Fountain Pen Collecting
Write like it's 1923. Your handwriting won't improve, but the vibes will.
Fountain pen collecting is about the joy of writing with a pen that actually feels special, the weight in your hand, the flow of ink, the scratch of a nib on good paper. You'll develop opinions about ink wetness. You'll describe a nib as 'buttery.' You'll buy paper based on how it handles shading. Welcome to the rabbit hole.
How to start
- 1Get one beginner fountain pen, Pilot Metropolitan or Lamy Safari are the classics.
- 2Buy a bottle of ink in a color that makes you happy.
- 3Write anything: a to-do list, a letter, your complaints about the weather.
- 4Try the pen on different paper. You'll notice the difference immediately.
- 5Browse r/fountainpens for ink swatches and pen reviews. Don't blame us for what happens next.
What you'll need
- Starter fountain pen (Pilot Metropolitan)Essential~$18
- Bottled inkEssential~$12
- Good quality notebook (Rhodia/Leuchtturm)Nice to have~$15
- Ink sample setNice to have~$15
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Mix your own custom ink color. Mad scientist energy.
- Write a letter to someone by hand and actually mail it.
- Collect inks based on color themes, all greens, all purples, all shimmering.
- Try a flex nib and learn to write with line variation like old-school calligraphy.
The tactile sensation of writing with a fountain pen is genuinely stimulating. Swapping inks and pens keeps the novelty fresh every single writing session.
Some fountain pen inks are 'sheening', they appear one color wet and flash a completely different metallic color when dry. Organics Studio Nitrogen is famous for its red-to-blue sheen.
Similar vibes
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