Correspondence Stationery That Can Survive Fountain Pens?

[marlinspike]

Crane is all I can get locally, and tired of a lifetime of horrible correspondence stationery (why are my cheap notepads more fountain pen friendly than expensive stationery?) I turn to the internet. Who makes a stationery that works well with flexible wet nibs? I am particularly looking for A6 size. I tried a search, but I must be bad at it because I am sure someone has discussed this before but cannot find the answer.

Edited April 7, 2018 by marlinspike

[ridiculopathy]

Most Japanese stationery is fountain pen friendly, but often the smallest size available is A5. I usually get mine from Nanami Paper or Jetpens.

[alanshutko]

I'm interested in this as well. I have some old Crane stationery (~15 or more years old) that works great with FP. I'm not sure what to replace it with when I'm out.

[JayHomeBody]

I've been trying to find fp friendly stationery, too. But everything is just so expensive. I really can't afford a dozen sheets of paper for $5-$10. I've been looking for good paper that I can just print lines and such on, with my printer. Not sure what would work tho.

[sharonspens]

Love Crane paper, but I also use Papyrus's stationery; much less expensive, comes in several shades, and handles everyone I've ever laid to it.

 

Sharon in Indiana

[OCArt]

A lot of us use HP Laserjet paper in either 28 or 32 lb weight.I use the 32lb and it is very nice. Widely available at the office supply stores and Amazon. Stay away from anything labelled "inkjet" as it has the opposite of the characteristics you want and will feather horribly.

I've been trying to find fp friendly stationery, too. But everything is just so expensive. I really can't afford a dozen sheets of paper for $5-$10. I've been looking for good paper that I can just print lines and such on, with my printer. Not sure what would work tho.

[Runnin_Ute]

Tomoe River is very good as well. I usually buy the A4 size. Runs about $13/100 sheets. I have seen A5 at Goulet Pens. If I want to use A5, I just fold and tear a sheet of A4 in half. Never used A6.

 

Basildon Bond is pretty good as well. I have only ever used their "duke" size. It is smaller than A5. Problem is, it isn't that easy to get this side of the pond.....

[katerchen]

Do you have a paper cutter? You could buy a 100-pack of Tomoe River paper from Jetpens which is A4, so you could cut them each into 4x A6 sheets.

 

-k

[goodpens]

I have been pleased with Paper Source (https://www.papersource.com).

 

I really like their A2 cards. The paper is good (though the heaviest stock is a little too ink absorbent, the regular stuff is good). Lots of colors and size options. Some printed cards are expensive, but the basic stuff is proced very reasonably.

[goodpens]

P. S. I have had very good luck finding some great quality stationery at thrift stores. I keep an eye out when I am in and luck out from time to time, including some great Crane papers for about $2/box.

[Barkingpig]

I used for the first time today, some note cards from PRINCETON ARCHITECTURAL PRESS (www.papress.com); I was shocked @ how nicely they handled broad nibbed wet pens! I usually expect little from notecards purchased for their designed "cover," but these were a very nice stock & more surprisingly they were manufactured in China. I purchased them because they were reproduced from hand-carved block prints of wild edible seaweed from Ireland & had the wonderful murky colors found in many of the Sailor inks I enjoy.

[Maccabeus]

This is really not a difficult problem.

 

Search for an Arvey Paper or Veritiv Express (or paper distributor) in your area and pay them a visit. Wander around and don't be afraid to ask questions (or to scribble on samples). Any decent 24# writing/60# offset stock (90gsm) will work. If you want to go really fancy, then you can ask for a #70 offset. The real trick is finding a color and texture that appeals to you. There's a whole world of choices out there. Once you've done that hard work, ask the shop to order it (and matching envelopes) for you.

 

I found 1500 sheets of some very nice smooth writing paper on the clearance rack of our Arvey location and paid less than $30 for it all. A box of 500 matching envelopes was another $25.

 

If worse comes to worst, visit a large print shop. They'll mark up the price, but it'll still be cheaper than Crane or the other specialty stores. They'll also be able to cut it to whatever size you want.

Edited April 25, 2018 by Maccabeus

[AAAndrew]

A lot of us use HP Laserjet paper in either 28 or 32 lb weight.I use the 32lb and it is very nice. Widely available at the office supply stores and Amazon. Stay away from anything labelled "inkjet" as it has the opposite of the characteristics you want and will feather horribly.

 

+1 for the HP Premium 32 lb laserjet paper. It's more expensive per ream than regular copy paper, but it's glorious to write on. I print up my own stationery in half-sheet size and then cut it on the paper cutter at work. I also use it for my work notes. I have my own design for my work note sheets. I print them up on this paper and then use a Staples Arc notebook system. I've never had a fountain pen nib/ink combination bleed on me with this paper, even very wet inks in a 1.1mm stub. The paper can get overloaded with a dip pen and a wet ink, but that's an extreme condition. For that I use 25% cotton paper made by Southworth and also sold at Staples. That's even more expensive, but still much cheaper than Crane's. (The Southworth is $36 for 500 sheets at Staples, about $0.07 a sheet). You can also order the paper through Amazon where the same 500 sheets is on special for $20 Prime at the moment.

[WolvertonMountain]

 

... I use 25% cotton paper made by Southworth and also sold at Staples. That's even more expensive, but still much cheaper than Crane's. (The Southworth is $36 for 500 sheets at Staples, about $0.07 a sheet). You can also order the paper through Amazon where the same 500 sheets is on special for $20 Prime at the moment.

 

I thank you for that recommendation, Andrew.

Are you using the woven finish or the linen finish?

Cliffton

[AAAndrew]

I prefer woven because I use this with my dip pens too, and the sharp points of dip pens can catch on the linen finish.

[WolvertonMountain]

Thank you, Andrew.

I have placed my order.

CC

[Joban]

I've been trying to find fp friendly stationery, too. But everything is just so expensive. I really can't afford a dozen sheets of paper for $5-$10. I've been looking for good paper that I can just print lines and such on, with my printer. Not sure what would work tho.

 

I see you are in Ohio, if you are near Rocky River there is a shop called the Desk Set. Norman runs it and he could probably help you with this question and some samples. Although I work in Beverly Hills we just had him make up some stationery that some of the men keep in their suit jackets for taking notes. I am a former Cleveland resident so that is why I know him. I am the lone FP guy here in the office so I have yet to try their paper but it looks nice.

[CraigR]

I am still working my way through a stock of older Crane papers, cards, and envelopes. They are at least 15 years old and take a fountain pen and ink very nicely. Once that supply is gone, I will most likely stick to Rhodia or Clairefontaine papers for correspondence. I can no longer afford the Crane and it seems that they are not as FP friendly as before.

 

For my everyday paper, I also us HP 32lb laserjet paper. Very happy with it.

[MHBru]

I use g lalo a5 and they make an a6. I enjoy using their paper

[sctechsorceress]

This may not be useful for those who use broad, wet nibs. I write only with fine or extra fine nibs. I have had good luck with the papers from Mohawk Fine Paper called Via Smooth. These come in US Letter Size and they are called writing papers, although the descriptions of it that I have seen only talk about the paper as useful for laser, ink jet and offset printing. I have enjoyed writing on it. I comes in several colors with matching envelopes.