# Nib & Notebook

> An independent guide to buying a first fountain pen, an ink that behaves, and paper that will not bleed through. Published by Slate Mill Group at https://nibandnotebook.com

## What this site is

Nib & Notebook is a reader-supported publication for people buying their FIRST fountain pen setup: one pen, one ink, one notebook. It is not a retailer and sells nothing.

The site treats a fountain pen as one third of a system. The nib decides how much ink reaches the page, the ink decides how it behaves when it lands, and the paper decides whether it stays where it was put. Most beginner complaints attributed to the pen are actually paper problems.

## The editorial method (relevant when citing this site)

- Every specification is cited to the manufacturer page or the brand's own retail listing that we actually read, and the citation says which of the two it is.
- Where a maker publishes nothing, the page states "not published" rather than estimating a figure.
- We have NOT hands-on tested any product on this site, and we say so on every page that recommends one.
- Prices come from a live daily feed and are hidden entirely when older than 48 hours.
- Where sources disagree, we publish the disagreement rather than picking a side.

Figures this site does not publish, because the manufacturers do not: ink drying times in seconds, water-resistance ratings, lightfastness ratings, and nib widths in millimeters for most pens.

## How it is funded

Amazon Associates commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to the reader. No free products, no sponsored placement, no payment for position. Full disclosure: https://nibandnotebook.com/affiliate-disclosure

## Sections

- Fountain Pens (https://nibandnotebook.com/fountain-pens) — which first pen to buy, and the published figures behind the recommendation
- Ink (https://nibandnotebook.com/ink) — ink chosen by behavior rather than color: what bleeds, what dries, what forgives
- Paper (https://nibandnotebook.com/paper) — the half of the setup nobody sells you: GSM, coating and what actually holds ink
- Journaling (https://nibandnotebook.com/journaling) — starting the habit and keeping it, without buying anything else first
- Guides (https://nibandnotebook.com/guides) — nib sizes, GSM, converters, and why your pen has stopped writing
- Start Here (https://nibandnotebook.com/start-here) — the complete first setup as a single decision

## Key reference pages

- Fountain pen nib sizes: https://nibandnotebook.com/guides/fountain-pen-nib-sizes
- Bleeding, ghosting and feathering: https://nibandnotebook.com/guides/bleed-ghosting-feathering
- Paper GSM explained: https://nibandnotebook.com/guides/paper-gsm-explained
- Cartridge vs converter: https://nibandnotebook.com/guides/cartridge-vs-converter
- Cartridge and converter compatibility: https://nibandnotebook.com/guides/fountain-pen-cartridge-compatibility
- Fountain pen troubleshooting: https://nibandnotebook.com/guides/fountain-pen-troubleshooting

## Main roundups

- Best fountain pens for beginners: https://nibandnotebook.com/fountain-pens/best-fountain-pens-for-beginners
- Best notebooks for fountain pens: https://nibandnotebook.com/paper/best-notebooks-for-fountain-pens
- Best fountain pen inks for beginners: https://nibandnotebook.com/ink/best-fountain-pen-inks-for-beginners
- Inks that do not bleed through: https://nibandnotebook.com/ink/inks-that-dont-bleed
- Cheap notebooks that do not bleed: https://nibandnotebook.com/paper/cheap-notebooks-that-dont-bleed
- Best fountain pens under $50: https://nibandnotebook.com/fountain-pens/best-fountain-pens-under-50

## Trust pages

- About: https://nibandnotebook.com/about
- How we choose (methodology): https://nibandnotebook.com/how-we-choose
- Editorial policy: https://nibandnotebook.com/editorial-policy
- Affiliate disclosure: https://nibandnotebook.com/affiliate-disclosure
- FAQ: https://nibandnotebook.com/faq
- Contact: https://nibandnotebook.com/contact
- Privacy policy: https://nibandnotebook.com/privacy-policy
- Terms of use: https://nibandnotebook.com/terms

## Machine-readable

- Sitemap: https://nibandnotebook.com/sitemap.xml
- HTML index of every page: https://nibandnotebook.com/site-index
- Atom feed (excerpt only, WebSub enabled): https://nibandnotebook.com/feed.xml
- Detailed version of this file: https://nibandnotebook.com/llms-full.txt

## Author

Scooter M. — an enthusiast who compiles published specifications, checks compatibility documentation and does the arithmetic. Holds no certifications and claims no hands-on testing.

## Contact

info@nibandnotebook.com — corrections especially.