Analog
It has come to this: my passion for fountain pens and other analog tools requires its own page.
I don’t know when it began. From a very early age, I was fascinated with stationery, particularly office supplies. As a child, I learned calligraphy, so I must have owned my first fountain pen then. It didn’t turn into a full-blown passion until 2003, and I’m still not sure why.
Despite all this, I am not snooty about writing instruments; I appreciate any pen that provides a compelling tactile experience. I love to talk pens with anyone, so ask me anything.
My EDCs
EDC stands for “every day carry” so these are the pens I use daily.
My Collection
These are the rest of the pens in my collection, in alphabetical order by company.
- Conklin All-American, tortoiseshell, (1.1mm italic)
- Cross Beverly (M)
- Esterbrook Dollar Pen, cobalt (B)
- Esterbrook M2, red (extra flexible extra fine)
- Faber-Castell Ambition Birnbaum and matching mechanical pencil
- Faber-Castell Loom Piano, white (M)
- Lamy AL-Star, L29 dark purple
- Lamy 2000 (Binderized XF)
- Lamy Logo, brushed steel
- Lamy Studio, LE violet
- Monteverde Olympia, blue
- Noodler’s Nib Creaper [sic], orange-green
- Parker “Flighter” 25
- Pelikan Classic P205 Black-silver
- Pelikan Classic M205 White-silver
- Pelikan Classic M205 Olivine (B)
- Pelikan Souverän Ruby Red M320
- Pelikan Souverän Tortoiseshell-White M400
- Pilot Metropolitan, black (F)
- Pilot Metropolitan, black (1.0mm stub)
- Recife Baby Press Constellation, sparkly purple
- Retro 51 Tornado, indigo
- Rotring Core, blue
- Sensa Meridian, silver
- Sheaffer Prelude, luminous purple with nickel-plate trim
- Stipula Passoporto Stealth, black (1.1mm stub) won’t stop leaking
- Stipula Ventidue hopelessly busted
- TWSBI Eco, LE orange (M)
- TWSBI Eco, LE pink (F)
- TWSBI Eco, clear (1.1mm stub)
- Visconti Van Gogh Midi, musk green
- Waterman Carène, royal violet
- Waterman Philéas, red
Grail Pens
Like the Holy Grail, a “grail” pen is something I’ll search for my whole life and likely never possess. It’s good to dream!
Useful Links
Starter Fountain Pen Favorites
- TWSBI Eco: my current top recommendation for beginners
- Lamy Safari: recommended for beginners, both right- and left-handed
- Pelikan Future: cartridge only, steel nib
- Pilot Petit1: mini-sized, refillable, and only $5
- Pilot Varsity: disposable, fine and medium nibs, variety of colors (purple is my favorite)
Awesome Ink
I’m slowly developing an Airtable of my collection.
Stationery & Notebooks
- Galen Leather: handmade leather journal covers
- Hobonichi A5
- G. Lalo “Verge de France” writing tablets and envelopes: my preferred stationery for correspondence
Non-Fountain Pens
- Fisher Space Pen: the ballpoint that writes upside-down and through butter
- Pilot G-2 0.7mm: my favorite gel pen now that the Papermate Gel-Writer is extinct