Your Favorite Writing Paper

[redpillow]

What writing paper in your opinion is the nicest in look and feel? say in the range of a bit heavier 100-120g/m2 which I think in America is 27-32 lbs.

 

And which envelopes do you like?

[Beechwood]

There are some very expensive Italian papers and envelopes, $5 for one envelope and one sheet of hand made paper, sorry but I think that is just too much but if you want premium quality paper then Smythson is pretty good

 

https://www.smythson.com/uk/stationery/plain-stationery/writing-paper

[BaronWulfraed]

Never actually focused on special papers for letter writing.

 

When I hand wrote letters*, they were common (Mead, assorted drugstore) unruled pads (with a ruled template sheet). 6x9 inch, don't know the weight class (my current one is "Rite Aid HOME" series -- don't know how the "Made in USA" should be taken... paper itself USA, or imported from mills, and just cut&bound in the US). My current envelopes are #6³/₄ Office Depot Security (mottled blue inside) peel&stick.

 

Most of my (few) letters have been word processor output -- going back to the summer of 1981 with a TRS-80 and /cassette tape/ Scripsit (for many years, the only word processor I'd encountered that had an option for Vertical Centering).

Edited July 10, 2020 by BaronWulfraed

[dennis_f]

For daily use (ie: not 100gsm) I use Midori, Rhodia, Leuchturm, Clairfontaine... etc. But if I have to write something on nice paper, I've used G.Lalo for the past 10-15 years.

It's 100gsm, comes in 2 colours (iirc), and 3 surface textures: a smooth finish, a slightly "bumpier" gridded finish, and the traditional laid finish (which is my favourite; Lalo calls it by the french name: "verge").

 

Ink looks great on it, and it's a pleasure to write on. So much so that at one point I used it to make a set of hardcover sketchbooks. It's wonderful paper.

 

Oh, and they have matching envelopes.

 

There's a great write-up on it here:

https://blog.wonderpens.ca/testing-out-new-g-lalo-papers-toile-imperiale-velin-de-france-velin-pur-coton/

[MHBru]

My favorite paper in both notebooks and for letter writing is Clairefontaine.... hands down

[redpillow]

I have both Rhodia notebooks and Clairefontaine (120g), with the Clairefontaine being my favorite for letters and putting it in my printer for documents that I want to keep forever.

 

I will check out G.Lalo, the smoother papers, they look beautiful.

Edited July 10, 2020 by redpillow

[Uncial]

Amalfi paper. Not easily found in larger batches and certainly not cheap but it is such beautiful paper it's hard to resist.

[txomsy]

The one I have.

[goodpens]

I enjoy finding varied papers and envelopes at thrift stores. A favorite find was vintage Crane airmail paper. Other Crane finds are often good, though some are so absorbent as to cause bleeding with FPs. I have had luck with unmarked/no-name papers (like some I am using now that is cream colored with deckled edges). This week I stocked up and lucked out with a decorative (floral printed envelope flap and corresponding design on writing paper) set from Hallmarksurprisingly FP friendly. Sometimes I buy things that end up not working well with fountain pens, but I can always find a use for them. I enjoy finding unique papers (at great prices) and preventing waste.

 

For everyday notetaking, the Staples brand notebooks (made in Brazil) are excellent.

[N1003U]

Amalfi paper. Not easily found in larger batches and certainly not cheap but it is such beautiful paper it's hard to resist.

 

I agree.

 

Amatruda (in Amalfi) makes a really nice paper with a lovely hand that feels almost like parchment. But yes, it is expensive paper, as one might expect for what I think is either hand-screened or semi-automated paper production. The only problem I have had with the paper it is that I think the sizing is done on the surface, and once in a while there seem to be surface irregularities. My experience is that once in a while, on small areas of the page, the ink soaks into the interior of the paper, and then the paper feathers like crazy. I also seem to accumulate a lot of paper fibers on the tip of my nibs sometimes, but not often, and for reasons I have not been able to discern. Perhaps it is also related to irregularities in the surface treatment.

 

At least in A4 size, it is possible to buy loose sheets and sets with envelopes from Amatruda in quantities up to 100 sheets/sets (a bit under 0,40€ per sheet, about 1€ per sheet/envelope set). Not sure how large a batch one needs, but I suppose ordering multiple sets of 100 is possible. If one is fortunate to have an address outside the EU, the savings in VAT might more than offset the shipping charges on an order of say, 100€ or more.

 

https://www.amatruda.eu/shop/

[XYZZY]

What writing paper in your opinion is the nicest in look and feel? say in the range of a bit heavier 100-120g/m2 which I think in America is 27-32 lbs.

 

And which envelopes do you like?

 

I don't write letters as often as I like so don't have much experience. But about 18 months ago I found a set of Midori Cotton paper (loose paper, about B5 size), and Midori Cotton Envelopes sized for that paper at a local Kinokuniya. The paper makes a good impression on people: it's luxuriously soft, so the recipient is impressed when they open it. I enjoy writing on it because it's something different (and luxuriously soft). However, I'm not sure I would want an entire journal of the stuff for daily writing, as it is toothier and more absorbent than I like. Having said that, if I stumble across a journal of that paper I'd probably pick it up as an impulse purchase just for the sake of seeing if I would adapt to the paper when confronted with it as my daily journal.

[MKeith]

GLalo stationary and envelopes are my favorite. Tomoe River is my second favorite. In notebooks Apica and Fabriano Ecoqua top the list.

Edited July 10, 2020 by MKeith

[LizB]

I like paper that has matching envelopes (ideally lined ones): G Lalo Velin de France and ELCO James Velin (deckle edge) both are favourites. Slightly plainer, but still good quality is Basildon Bond. Clairefontaine Triomphe is super smooth and shows sheen well.

[Keyless Works]

I like a paper called "Three Crowns" from Smythson. It is a really nice light green color.

 

I also like their Featherweight writing paper which is very thin but holds fountain pen paper well and is 50 gsm...sort of the European Tomoe River but without the glossy surface.

 

Fabriano Minerva is very nice writing paper.

 

Amatruda is great too and much nicer to write on than the even more expensive Fabriano Secolo XIII.

Edited July 10, 2020 by Keyless Works

[dennis_f]

I was just going to mention Fabriano.... but instead I got lost on their website trying to remember which one I used to use.

 

Their paper is excellent.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

For letters, which I rarely write these days, I like Clairefontaine. Some of the pricier brands might be better in ways that I would appreciate if I tried them, but Clairefontaine is excellent with any pen that I might decide to use.

 

For notebooks and journals, I might prefer the same brand, except that I've come to have a strong preference for unlined (and undotted) paper, particularly for a journal. Also, for a journal, Clairefontaine doesn't come in an exact A5 size that will fit a leather cover that I like to use. Kokuyo does come in that size, but again, doesn't seem to have an unlined option. Otherwise, both are very nice to write on, and the ones I have left will get used eventually for something. Especially for pocket sized notebooks that are just used for quick notes and jottings, the lines don't bother me there.

 

But I do like blank Life Noble or Tomoe River paper for my journal. Not really sure which I like better, but presently it seems I can get a better price per page on the Tomoe River.

[inkypete]

I was just going to mention Fabriano.... but instead I got lost on their website trying to remember which one I used to use.

 

Their paper is excellent.

I use their mediovalis range but the Aussie source is no longer around so this will be it for me.

[inkypete]

My favorite paper in both notebooks and for letter writing is Clairefontaine.... hands down

Absolutely - I'm a huge fan of their notebooks and this is my everyday letter writing stock. Well priced and great quality.

 

https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/clairefontaine-triomphe-stationery

[dennis_f]

I use their mediovalis range but the Aussie source is no longer around so this will be it for me.

 

Their writing paper has virtually disappeared in Canada as well (if it's out there, it's impossible to find). It's a shame because it was (is) great paper. The artist line is still popular and available but not the writing line.

Edited July 11, 2020 by dennis_f

[inkypete]

 

Their writing paper has virtually disappeared in Canada as well (if it's out there, it's impossible to find). It's a shame because it was (is) great paper. The artist line is still popular and available but not the writing line.

I bought their paper, cards and envelopes. Fantastic stock. Classy for letters and I used the folded card stock for greeting cards. The company that sold it here was a specialist paper shop that did a lot of art type stocks too. When they closed I found it hard to find anywhere else locally. A shop in Sydney had a small supply but it disappeared to after a while.