Paper For Letter Writing

[Paladin1cd]

Hello all,

 

I do not write letters to frequently, but now that I have found fountain pens, I find when I do I am writing with... You guessed it, a fountain pen. I rarely use any other writing utensil anymore.

 

My problem is finding blank paper around 8 x 5 that holds up to letter writing. I do not need a huge amount, but i would like to solicit some suggestions for pad or loose paper or stationary that I can find online that does not break the bank. I considered ordering some actual stationary but I guess I think most is not "manly" for a fella to use. It makes me feel like a dandy. I am not ruling it out, just explaining where I have been looking already.

 

I am really at a loss as to what to get, so any suggestions would be welcome.

 

Thank you.

[Wolverine1]

I use Rhodia pads, works OK for me.

[MyriamV]

I would recommend Clairefontaine Triomphe. It is a very fountain pen friendly paper. It is a bright white which helps the ink color to really show. I think it's worth every penny and as thus, doesn't seem too expensive to me.

 

It is available in the following formats:

• 5.875" x 8.25"
• 8.25" x 11.75"

They also make envelopes in two formats. I get mine here: http://www.gouletpens.com/Clairefontaine_Triomphe_s/65.htm (no affiliation, just a happy customer).

 

Hope this helps!

[ac12]

Go by the local Dollar store and see what they have.

I picked up a pad of Indian made letter pad, they feel good to my fingers, so I am hoping that they will test good with my F tips, which are the most paper fussy tips that I have.

 

UPDATE

 

I tested the letter pad labeled "writing tablet" from the Dollar Store.

Specs are:

• Basic dimensions are 5.75 inch wide x 8.75 inches high.
• Ruled lines are approx 9mm spacing and light blue in color.
• Cost, $1 for 100 sheet pad

The paper is GOOD. It is a light paper (less than the standard 20 pound copy paper), it feels smooth (not as smooth as Clairfontain).

It easily handled the wet M tip on my Parker CLASSIC without feathering or bleeding through.

 

Then last night I realized something. The letter pads that I used MANY years ago were blank paper that I put a guide sheet under. The India pad had lines. It was like a small ruled pad, not like the unlined letter pads that I used to use. The ruled lines are a blue color, and I found that the blue lines visually got in the way of reading my blue ink, especially when using a XF tip.

 

I would use BLACK ink with this letter pad, to visually overpower the blue lines.

Otherwise I would look for the traditional unlined letter paper, which is what I will be looking for.

Or make my own letter paper from cut down blank laser paper.

Edited August 4, 2013 by ac12

[inkypete]

I would recommend Clairefontaine Triomphe. It is a very fountain pen friendly paper. It is a bright white which helps the ink color to really show. I think it's worth every penny and as thus, doesn't seem too expensive to me.

 

It is available in the following formats:

• 5.875" x 8.25"
• 8.25" x 11.75"

They also make envelopes in two formats. I get mine here: http://www.gouletpens.com/Clairefontaine_Triomphe_s/65.htm (no affiliation, just a happy customer).

 

Hope this helps!

Same here. Great writing paper - Goulets can help you with pads and enevlopes.

[BillZ]

G. Lalo is nice,too. Bryan carries it.

[fncll]

I also recommend Clairefontine Triomphe, which is reasonably priced. G. Lalo Verge de France is also handsome, but a bit more expensive.

 

You could always go with some papers found at most office stores and some departments stores and the like, such as Southworth Connoisseur or papers like it. Commonly available on Amazon as well...

Edited August 4, 2013 by fncll

[MKeith]

This is something I wrote about a year ago, that I thought it might be helpful. For a dollar a shot at Dollar General you can't hurt your bank in trying it.

 

 

I have tried the following and here are my results so far using mostly fine and medium nibs.

 

1. Office Works (current Kroger brand) 6X9 inch, is made in USA and sells for approx. $1.00 for 100 sheets. This paper is fairly good. It is somewhat smooth to the touch. It is moderately smooth writing with some bleed through with wetter nibs and inks and show light feathering.

2. Wexford (current Walgreen brand) 6X9 inch, is made in Viet Nam and sells for around $1.00 for 100 sheets. The paper is rough to the touch. It is rough writing and has terrible bleed through with all nibs and inks tested and feathers heaviliy.

3. DG Office (current Dollar General brand)5.75X9 inch, is made in Indonesia and sells for $1.00 for 120 sheets. This paper is the smoothest to the touch. It writes with a bit of resistance and scratchy sound, which I actually like as it slows my somewhat hectic writing down. It has so far shown no bleed through, has only light show through, and very light if at all feathering. If you use these type tablets I think they are very much worth a try.

Edited August 4, 2013 by MKeith

[Edwaroth]

+1 For Clairefontaine Triomphe. Get a double set with envelopes at Goulets!

[Paladin1cd]

Thanks all... I had looked for something at the local stores, drug stores included. Thus far I had came up dry. I have elected to try one each of two of the suggestions, Clairefontine Triomphe, and a Rhodia no. 16. The local stores just did not have anything. Not just bad paper quality, they just had very little in what I was looking for. They had cards or they had 8.5 x 11 size paper. Drug stores, grocery stores, dollar stores, wallmart, everything. I guess most folks just do not write each other anymore.

 

Thank you all for your input, I will try them out and see what works best.

[cadfael_tex]

I started out with some G. Lalo and Triomphe. I really like the Triomphe.

[fncll]

If you find a good 8.5x11 you can always cut it in half ... 8.5x5.5 is a pretty common size...

[Runnin_Ute]

I have a couple of different ones I use.

1) Southworth Granite Specialty paper 25% with watermark - gray paper and also comes in a cream/ivory nice 90 gsm paper (I bought a full ream - originally for resumes, turns out it is pretty nice for letters/fountain pens. Available in smaller quantities)

 

2) Strathmore parchment paper - pad of 50 sheets - 60 lb/89 gsm. I paid about $6 or so at Barnes & Noble (acid free, multiple tints)

[ac12]

@Runnin_Ute

I've had trouble with any paper with any texture on it. My F tips get stuck or scratchy on the less than smooth surface of the paper.

I have not tried my M tips on any textured paper.

I have a mental trouble writing on the small half sheet letter paper with the broader M tips.

Edited August 5, 2013 by ac12

[fncll]

*Any* texture? I use Southworth and other cotton papers all the time with X and XXF nibs...the texture is VERY minimal.

 

Some of the "vellum" paper has no texture at all, so that might work. It sounds like copy paper or cut-down Triomphe or the like would be the best way to go.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Just to stir the pot once again, I'll suggest the HP Premium Choice 32lb presentation paper. It might be available from a local shop, saving you a bit on shipping cost.

 

The sheets would need to be cut down, which is a task best done by a print shop using a guillotine cutter; and they could cut whatever dimension suits you. (I like 8x10" for some personal correspondence.)

 

While I share your taste for unadorned stationery, at times I add a [wax] seal or my chop to either one sheet or the envelope.

 

Bye,

S1

[Runnin_Ute]

ac12 - not much texture if you only write on the "right" side of the Southworth (watermark right side up and not backwards), otherwise it gets a little toothy.

 

I use fine nibs on it all the time.

Edited August 7, 2013 by Runnin_Ute

[Edwaroth]

Walgreen's Ology is a nice copy paper for one sided letter writing. Fiber is sugarcane/bamboo mix. Not bad for a twenty pound paper,finish is smooth but has a little tooth. 400 sheets for 5.99+ tax.

[thedeacon]

IMHO, Original Cotton Mill makes very good stationery that is great for personal correspondence. I know it gets a whole host of mixed reviews, but it works great for me. It's available in different colors, sizes and types (cotton, vellum etc). It does have some texture, which I like. I have had no problem with different nib sizes or using wet inks. It may be worth taking a look.

[wikeh2004]

Hi,

 

Just to stir the pot once again, I'll suggest the HP Premium Choice 32lb presentation paper. It might be available from a local shop, saving you a bit on shipping cost.

 

The sheets would need to be cut down, which is a task best done by a print shop using a guillotine cutter; and they could cut whatever dimension suits you. (I like 8x10" for some personal correspondence.)

 

While I share your taste for unadorned stationery, at times I add a [wax] seal or my chop to either one sheet or the envelope.

 

Bye,

S1

 

I concur. If you're looking for plain white paper without a watermark, a good quality multipurpose paper of at least 24 lb weight would work. I bought a ream of HP 24 lb multipurpose paper similar to the one described above and it has a nice surface for fountain pen ink, doesn't feather, and is inexpensive. Lasts forever. I use it to make my own notebook sheets (cut in half and Circa punched), but you could do whatever you want with them. Inkjet paper may also work, but I used the multipurpose because I print a template on them with a laser printer before cutting them apart and punching. You could create a nice looking letterhead that you could print on your sheets as well.