Paper help please.

[Calv]

I'll apologise now as you've no doubt heard this a million times, but i need some direction on good writing paper. Either advice or direction to a thread which helps with this would be most appreciated.

 

I'll start by saying i have very little knowledge of the qualities and characteristics of writing paper, so the technical jargon may baffle me at first.

 

All i know is that up until now, i have just used any paper that i find nice to write on. I love cream coloured paper, and the Basildon Bond pads have seen me through till now, but only as these are the only semi good ones in the shop around here. I now see there are more out there.

 

Any recommendations to good paper websites or similar?

 

I'm not a millionaire, so i would'nt pay the earth for paper, then again i do class it as a neccessity to use nice paper so i would push the boat out a little.

 

Thank you for any advice on this.

 

Calv.

[chud]

I personally like Clairefontaine. Rhodia is also popular, as are a variety of bound journals and notebooks. I can get most of these in town, but you can also order a good variety from www.pendemonium.com. I'm sure Google can suggest many other alternative outlets as well.

 

Cheers,

-C

[Scribbles]

I just recently got some Ampad Gold Fibre legal pads based on the recommendation of an earlier thread posted to the forum. They work really well with the ink and fountain pens I have here and they were not that expensive. They were like $12 for a pack of 5 at Staples. I'm sure other office stores have them as well. Make sure you get the 20lb version. Unfortunately they only come in white and canary.

 

I'd want something without the micropref for journaling but I use the pads for note taking and letter writing daily.

 

Its also worth noting that some have had issues with the planning pad (quad/grid ruled) so I might avoid that type (or at least I'd only buy one to try... not a pack of 5).

 

[Edited to add some additional information]

Edited November 12, 2006 by Scribbles

[jbb]

I like Black 'n Red for legal pads and note books. I like both Southworth and Eaton papers for nice ivory colored writing paper.

[sonia_simone]

As you are in the UK, Black & Red will be easy to find and has very good paper for FPs. If you want something slightly nicer, find Clairefontaine. They have ruled notebooks in various configurations, or they make a stationery called "Triomphe" that is ruled or blank A4 sheets in a tablet. Clairefontaine's paper is extremely smooth and a delight to write on.

 

Really nice, smooth cream colored paper is a little harder to find in my experience.

[a11en]

These guys are definitely steering you in the right direction! Excellent advice all around. For every day work, I am using either BlackNRed letter pads in my folio (Sam's club ships to your door if you're having trouble finding them).

 

But, it sounds like you may be talking more about fancier not-so-everyday papers. I've heard good things about G.Lalo, and I have and love a pad of Clairfontaine's Triomphe paper. [it's like skating on an ice-rink- it's amazingly smooth.] I've had some success with Moleskine journals and spiral bound books.

 

Hope this helps!

-Allen

 

ps- also, for a decent everyday paper that can also go through the inkjet, HP makes a nice 24# inkjet paper for around $7 a ream. They also make a very nice 32# Bright-white laser-jet paper that is quite smooth with FP's, and approx. $16 or so a ream I think (I may have that wrong.)

[TMLee]

Have a look at Conqueror paper...

 

I am enjoying my Parchment range - its cream colored too ... extremely FP friendly ...

 

good stuff... bought a 100sheet packet.

 

Then I stylise it with personal imprints . motifs and such .... for my handwritten letters ...

 

http://www.conqueror.com/office_site/basem...sp?market=uk_bc

[Yuri]

I have couple sample sheets of that paper, AKA CX22 by Arjo Wigins. Great paper, very FP friendly. Unfortunately, it is hard to find in US.

[Judybug]

I like Black 'n Red for legal pads and note books. I like both Southworth and Eaton papers for nice ivory colored writing paper.

jbb,

 

Where do you find Eaton papers these days? I haven't seen it in years. Always liked Eaton papers.

 

Judybug

[FLZapped]

One of the qualities you want to look for is that the paper is acid free. that way, it will last longer.

 

I think if you go through the archives here, you'll find lots and lots of acceptable papers exist.

 

-Bruce

[jbb]

Where do you find Eaton papers these days?  I haven't seen it in years.  Always liked Eaton papers.

 

Judybug

I don't where you can buy Eaton paper. I inherited some of mine and the rest probably came from thrift stores or yard sales.

[JakobS]

Where do you find Eaton papers these days? I haven't seen it in years. Always liked Eaton papers.

 

Judybug

I don't where you can buy Eaton paper. I inherited some of mine and the rest probably came from thrift stores or yard sales.

 

 

You can find Eaton paper under the Southworth name( though some boxes with the Eaton name still can be found on their shelves!) at any Office Max, or Office Depot in a number of styles. Originally, I was using it for typewriting paper for my old Royals, but now I've been using it for letter writing and am finding it not only FP friendly (25-lb paper) but smooth and absorbs ink(Pelikan Brillant Black) beautifully, very stark on the page! I use Clairefontaine and Rhodia notebooks but I think I will stay with Eaton for my loose paper writing, its fantastic!

Edited June 20, 2007 by JakobS

[Judybug]

You can find Eaton paper under the Southworth name( though some boxes with the Eaton name still can be found on their shelves!) at any Office Max in a number of styles. Originally, I was using it for typewriting paper for my old Royals, but now I've been using it for letter writing and am finding it not only FP friendly (25-lb paper) but smooth and absorbs ink(Pelikan Brillant Black) beautifully, very stark on the page! I use Clairefontaine and Rhodia notebooks but I think I will stay with Eaton for my loose paper writing, its fantastic!

 

When I was a child - just a few years ago :ltcapd: my mother used to buy Eaton stationery (half sheet size) by the pound at our local office supply. Envelopes were sold separately. It came in a variety of colors. My favorite was a beautiful slate blue with deckle edges. I used the last of it recently

 

Judybug

 

[angel]

"for a decent everyday paper that can also go through the inkjet, HP makes a nice 24# inkjet paper for around $7 a ream. They also make a very nice 32# Bright-white laser-jet paper that is quite smooth with FP's, and approx. $16 or so a ream I think (I may have that wrong.)"

 

Allen, would you know if the HP 24# is the same as the HP Everyday multifunction paper with 80gsm?

[pressurewave]

Also a big fan of the Rhodia paper - the Rhodia stapled notebooks are about $4 a piece for the biggest size and they are oh so smooth with a Fountain Pen. I, too, buy it from Pendemonium, but I know they carry it at The Daily Planner, and actually, exaclair has a list of where Rhodia stuff is sold online:

 

http://exaclair.com/purchase_online.shtml

[JohnS-MI]

"for a decent everyday paper that can also go through the inkjet, HP makes a nice 24# inkjet paper for around $7 a ream. They also make a very nice 32# Bright-white laser-jet paper that is quite smooth with FP's, and approx. $16 or so a ream I think (I may have that wrong.)"

 

Allen, would you know if the HP 24# is the same as the HP Everyday multifunction paper with 80gsm?

 

Most likely, it isn't. 80 gsm paper would translate to about 21 lb in the US system. 20 lb (75 gsm) is the ubiquitous copy paper EVERYBODY offers in the US. Most of it is NOT FP-friendly.

 

[penartist]

I have been using a Graphic Image journal "Skull & Bones" on the cover. The paper is smooth, and off-white/cream color. Very fountain pen friendly. Bought one off Ebay and one at Barnes and Noble.

At first I thought the Skull and Crossbones illustration on the cover was a bit odd to me, but I don't mind it. I like the paper too much to care.

 

 

[DilettanteG]

FYI: I'm currently selling some of these notebooks and journals in The Marketplace as I downsize my collection. I hope this hasn't colored my observations, but I feel I should disclose that none the less.

 

When I'm looking for fountain pen friendly paper these are the issues I consider:

 

1- Smearing

2- Feathering

3- Bleed through (The ink actually soaks right through the page)

4- Shade through (The ink is visible as darker spots on the opposite side of the page.)

5- Dry time

6- Smoothness

7- Lined or unlined

8- Color and size

9- Bound or unbound

 

Smearing, and long drying times are dramatically increased by coated paper. It feels smooth, but not fountain pen friendly at all. Some inks will take forever to dry (Levenger's Cobalt springs to mind) on any paper, so you'll have to think about that as well.

 

Feathering seems to show up on less dense papers. All the recycled ones I've tried have fit into this category.

 

Bleed through is a problem on thin papers. Exceptions I've found are Smythson's pale blue feather weight and Crane's Airmail. Crane's has discontinued this lovely line, so I've had to pick mine up one eBay.

 

Shade Through is a problem on all but the thickest papers if you like to use heavily saturated ink, like I do. The only exception I've found is Crane's 32 pound, kidskin finish, social stationery. It's great stuff, but both pricey and thick.

 

I don't like 'toothy paper' so G. Lalo and Southworth are off my list. Both are very nice papers, so if you don't like the ice skating effect you might try them.

 

Keeping the above in mind, here are my recommendations based on those I've tried:

 

Leather Bound Journals:

 

Graphic Image: Lined or Unlined Cream colored paper bound in Calf or Kidskin. They have both hard cover and soft covered in several sizes. The bindings are beautifully sewn. Crane sells this as their house brand, but you can find it at Scribe's Delight and else where. An 8" x 6" will set you back about $79 and I intend to get some with personalized silver, gold, or blind leather stamping on the cover. These are my all time favorite journals to date. I like the 8" x 6" since I my hand writing is on the large size. They carry an extra-large 9 x 12, but it is a veritable tome of a book which weighs at least five pounds. I also have an older, unlined soft covered Crane's branded journal which seems to be filled with Water Color paper. It's like writing on a sponge, but I don't know if they still make these.

 

Epica: unlined and cream colored pages with beautiful binding. My last one was 4" x 6", had 400 pages, lovely hand sewn binding made in Italy and costs $70 retail. Avoid the Amalifi hand made paper version as it is like writing on a sponge, from what I've read.

 

Oberon: Refillable leather covers that wear like iron hold black, hard cover white, unlined notebook. Smooth Fountain pen frindly paper is a true white so you can actually get a good read on your ink color. I only use one side of each page, as the shading is quite heavy. Journals with covers are expensive, but the refills can be had for reasonale prices on Oberon.com.

 

Fiorentina: lined cream colored pages (there may be unlined as well.) Covers are not as nice, nor is the paper, or the bindings. But you can pick them up at most major chains for $25 or so for the smaller sizes.

 

Smythson: Their Blue Feather light paper is thin and heavenly. Their White Wove is way too toothy for me. The Smyth sewn bindings are lovely as is their textured leather covers. Leather stamping is available. These babies are crazy expensive with pocket sized notebooks starting at $75 and larger ones going for $200 and up. However, they have an annual sale and you can find them on eBay.

 

Tablets

 

Smythson: Lovely, but insanely expensive. I haven't tried their white, ruled tablets, but the blue featherweight is designed for fountain pens and a favorite luxury with me.

 

TOPS Docket Gold: Much cheaper and available at Staples. Nice when you're burning through paper, but not my favorite. I've only tried the white, lined version.

 

Ampad Gold Fiber: Similar to the above with nice, heavy card board backing. Also quite affordable, but again I've only tried the white, lined version.

 

Southworth Watermarked series 1839: You can get them on the Southworth website. I paid about $2 a tablet. The toothiest paper I'd recommend, but the quality is good. You'll need to put the included sheet of black paper under the page to see the lines.

 

Clairefontaine: Silky smooth, lined or unlined, white paper. Pricey, but my hands down favorite pad.

 

Rhodia: Very similar to Clairefontaine, but I’m put off by the bright orange front cover. Also pricey.

Unbound Stationery:

 

Crane’s: their social stationery is everything I like: smooth and no issues with fountain pens. One of these days I’ll get some engraved stock. Their flat cards are nice and thick, but their fold over notes are too thin for my tastes. Size and color options very, but white and ecru (cream) are always in stock.

 

Pineider: Much thinner sheets, but utterly heavenly as well. Unlike Crane’s they can get really nice water cut, deckled edges and tissue lined envelopes. Italian made and even more expensive than Crane’s unless you find a deal, which eBay often has on discontinued models. I have yet to see a true white piece of Pineider, it’s all cream to pale yellow/tan or colored.

 

Dempsey and Carroll: Another perennial favorite for me, the sheets are thinner than Crane’s and excellent quality. Smooth, dense, and FPN friendly paper comes in three different weights that I’ve tried, and a new extra heavy version that I haven’t. They make my favorite brand of fold overs and their engraving is really exquisite. (Paper usually comes in white, ecru, or Dempsey blue only.)

 

Smythson: Not too crazy about their cards or sheets as they’re toothy. Astronomically expensive when engraved, they’re very nice but I prefer the other two.

 

Other brands I’ve tried include G. Lalo (toothy woven stuff), William Arthur (cheap and rough), Pepperpot (mediocre quality, great price), and Southworth (too toothy),

 

Hope that helped. One of these days I'll do some proper reviews with samples.

Edited July 9, 2007 by DilettanteG