I recently decided that I really liked the post quarto size of stationery for snailing and discovered via the web that Basildon Bond do a whole range of writing paper and envelopes in this size and in a range of colours. They also advertise their range to be 'fountain pen friendly', so I just had to get some to try them out.

Having gone to WH Smiths, I discovered this was the case AND that they also manufacture post quarto airmail stationery.

I had a bit of a field day looking through all the stock and bought white, champagne and pink (well, it is my favourite colour!) writing pads and envelopes, but still wasn't convinced of the quality. For some reason, I had the impression that Basildon Bond stuff was a bit naff and rubbish.

However, I couldn't have been more wrong!

The quality of the paper and envelopes is fanatastic; not smooth and glassy like Clairefontaine, but certainly smooth enough AND FP friendly.

Also, I am pleased to have found decent quality airmail paper..... it has reduced the cost of a letter by HALF!!! (Not that I am a tight wad, but we are experiencing some economic traumas at present, don'tcha know?)

I just wanted to share this info with everyone that has access to these products, as they are great quality and great value, coming in at under £2 each for post quarto paper and envelopes.



Leonie



Basildon Bond website

I recently found an old pad of Basildon Bond writing paper and was pleasantly surprised at how well it took fountain pen ink.

It is a bit of a bargain too.

I hadn't thought of trying their airmail paper - thanks for the recommendation.

The airmail stuff is nice. I generally like most Basildon Bond paper... been using it for years, it is a good standby.

Their writing pads are excellent, and they also have two pages of blotting paper and a line guide with each pad.

No C5 envelopes though

I will be sticking to Rhodia paper / Conqueror envelopes for the foreseeable future

Basildon Bond is good stuff - I found a 1980s-vintage A4 pad in our bureau desk a few months back.

OK, but you have to admit that Conqueror is in a completely different price-bracket...I don't know about Rhodia.

BB is amazing VFM.... Dickinson also used to make a super-smooth paper called Queen's velvet, which I liked a lot.

It is one of my old standards too - have been using it for years, although the range here gets smaller and smaller and less colour choices now. But it is a good old friend.

Another Basildon Bond fan here.

I used to write, with both fountain pen and crow quill dip pen, using Parker Quink Black, and had no problems whatsoever.

However, as inkypete says, it's getting harder and harder to find in Aus.

Ironically I found my last lot at a local newsagency.