What kind of paper do you use for letters?

[jdboucher]

I have been using some Crane's. It works really well, the paper is great. Its kind of expensive though. What do you use?

[QM2]

I have been using some Crane's. It works really well, the paper is great. Its kind of expensive though. What do you use?

 

Funny, I thought I would love Crane's but it does not work for me at all. 90% of my pens simply refuse to write on it!

 

I could never settle on a good letter-writing paper and would simply write on sheets torn from gridded Rhodia pads ...Until I discovered Elco paper. Elco is just perfect for me. It looks elegant, feels luxurious, and works flawlessly with all my pens. My favourite are the A5 vellum writing pads in white and cream with deckled edges. Mmm-mm, good!

 

 

QM2

[penhound]

I've used Crane paper for years and years. QM2- I have never had a pen refuse to write on it. I think it might be a bad batch of paper or perhaps the ink you used? I use everything from the full 8.5X11 sheets to the 3X5 index cards. I especially like the correspondance card for short quick note to people between long, juicey letters.

 

I do like to use Clairefontaine Triomphe which works wonderfully with lots of different inks and nibs. Rhodia is also very good (after all they are both made by the same company, even though there is a subtle difference between them.)

[jbb]

I've been using Neenah bond 25% cotton and Neenah vellum lately.

[misterh]

G Lalo works really well for me.

[Ed Palumbo]

If the letter is intended as a "keeper", I use 24-lb paper usually used for resumes which I purchase in 100-sheet packs from Staples or Office Depot. I recently purchased a pack of Wausau parchment finish paper, and it's working well. I could say the same for similar papers from other manufacturers. I purchase Crane stationery from another vendor, and I occasionally find something interesting when I visit stationery shops on trips. I generally use fine nibs and my lettering is small, so I'd like to find college-ruled paper that responds well to fountain pen nibs. Yes, some of us need lines. Much of what I've encountered is so absorbent, it's like writing on toilet paper or newsprint. I too would be interested in reading recommendations.

Ed

[Paddler]

I also like the Wausau parchment finished paper. Another paper that takes FP inks well is Southworth parchment paper.

 

Paddler

 

[gylyf]

G Lalo Vergé de France, in gray. When that's not on hand, I use Seyès-ruled Rhodia or Clairefontaine paper. Regards,

David

[jbb]

I also like the Wausau parchment finished paper. Another paper that takes FP inks well is Southworth parchment paper.

 

I like Southworth parchment paper too.

 

[QM2]

I've used Crane paper for years and years. QM2- I have never had a pen refuse to write on it. I think it might be a bad batch of paper or perhaps the ink you used? I use everything from the full 8.5X11 sheets to the 3X5 index cards. I especially like the correspondance card for short quick note to people between long, juicey letters.

 

Hi penhound,

 

I've bought different kinds of Crane's paper, and none of it works! What happens when I try to write on it, is that the nib literally will not move across the paper, it gets stuck in the paper. I write with very fine nibs (XXXF-XF), so that may be the problem. But even my Aurora Talentum (which is XF but writes more like a F and is normally very smooth), comes to a screeching halt on Crane's correspondence paper : ( The inks I use are Noodlers, Herbin and a few MB.

[jbb]

I've bought different kinds of Crane's paper, and none of it works! What happens when I try to write on it, is that the nib literally will not move across the paper, it gets stuck in the paper. I write with very fine nibs (XXXF-XF), so that may be the problem. But even my Aurora Talentum (which is XF but writes more like a F and is normally very smooth), comes to a screeching halt on Crane's correspondence paper : (

I find that those "toothy" papers, like Crane's (and some of Southworth's), are best suited to some of my dip nibs. In those cases it's as if my nib is cutting into the surface of the paper. You can get great shading and nice thick/thin lines but it's an entirely different feeling than nibs gliding on smoother paper.

[penburg]

I use HP32# laser paper from Office Max. I print my heading / address via laser printer on one-half side (landscape orientation) then cut into two sheets, 5.5 x 8.5 in, one printed, one plain. Then I buy white envelopes for that size folded. Voila, cheap FP-friendly stationery.

[handlebar]

Fabriano Mediovalis and Fox River .

 

Jim

[Songwind]

I have used inkjet paper to good effect. I thing the inkjet paper works a bit better than the laser paper because it is designed with wet ink rather than powder in mind.

 

In terms of nicer paper, I have some Argoz stationary that is pretty nice. It is full Letter sheets, but I cut them in half with my wife's paper cutter. I also just got some of Richard Binder's "fountain pen" pads. I used a couple of sheets last night to write a letter. It was very nice. Not as smooth as Clairefontaine, but no feathering or skipping.

[Lennart Wennberg]

The corresponcence cards I use are Crane´s 100% cotton, (with some feathering though), or G.Lalo Renaissance Card & Envelope Set from http://www.johnnealbooks.com, surface shipment for less $$

 

For longer letters I use Character paper and envelopes from www.Scribblers.co.uk. A good paper at a nice price.

 

The problem with Crane´s is to have them shipped at a reasonable price. Crane simply just have to deliver them at my door for a lot of $$$.

[Titivillus]

I have been using some Crane's. It works really well, the paper is great. Its kind of expensive though. What do you use?

 

I bought some Crane so I am using it until gone, then on to some grey Original Crown Mill paper. After that who knows!

 

 

Kurt

 

[Titivillus]

I've used Crane paper for years and years. QM2- I have never had a pen refuse to write on it. I think it might be a bad batch of paper or perhaps the ink you used? I use everything from the full 8.5X11 sheets to the 3X5 index cards. I especially like the correspondance card for short quick note to people between long, juicey letters.

 

Hi penhound,

 

I've bought different kinds of Crane's paper, and none of it works! What happens when I try to write on it, is that the nib literally will not move across the paper, it gets stuck in the paper. I write with very fine nibs (XXXF-XF), so that may be the problem. But even my Aurora Talentum (which is XF but writes more like a F and is normally very smooth), comes to a screeching halt on Crane's correspondence paper : ( The inks I use are Noodlers, Herbin and a few MB.

 

What's you angle of attack? if you try lowering the body of the pen and reducing the angle the Crane might work. I know that on some paper if I write like with a ballpoint it doesn't work as well.

 

Kurt

 

[AndyHayes]

Rhodia No15 lined or grid pads usually, although there are a few A4 pads around the house. The No 15 pads have 300 pages so at least they last a while.

[QM2]

I've used Crane paper for years and years. QM2- I have never had a pen refuse to write on it. I think it might be a bad batch of paper or perhaps the ink you used? I use everything from the full 8.5X11 sheets to the 3X5 index cards. I especially like the correspondance card for short quick note to people between long, juicey letters.

 

I've bought different kinds of Crane's paper, and none of it works! What happens when I try to write on it, is that the nib literally will not move across the paper, it gets stuck in the paper. I write with very fine nibs (XXXF-XF), so that may be the problem. But even my Aurora Talentum (which is XF but writes more like a F and is normally very smooth), comes to a screeching halt on Crane's correspondence paper : ( The inks I use are Noodlers, Herbin and a few MB.

 

What's you angle of attack? if you try lowering the body of the pen and reducing the angle the Crane might work. I know that on some paper if I write like with a ballpoint it doesn't work as well.

 

I write at a fairly acute angle as it is (a 45 degree angle or so) and hold the pens very close to the nib...

 

QM2

[FLZapped]

Since my correspondence goes overseas, I use Glama 17lb Vellum from The Papermill Store.

 

-Bruce