Basildon Bond stationery - a post for the UK contingent

[Cryptos]

'Sadly, that's where the story ends. This brand is, along with pretty much everything else, not available in New Zealand (unless I want to pay a fortune to some faceless shipping agent).'

 

A quick trawl round the web appears to confirm this, a real dearth of stationery stores of The Goulet Pen Company and Cult Pens type in NZ. Do Kiwis not write letters? A gap in the market perhaps for an enterprising soul with a knowledge of paper, pens and personal stationery.

 

No, it appears Kiwis no longer write letters. I have been using fountain pens at school for over a year and nobody has noticed. However, my handwriting has been remarked upon - not that it is anything special, just ordinary cursive - but I guess that is more in surprise at actually seeing a handwritten piece of work.

 

As for enterprise, well, how many Kiwis (not that I am one) are members of this forum? A bare handful. Not necessarily that indicative. I have not seen anyone using a fountain pen in the 12 years I have been here until earlier this year when I noticed the Dean using a Lamy Vista.

[GreyPix]

No, it appears Kiwis no longer write letters. I have been using fountain pens at school for over a year and nobody has noticed. However, my handwriting has been remarked upon - not that it is anything special, just ordinary cursive - but I guess that is more in surprise at actually seeing a handwritten piece of work.

 

As for enterprise, well, how many Kiwis (not that I am one) are members of this forum? A bare handful. Not necessarily that indicative. I have not seen anyone using a fountain pen in the 12 years I have been here until earlier this year when I noticed the Dean using a Lamy Vista.

Not even hobbits writing any more down there? That is just awful. :-)

[Minty]

Dear Ms. MiniMaupassant,

 

Thanks for the up-date. I got onto Basildon Bond back in my Oxford days. Every time I cross over to your side of the pond I make it a point to stock up on both paper & envelopes & carry it home in my hand luggage. Here at home in Almost Heaven -- West Virginia I keep a stock of good papers, Clairfontaine, Crane, Rhodia, G. Lalo Verge, Crown Mill, &c. However my personal favorite is always the Basildon.

 

Yours sincerely,

Minty

 

Don't start vast projects with half-vast ideas.

[GreyPix]

Update.

 

I found a small Post Office in Lybster, Caithness, Scotland, that still stocks Basildon Bond (paper and envelopes). Not only that but in a variety of shades.

My daughter now has a stock and so the tradition in our family continues.

[Karmachanic]

Available in the UK at WHSmith, Amazon UK, Ryman, Pen and Paper, Jespers, Post Office, Ebay, plus.

[Flounder]

Couldn't agree more with this thread. It's sensibly priced and just excellent fountain pen paper, even for low MPG vintage feeds! I bought my last batch of paper & envelopes from Rymans. I like that the letter paper has a cheat sheet you can pop underneath each leaf to keep your writing even.

[Amory]

If traveling to or through France I would suggest Carrefour for clairefontaine and own brand writing sets of fountain pen friendly paper in several colours with matching envelopes at very keen prices. Even at current exchange rates.

 

....and Rhodia webbies in A5 for 7-8 Euro.

Edited August 9, 2018 by Amory