The Very Best Paper In The United Kingdom Finally Found....!

March 4, 2014

This is only my second post in this forum, the first being to thank Sach on the original recommendation of Staples' own A4 colour laser 120g, so please bear with me as I feed back on my recent experience with this paper from Staples.

I write a lot of letters and envelopes in a week, every week. For notes and a quick 'thank you', I tend to rely on the 90g basic photocopy paper at my workplace (it is so generic i don't know the name of it). However, it seems to accept the fountain pen ink from my vintage flexible nibs(F or EF), providing I do not flex the nib too much. For my more serious letter writing, I always use the 90g A4 sized Clairefontaine Triomphe paper, which works well with the dip nibs I have drifted towards (Gillott 303 and Spencerian No1). I always use a lined guide sheet underneath my paper, regardless.

This evening I popped into Staples and purchased 500 sheets (two packs of 250 at £6.49 each) of their A4 colour 120g (mindful of being advised against purchasing the 100g version). However, as I use a guide sheet underneath my papers, I suspected (correctly) that the 120g would not enable me to see my guide sheet underneath. As a safety, I also purchased a pack of 500 sheet of Mondi colour copy 100g for the first time; at a cost of £9.49

Whilst the Staples A4 colour is too heavy at 120g for me to easily see my guide sheet underneath, I gave the paper a trial, using a Swan SF2 with a size 2 medium-flex nib (F-BB), carrying Montblanc's Mystery Black (the ink I use every day for work). I must admit, I wasn't that impressed. The ink looked a little washed on the paper and I didn't really take to the 'feel' of the paper. Further, when I turned the paper over, there was a very slight bleed through on two capital letters. I did however like the brightness of the white.

I then tried the Mondi colour copy 100g. It is a slightly off-white/ivory in colour, allowing for a good contrast with the MB black ink. Actually the paper looks more expensive than the Staples. I really enjoyed the paper, which felt pleasantly smooth to write on, without being too smooth. The ink sat well on the paper without any indication of bleed through the back, despite writing exactly the same text as before.

I apologise for not having a camera to-hand but, side-by-side, on the Mondi, I can better see the colour of the MB Mystery Black, the letters look slightly cleaner/sharper and I really did enjoy writing on the paper. I ran the exercise again with two separate sheets from the same packs but was again far more taken by the Mondi colour copy 100g than I was with the Staples A4 colour 120g.

Given my personal findings, I will now pass the Staples paper to my little daughter for her to practice on, whilst the Mondi will get the privilege of acting as my practice paper, thereby leaving my Clairefontaine Triomphe safe as my first choice for letters. In fact, I will probably end up buying sufficient of the Mondi paper to take into my workplace.

Just a personal view of someone not used to rating/reviewing paper but who has a passion for fountain pens and an enduring love of writing.

Pavoni.