THE NIB ANTHOLOGY - The Complete Guide to Pen Nibs / Shumi no Bungubako

A Comprehensive Book for Mastering Pen Nibs: 22 Years of Articles from the magazine "Shumi no Bungubako" (Hobby Stationery Box), a popular Japanese magazine dedicated to fine stationery, handwriting, and writing instruments.

This book compiles articles about fountain pen nibs from "Shumi no Bungubako." From its founding in 2004 to 2026, this 300-page volume presents the articles on nibs that the "Shumi no Bungubako" editorial team has cultivated over 22 years. Designed to be enjoyable for everyone from beginners wanting to learn about fountain pens to those wanting to delve deeply into fountain pen nibs, it covers everything from the basics of nibs to the characteristics of nibs from Japan and abroad, to articles on craftsmen and adjusters, and the differences in writing feel depending on the nib.

Among them, the article "The Profound Depths of Pen Nibs," which delves into the intricacies of nib points through extreme magnification, and the articles on the factories of Japan's three major fountain pen brands—Sailor Pen, Pilot, and Platinum Pen—are must-reads. They explain the characteristics of each brand's nibs by magnifying even parts invisible to the naked eye, and provide detailed descriptions of the manufacturing sites that are rarely seen by the general public. Furthermore, this book compiles articles on craftsmen and adjusters from the past to the present, including the legendary nib maker Masatoshi Ishikawa, the Nagahara family who have been involved with nibs for three generations, and Nobuhiko Moriyama of Fullhalter. It offers a comprehensive overview of the connections and techniques of craftsmen in Japan. It also covers essential information for mastering nibs, including introductions to vintage and special nibs, analysis of writing feel, and maintenance methods.

This book, a selection of articles from the inaugural issue to volume 77 of "Shumi no Bungubako" (Hobby Stationery Box), is packed with the essence of learning about nibs. Let's delve deeper into the charm of fountain pens by exploring the nib, often called the heart of the pen.

This book is in Japanese. Please use camera translator app, such as Google Translator to read in other languages.