Three Questions With Lito From Palimpsest

Do you know what Palimpsest means? I didn’t before I started reading Lito Apostolakou’s wonderful blog of the same name. I’ve learned more than that from her over the years and emplore you to read through the archives and broaden your stationery knowledge. My thanks to Lito for answering Three Questions.

1. What role do analog tools such as pens, pencils, and paper play in your day to day life?

I enjoy forming letters with something as tactile as a pencil or a pen instead of summoning them into existence with the tap of a key. While I do spend a lot of time with my computer screen, keyboard and smartphone, it is the pen or the pencil I go to when I really want to connect with what I’m writing be it a To Do list, notes or a short story. Analogue and digital tools are complementary. But I guess it is the instrumentality of the pen – its capacity to be a physical tool, the sensory signals it sends – that makes it an important element in the thought process.

2. What are your favorite products you are currently using?

My favourite writing instruments change with the seasons and my mood. The pencil pot next to my computer holds currently a Mont Blanc Meisterstück (a birthday present) filled with MB Mystery Ink, a Kaweco Sport (sent by Jet Pens), a Namiki Falcon (bought recently in New York from the Fountain Pen Hospital) filled with Noodler’s Squeteague, and a Palomino Blackwing 602. Rhodia pads (always the ones with graph paper) are a staple.

3. What post are you the most proud of on your blog?

I’m proud of the Literary Pens Pencils Inks page on Palimpsest – which is a growing collection of references to pens, pencils and inks as found (mostly) in literary novels from Douglas Adams to Emil Zola. I have difficulties singling out a post I’m most proud of. Usually the most popular posts in the blog are not the ones I would have picked. I’ve had fun researching How to Pick up a Pink Pen if you are a Boy and frame-by-frame pen spotting in the movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

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J. Herbin Stormy Grey Fountain Pen Ink Review

I've only been deep into fountain pens and inks for a few years and I don't recall a product - especially an ink - causing this much noise in our little world. J. Herbin Stormy Grey has taken the internet by storm, proving that we all like shiny and new. Especially shiny.

Gold flecks contained within the deep grey ink are the big selling point in J. Herbin's latest anniversary ink release. Rouge Hematite, the first release in the 1670 series, also had a gold feature, but in the form of a sheen, not actual flecks in the ink. That one slight change really sets Stormy Grey apart.

The grey is a beautiful, saturated coal grey, bordering on light black. I had zero flow issues in either my TWSBI 1.5 mm stub nib that this writing sample was done with, or a medium dip pen nib which I used for a few notes. I found the gold flecks to be inconsistent, with a heavy presence on some letters, and a light to no presence on others. This happens when there are actual physical materials that need to be dispersed within the ink.

My biggest issue with Stormy Grey is the additional maintenance required to keep the ink flowing consistently. J. Herbin even has a label warning:

Having these additional things to worry about doesn't fit my usage pattern. I would be very worried to leave this ink loaded for more than a week or two. Plus, the bottle and reservoir shaking that is needed to get even fleck dispersion before use is annoying. Using a dip nib is an option, but that limits portability.

I must be the only one with this issue though, as JetPens can't seem to keep it in stock. There was a short reload right before Christmas that vanished within hours, so if you want to get your hands on this ink be sure to sign up to be notified when inventory becomes available again.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)