I'm looking for a good, dependable, simple stationery. I'm torn between smooth and textured paper. I like the feel of textured paper in the hand, but I love the feel of a really smooth paper (like Apica) under the nib. I was going to try some Crane's stationery, but there are too many variants with too little description given on the Crane's website. (For instance, is Kid Finish super-smooth, or just a different texture?)

I'm also unsure about the paper size. I noticed that most of the Crane's stationery (and every type for which there were envelopes made) came in half-sheet size only. I've nothing against that size, but recently I wrote a six-page letter on standard 8.5x11 paper, and I have a feeling that filling fifteen or twenty of those half-size sheets for one letter violates a rule of etiquette or two. Or is the half-sheet the preferred size for letters, regardless of length?

I've tried G.Lalo, which is nice but a bit too textured for my taste; and Clairefontaine, which is rather uninteresting. I'd love to find something which is ecologically friendly, so I don't feel a twinge of tree-hugger's guilt with every letter I send.

Finally, I don't have a huge budget for this, so I'm hoping I can get some good advice here that will point me to one or two papers to try. I don't want to beg samples from FPN folks. I've received enough samples of things already, and have little in my collection worth sending in return. I'd feel somewhat parasitical.

So, any recommendations?

If there is a stationary shop in your area, I would suggest going to it. Even smaller ones tend to be authoirized Crane sellers, and thus have all of the showbooks and whatnot.

-Nkk

Ah, well, that's the thing. There isn't. Not unless you count Staples and one local store at which the staff doesn't think anyone uses fountain pens any more. I live in a blighted area when it comes to pens. It's a college town, and strictly a ballpoints and filler-paper sort of place.

Theoretically, I could go to Philadelphia to find some pen and stationery stores, but I couldn't afford to buy anything once I got there unless I siphon the gas for the trip out of other people's tanks.

Greetings,
I looked at the Staples web site and see that they carry Southworth specialty business stationery. You might give it a try. I think it comes in smaller packs complete with envelopes. It is 8-1/2x11. I use Crane letter size sheets mostly. They are 6-3/8x8-1/2 which is slightly larger that half. Iuse the lined version and only two sheets will fit un an envelope. What is referred to as Monarch is larger and good for letters. Good luck.

I have been using Wausau Royal Cotton Stationery in full letter size. I think Staples carries it. Office Max does. The paper has some rag content and is very FP friendly.

When I want to send a single sheet, I print the blank side with one of letterfu.com's folding templates. That allows me to fold the letter up into its own envelope. It is even made so the stamp holds it closed. It is the correct size and aspect ratio so it does not require extra postage for special handling. How's that for green?

Paddler

I'm currently using the Crane Stationery's Monarch Sheets, in a Pearl White Kid Finish. I love it. The size is perfect for letters. The sheets are thicker, so the fountain pen ink doesn't bleed through, and the paper itself has a bit of a bite to it. It's exquisite with my Vintage Waterman pens with the flexible nibs. They don't feather, skip, or hesitate. It's a match made in heaven. Now my Waterman C/f with the Noodler's Polar Blue bulletproof ink does feather just slightly, but that blue is gorgeous on this creamy paper, so I continue to use it and simply ignore the slight feathering. My modern Expert with the medium nib doesn't like this paper at all. It skips and hesitates. It greatly prefers the Paperblanks journals for some reason. A much smoother paper that the Expert simply glides over like butter on warm bread. Mmmm. . . . Bread. Excuse me.

Todd

+1 on Staples, at least for a quick, easy solution.

The do carry Southworth and the linen finish of that isn't bad at all and pretty reasonably priced. If you happen
to also have an Office Despot in your area they also carry the same paper and it's a couple dollars cheaper for
the same smaller sized box.

The paper companies are making this selection process much too tough for us.

Most of them DO have a sample "program" but charge as much for shipping/handling for a few sheets of paper
as you can get a 100 or so sheets for.

Monarch USED to send out samples for free. They have some very nice paper. I am like you in that I prefer a
smoother paper and I also wanted it in light blue AND most importantly with an opacity low enough to be able to
see a guide through. That SEVERELY limits my choices. Monarch was sending the samples out via 2 day Fedex
which of course, must have cost them a mint and probably now accounts for why they killed the free samples and
now charge about $10 for samples. I did call them and registered an official complaint on this and suggested that they could still send out samples via 1st class mail for a much more reasonable fee.

There MAY BE another Monarch option to explore but I've been to lazy to do it.

On their website, they have 2 things that ARE handy. One is a "paper selector tool". Act like you are going to
order samples and a option plug in page will pop up for you to select finishes, sizes, colors, etc. At least you
can get an idea from the zillions of papers they make as to what you'd want to try. They also have a "find a seller" area where you can find their distributors in your area. If you are lucky and one of them is close to where you live, you could actually go there and look at/request samples. The closest one to me is 60 miles away. After nailing
down from the website what you want to try, you may have better luck requesting samples from the Monarch distributor near you by mail. I plan to try that, I just haven't yet.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

I had some Southworth paper some years ago (for printing résumés and the like), and didn't care for it at all. I'll have to look into Monarch -- thanks for the suggestion.

Somehow () I missed some excellent reviews of Original Crown Mill. I read them last night, and ordered some of this paper from Swisher. Hopefully that will fit the bill.

I'd say go to Staples or Office Max and look for Southworth paper. Nice with different textures- some of the boxes even have little windows cut in the front so you can feel the paper. ANd they have envelopes as well. For a reasonable price. It isn't going to be correspondence size envelopes but the setup for a few hundred letters isn't going to set you back too much.

Kurt

Please review the Original Crown Mill. I'd like to know what you think of it.

I bought some Crowne when Kate's papierie was clearancing them. Got the boxes of 100 sheets & envelopes for about $15 a pop. Bought 8 boxes and have it for quite some time. got the grey and ecru. Both have a little embossed Kate's logo on the flap while the ecru is watermarked. For some reason the grey isn't. Nice texture and hold ink well. I highly suggest getting some.

Kurt

I am very fond of Crane papers, not only because they are FP friendly, but also because of their environmental/sustainable commitment. Their papers are cotton, and therefore tree-free.

Crane's "Green Since 1801" spiel"

They're having a sale right now, including some of their great notepads. I use these for extra pages on letters all the time.

Yeah, they're pricey...

Edit: I reread your original post, and I will note that Crane's is not super-smooth. It's not textured in a pattern the way G.Lalo Verge de France is, but it's no Clairefontaine for smoothness.