Weekly Drops: New Anterique Multi Pens, Carl Desk Accessories, and More Wood Pencils!

This week’s arrivals feature an entirely new product segment from Japanese maker Anterique: a set of three-color low-viscosity multi pens in both standard and mini sizes! The Anterique “Mach Ball” refill is an excellent low-viscosity ballpoint that flows smoothly in the .5mm size, and until the release of the multi pen you were limited to black. We also recently restocked on standard Anterique ballpoint pens.

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Carl Pencil Sharpeners make excellent long points.

We’ve also had a ton of new pencils and pencil accessories land in the shop, including Uni Mitsubishi Hi Uni and Tombow Mono 100 pencils, Carl Pencil Sharpeners, and of course the new Mongols.

You can see these and more both online and in-store in our Nashville Shop. We are open this week in Nashville from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday. Remember that next week is the On The Paper Trail Live Event in Nashville from Friday to Sunday (10/16-10/18).

1. Anterique Mach Ball 3-Color Multi Pens (Standard Size). The standard-size Anterique Multi-Pen comes in five different colors. Each pen contains a black, blue, and red low-viscosity ballpoint .5mm refill.

2. Anterique 3-Color Multi Pens (Mini). In addition to the standard size, the Anterique Multi Pens come in the miniature format. Refills are available for both sizes.

3. Carl Angel-5 Desktop Pencil Sharpeners. The Carl Angel-5 pencil sharpener might be my favorite long-point desktop sharpener on the market, especially once you consider the value proposition.

4. Carl Standard Desktop Pencil Sharpeners. These economy pencil sharpeners from Carl are still excellent, especially if you don’t need the dagger point of the Angel-5, or want a sharpener that doesn’t leave the signature “teethmarks” on your pencil barrel.

5. Carl Refill Maker 6-Hole Punch. We have additional stock of one of my favorite desk accessories - the Carl Refill Maker which allows you to create your own 6-ring binder refills in sizes that include A5, Bible, Mini, and Mini-5.

6. New Mongol Pencils. The classic Mongol pencil brand returns! Be sure to check out our recent overview of this very good wood pencil, which is a reissue of a classic No. 2 office brand that has been out of circulation for decades.

7. Uni Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Pencils. A high-end favorite of wood pencil enthusiasts, we sell the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni in four different grades of graphite, both individually and by the dozen.

8. Tombow Mono 100 Pencils. Some people prefer either the Mono 100 or the Hi-Uni - both are excellent and we have restocked on both individual pencils and dozen boxes.

9. Uni-Ball One F Series and Earth Texture Gel Pens and Refills. We received a complete restock of standard Uni-Ball One gel pens, as well as the stand alone refills that can be used in both the One and Zento pen bodies. The One gel ink appears glossier than the matte Zento.

10. Wonderland222 Dated Planners. My (Joe’s) planner system of choice, the Wonderland222 features an intuitive layout that allows you to plan at multiple levels during the course of a year. We recently featured a walkthrough of this system and discussed why we like it in detail.

And don’t forget to check out new arrivals from Tono & Lims!

My 2027 Planner Setup: Why I Chose Wonderland222 (Again)

I decided to try a completely new planner system and layout in 2026: the Wonderland222 “Core” system. I’ve experimented with other planner systems in the past, including both Hobonichi and Kokuyo Jibun Techo, but have never been able to find a specific layout that met all of my needs in a single volume. I instead found myself juggling too many planners and notebooks, which is neither convenient nor sustainable.

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Even with the year 3/4 complete, this A5 planner remains relatively compact and not overly thick.

This past year with my Wonderland222 Planner has been an unparalleled success. Their A5 Core Stacked layout has everything that I look for in a planner, and best of all it remains slim enough that I can take it everywhere, and even carry it in a Roterfaden A5 Taschenbegleiter with other notebooks. Nothing about this planner will change for 2027, at least in terms of layout, so I’m running it back and plan to use the exact same book. The news that garnered the most attention was Wonderland222’s decision to return to Tomoe River Paper for 2027, but that’s less important to me as I’m fine with either TRP or the excellent paper in the 2026 Planners and Notebooks. Increasingly, much of the writing in my planner is done with a gel pen or mechanical pencil.

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I used planner tabs (a mix of Midori and TRAVELER’S Company) to help me flip between all of the various views and layouts in the Core System. I will do this again next year.

Wonderland222 Core System: Great for Those Who Need a Multi-Level Planning System

Wonderland222 Planners are organized around what they refer to as their “Core” planning system, a multi-level planning system with four-year, annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily layouts all included in a single volume. In addition to the calendars, the planner includes a task tracker or logging page, as well as blank “review” pages at the beginning and end of each month to assist with summaries and transitions. All of these are laid out in an intuitive format that make periodic reviews and monthly/weekly transitions easy - especially important if you have a lot of tasks going on at once. To be clear, all Wonderland222 Planners include the multiple calendars. The terminology can get a bit confusing because “Core” is also used to refer to planner size - more on that below.

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Each quarterly calendar has three months on the left-hand side, with a blank page for notes on the right.

In addition to the weekly calendar layout, which I will discuss in greater detail below, my most-frequently used planning tools are the quarterly calendar and the monthly calendars. Monthly planning functions include convenient pre- and post-monthly review pages, which I use to close out open tasks from the prior month, and sometimes journal on how things went, prior to listing tasks and ideas I am carrying over into the next month.

Monthly review/preview pages shown for October and November.

Vertical Weekly Layouts Make Time-Blocking Easy

The heart of the Wonderland222 Planners is the weekly layout. Most options include a vertical weekly calendar, which I prefer because it allows me to time-block individual days while also viewing a week at a glance. The calendar features a Monday start, and Saturday and Sunday can either be stacked (single column) or unstacked (two additional daily columns), depending on how much structure your weekend requires.

A simple example of time-blocking, and also showing how the “stacked month” layout works in the Wonderland222. In the “unstacked” version, Saturday and Sunday each have their own column rather than sharing one, but the columns are narrower with less room to write.

Horizontal layouts are also available. These will be familiar to fans of the Hobonichi Weeks and TRAVELER’S Company Weekly+Memo formats. If you don’t time block or plan by the hour, or alternatively if you tend to use your planner more as a journal or daily logbook, you might prefer a horizontal layout as it gives you additional room to write.

Weekly horizontal layout - Photo courtesy of Wonderland222.

I’ve Discovered That I Don’t Need 365+ Daily Pages

Wonderland222 Planners are available in two page-count variations: the All-in-One and "Core” versions. Here’s where it gets slightly confusing - both the All-in-One and Core planners get you the “Core” planning system (the yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, etc.). The difference is the number of daily pages the planner contains. The All-in-One allows you to plan every day on a daily level, with 376 undated daily pages that can be used for planning each day down to the half-hour, or for notes or journaling. The Core planners contain 88 daily pages, for those of us who don’t necessarily require a full page for every day, or who simply want a smaller number of blank pages for notes. I tend to use the 88 blank pages at the back of my current planner for notes, brainstorming, to-do lists, and specific project management. If I'm traveling and don’t have room to carry a stand-alone journal, I will also use these pages for personal journaling.

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The Undated “Daily” pages are grid pages with a 24-hour calendar on the left hand margin, as well as a header and a faint quadrant rule.

A Wonderland222 A5 Video Walkthrough

As you can tell, I’m pretty enthusiastic about this planner system, mainly because it works so well for me personally. If you would like to see a video walkthrough of the Wonderland222 Planner System (A5 Core Stacked Layout), visit our YouTube Channel where I walked through my blank 2027 A5 Core Stacked planner. In video format, I can show you each of the various pages without having to worry about covering up personal information, and also offer a better sense of how each segment flows through into the next. It’s an intuitive system for those of us who need more functionality than a basic calendar provides, but there is something of a learning curve to fully maximize all the potential here.

Now that we have additional online retail capacity, we decided to bring Wonderland222 Planners and Notebooks into the TGS Shop. We have these in our Nashville store in addition to online. Currently we have most of the layouts in sizes that include A5, B6, and A6. As with most dated planners from the boutique planner brands, Wonderland222 may run out of certain variants, so if you want to pick up a specific planner please don’t wait until year-end as we cannot guarantee availability.

New Arrivals: Tono & Lims Friendship Inks, Including Shimmer and Chromashaders

We’ve been adding additional inks to our Tono & Lims selection, including most of the “Souvenir” inks from the Friendship line. Yesterday we listed some gorgeous inks that shade in multiple colors, including one with shimmer (Souvenir ao, Moanalua). These are some of the more interesting colors from the line that I’ve seen. Be sure to check out these and more, as we are adding new stuff every day now that the new site is up and running.

You can see these and more in our Nashville shop from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday. And of course you also shop 24/7.

Tono & Lims Studio ao, Moanalua.

Souvenir Kai, Waikiki

Souvenir Moment, Berlin

Souvenir Tje, Utrecht

And, we have one ink from the Earth Contact line: No. 027 Sodalite!

Sunday Reading for October 4, 2026

1. My Top 10 Fountain Pen GRIPES! (via Doodlebud). A bad cap seal tops my list as well, especially when it causes the ink to evaporate altogether. This can also be a problem with ink bottles.

2. Interview with Scrively: What Makes a Good Notebook? (via Scrively). 100% it can’t just be about the notebook. Pen and ink play a huge role as well.

3. Profolio Oasis Notebook Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). I love multilined/hybrid dot-grid rulings, which is why we decided to bring the Profolio notebooks back into the shop along with others that use a similar layout.

4. What Would I Do Differently If I Started with Fountain Pens Today? (via SBRE Brown). I was fortunate enough to to come into the hobby when the pace of information online was a bit slower. I also think I’d do it about the same, though I’d probably try to learn a bit more about the history of vintage pens and focus less on acquisition.

5. Hakase 90th Anniversary (via UK Fountain Pens). That is a gorgeous wood pen, and I say that with wood pens typically not being my thing.

6. Creative Fuel Prompts (via From the Pen Cup). In our most recent podcast episodes we talked a little about using prompts for journaling and other creative exercises. Mary always has excellent prompt resources!

7. Ink Preview: Penultimate Inks (via Well-Appointed Desk). I picked up several bottles in Dallas as well, including Monk, Sorcerer, Paladin, and Wizard. Stay tuned!

In Case You Missed It….

This week we released Episode 17 of On the Paper Trail, Journaling for Mental Health Part II, in which we discussed different journaling techniques that we have both experimented with in the past. I also published a first look at the new Mongol pencil re-release that contains an updated Top 5 Woodcase Pencil list, as well as a YouTube video walking through the Wonderland222 A5 Core Stacked Planner, which I’ve decided to use again in 2027.

We also have additional stock of our exclusive Sunderland mk1 machined rollerball, which we brought back at popular request.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We’re continuing to restock the shop after our inventory ran down somewhat during our revamp and transition to Shopify! Thanks to everyone who shared kind words on this project, and we’re glad you all are enjoying the new space as much as we are. This week we added some additional Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters in A4 and A6 sizes, and released the Wonderland222 dated planners in multiple sizes and layouts. Wonderland is moving back to 52gsm Tomoe River Paper this year, and in addition to the planners we are also stocking the notebooks. Finally, on Saturday we received a huge shipment of Clairefontaine paper and Exacompta index cards.

Check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for the full list of new arrivals and restocks. We are open online 24/7 and our Nashville storefront is open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-5pm on Saturday.

Wonderland222

Sunderland

Tono & Lims

Mongol

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Hands-on with the New Mongol Pencil, Plus My Current Top 5 Woodcase Pencils for Everyday Writing

This one surprised me, as the launch came with very little fanfare: the Mongol pencil brand has apparently been reborn. I inadvertently discovered these pencils while browsing one of our distributor websites, and since I collect vintage woodcase pencils, well, I had to pick some up to see if they were worthy of the name.

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The new Mongol (bottom) compared against a vintage Mongol 482.

The original Eberhard Faber (later Faber-Castell) Mongol pencil was considered a quality office brand intended for mainstream use, and traditionally sat between inexpensive school-grade pencils and premium options such as the Blackwing. As with most classic pencils, the Mongol line was phased out in the late 1990s-early 2000s amid a wave of corporate consolidations. Basically, everything became a Papermate, and most premium pencil lines disappeared in favor of cheap imports and low-quality economy pencils that caused many people to “write off” wood pencils entirely. You could still find pencils sold under the Mongol brand internationally in countries including Colombia, Venezuela, and the Philippines, but here in the U.S., multiple generations have come and gone without Mongol having any significant presence outside the vintage market.

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From bottom: The re-released Mongol, a vintage Faber-Castell Mongol 482, and a Faber-Castell American, which is a school-grade pencil that makes you envy how good even the cheapest pencils were 30 years ago.

Mongol Pencils: Modern vs. Vintage

So how does the modern re-release stack up against the vintage Mongol? Fairly well, actually, especially once you account for the price point and manufacturing shifts that have occurred in the pencil industry over the past 30+ years. The original Mongol pencils were known for their thick bright yellow lacquer, which the modern version faithfully reproduces. I may actually prefer the lacquer on the new pencil to the vintage Faber-Castell Mongol 482, though the thick application adds to the barrel diameter. The imprint on the new pencils, however, is not as clean, and I strongly prefer the legacy branding. I will attribute this one to an effort to keep the price point down and to offer the new Mongol in the same market segment (office use) as the original.

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A close-up of the imprint on the new Mongol, which isn’t as crisp as the

But how does it write? Nostalgia aside, it comes down to the writing experience, and this is a good one. Cedar Alliance Ltd (the company that makes Mongol), states that these pencils contain sustainably sourced California Incense Cedar and European graphite while being manufactured in Vietnam. Tombow pencils are also made in Vietnam, and the quality feels similar.

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The new Mongol (top) writes an ever-so-slightly darker line.

I prefer darker pencils, and vintage American pencils - including vintage Mongols - often feel a touch light for my preference. The modern Mongol pencil writes a darker line that I prefer even if it sacrifices a bit of point retention. The eraser is excellent, both functionally and visually, retaining the banded black-and-gold ferrule and bright pink color.

The vintage-style erasers are a classic touch.

So what’s the verdict? I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend these pencils, especially for those looking for a high quality school or office pencil that can be purchased in bulk. For example, 144 Mongols will set you back $36.95. Are the Mongols as “nice” as a Blackwing? No, but they’re a heck of a lot better than what you will currently get from the big box stores or school suppliers for around the same amount of money. You can also buy a pack of 48, and we sell them individually if you would like to try a single pencil.

A bit of a history lesson! The name “Mongol” allegedly comes from “Purée Mongole,” a yellow split-pea soup that was a favorite of “pencil baron” John Eberhard Faber.

Alas, what don’t you get? The “Woodclinched U.S.A.” imprint you used to find on the original.

Bonus: My Current Top 5 Woodcase Pencils for Everyday Writing

While I’m on the subject of wood pencils, I’ve received several submissions requesting that I update my “Top 5 Woodcase Pencils for Everyday Writing.” One note - while I won’t add the new Mongol to this list yet, if the pencil takes off and remains steadily available, I could see this pencil making an appearance due to the value proposition it offers. But not yet. Here are my current Top 5, which you can compare against the old list.

1. Tombow 2558 (B). Tombow makes exceptionally high quality pencils for the price point, and this particular model is one of the best classic No. 2’s out there. The 2558 writes a smooth dark line in both HB and B grade, the eraser erases cleanly, and the lacquer is impeccably finished. 10/10

2. Viarco 2001 (HB or B). I’ve always preferred a slightly gritty texture to my graphite - not enough to make the pencil scratchy, but just enough to add tactility to the writing experience. I can’t stand overly waxy pencils. Viarco pencils have the perfect feel, and there’s the added historical charm to writing with a pencil made in one of the last operating European pencil factories.

3. Camel (HB). Part of this pencil’s allure is the integrated eraser, which sits flush with the barrel, but Camel pencils also use excellent graphite and feature a finish that you would expect from a premium Japanese writing pencil.

4. Mitsubishi 9850 (HB). This classic Japanese office pencil pairs a red lacquer barrel with a white eraser. Apparently I’m not the only one who loves these things, as they are insanely difficult to keep in stock.

5. Blackwing Natural (Extra-Firm). Sure, it’s a premium option for everyday writing, but the natural finish on these pencils remains a favorite and the extra-firm graphite ensures that your pencils will last a long time. The Natural has become my go-to pencil from Blackwing’s lineup.

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All of these pencils have great imprints, in my opinion. In addition to being quality writing instruments, they’re visually interesting desk objects that retain their respective brands’ heritage.

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