Is there any particularly good shops in Toronto for buying ink? Alternatively, are there any mail-order places in Canada with a good selection?

When I'm in Toronto I always pop into Laywine's at 25 Bellair (off Bloor West near Bay) and the three B. Sleuth & Statesman stores (yes, three) in the Exchange Tower at 130 King West.

Happy hunting and tell the people at Laywine's that Jamie from ACTRA says hello.

Thanks, I will do that! Looking forward to seeing what they have.

I am happy to read the recommendations for TO as I'll be visiting sometime in February. Thanks

Regarding Canadian mail order places there is http://www.stylo.ca, based in Montreal. They will have Noodler's soon and they may have others. Not affiliated in any way, just used to visit their store downtown once in a while many years ago, and marveled at the manager's patience when one Friday night I broke a bottle of green ink (Herbin, which is washable, thankfully) on the tile floor just before closing.... oops!

Laywine's is good for inks and paper stuff but their pens are EXPENSIVE. Even with brokerage fees and shipping from states you can get what they got at half of the price.
Ink selection is nice and prices are not TOO bad.

You may also want to check out Essence du Papier (North of Yonge and Eglinton). You can buy 100ml Visconti bottles there



Mame

Well, I'll let you know what the shops are like after I visit next week. I don't think I'll make it to all the ones that have been recommended, but I should have a chance to visit a couple. I've told my friends that we're visiting a shop where I can get ink and this is non-negotiable, but there's probably a limit to how many shops I can drag them into.

Good to know. I go to Michigan every 2-3 months to visit a friend and go to science fiction conventions, so I might also have the chance to look around there. It would be nice if I can bring them with me. I have no problem with claiming my purchases at the border and paying duty on them, but those outrageously high brokerage fees you get hit with sometimes really burn my bacon.



I'll have to see if I can get there sometime! I don't know if I'll make it this weekend, but on one of my trips I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!