light brown striped Art Deco style bark body with a gold tip.

 

That's an idea, perhaps with something similar to japanese cherry-bark-coating technique it would work.

But the Finnish philosophy is more about functional ascetism, isn't it? I was thinking something simple, like nakayas but rougher looking, and perhaps with a forged nib.

http://www.nakaya.org/products/IMAGES/BODY/04004(2).jpg

[JeanManuel]

On huuhto.net, it is possible to find nice old fountain pens, sometimes for a good price. Much better than on FPN "classifieds" anyways.

Edited December 23, 2012 by JeanManuel

[Mangrove]

But the Finnish philosophy is more about functional ascetism, isn't it? I was thinking something simple, like nakayas but rougher looking, and perhaps with a forged nib.

 

Stacked birch bark is functional, durable and provides a good grip.

Photo: http://www.apr-tuote.com/

 

http://www.apr-tuote.com/images/puukko1.jpg

[JeanManuel]

Stacked birch bark is functional, durable and provides a good grip.

[trauha]

On huuhto.net, it is possible to find nice old fountain pens, sometimes for a good price. Much better than on FPN "classifieds" anyways.

The correct site is spelled: www.huuto.net