Esquire's 25 Favorite Stationary Items of 2025

Papier is a company that does things right—scrolling through the writing pads and stationary on the website is enough to make any stationary-lover drool. Take for instance, this soft tumbled leather journal with the option to add their engraved initials on the front. Dignified without being stuffy. With extra wide lines on the pages, this is a writer’s dream.

Our love for the G2 is nothing new and has already been beautifully articulated in these digital pages. That love remains steadfast, but this sleek new white variation has captured our attention (though the original black still rules). Our everyday pen that always looks great and makes us feel sterling.

Well, if you’re going to do it, why not go for it? These King correspondence cards are the height of sophistication. You may not be able to buy class, but these cards sure do help add that touch of duende that leaves people with no choice but to be impressed.

There’s no shortage of fine paper for each type of writing instrument. When we’re using a fountain pen—for correspondence or journaling—we’re obsessed with Yu-Sari from Nakabayashi, a Japanese brand that is elegant and without pretension.

One of the most coveted writing tools of the 20th century. John Steinbeck wrote “The Grapes of Wrath” with a Blackwing 602. It was also the pencil of choice for cartoonists and early animators, but it was discontinued in the late ’90s.

When California Cedar Products Company decided to resurrect the Blackwing 602 in 2010—the patent long since elapsed—it quickly discovered why it had stopped being made: These pencils are difficult and expensive to produce. Are they worth it? You bet. This essentials kit is handsomely packaged and a wonderful chance to see what the fuss is all about.

Another case of a legendary brand’s successful reboot. If you grew up in the mid-20th century and used a fountain pen at school, likely it was an Esterbrook. The new line, made by Kenro Industries, hit the market in 2018, and the company deserves kudos for attention paid to packaging. The packaging is fun, and the pens offer a smooth high-end writing experience. Our favorite is the classic Estie—we love it in this raven black—which in addition to being aesthetically pleasing is also an everyday workhorse.

That fountain pen isn’t just going to ink itself. Sailor not only makes some of the finest writing instruments in the world, but its inks are exquisite, too. This Manyo Ink, in a terrific, bold blue is an attractive option for their fountain pen.

We love these hefty little pen boxes. The simplicity of the design, the variety of color options, and the functionality—it's all perfect. Less is more wins again.

You don’t need to mess with perfection, and the Micron has long been a treasured pen for illustrators. Ideal for journaling as well. Just add them to your cart, they are indispensable.

They're not going to throw all their favorite pens and pencils into a drawer. Especially because, if this is their jam, they'll find themself increasingly unable to travel for any prolonged period of time (overnight or more) without a few pens. Well-made with fun color choices, this pen case from Lihit Lab is useful and cool. We're into the safety orange, but pick based on your giftee's personality.

Bow down. You know we had to turn to Montblanc to tempt you with one of its many fine offerings. We adore the Star Walker ballpoint pen, which has a substantial feel in your hand, but writes wonderfully. It glides, for sure, but with just enough resistance to make you appreciate what differentiates a ballpoint from a gel or fountain pen. Fantastic.

File this under: people are amazing. Matt Stevens reimagines movie posters as old book covers. It’s a highly personalized project and his artwork is brilliant. Not only is the book Father’s Day catnip, but the accompanying box set of 100 postcards are a correspondent’s dream, especially if their Venn diagram involves movie-loving as well. Pound-for-pound it's one of the dopest gifts you can find.

Okay, so full confession: We’re lowkey obsessed with these pens because, well, because they deliver on their promise. Previously, it was a promise that only worked in theory, not practice. But these svelte pens erase beautifully! The color palette is vibrant and the ink is bold and not wishy-washy or muted. Esquire's fountain pen snobs might not love them, but some of us can’t put them down.

Don’t call it a comeback... Of course, Filofax has been here for years and still doing what it does best. We dig the slightly wider version of the classic organizer, but that’s just a matter of preference and taste, not quality. In any size, the organizer comes with an scannable code next to each day; an accompanying Filofax app then pairs your notebook with your phone. While the purpose of so much physical writing is about escaping from the digital world, connecting the two in this case seems smart and intuitive not regressive. Innovative move.

When you’re looking for that luxe feel—no matter what you’re composing—Crane is where we turn. Even if you’ve never been married, you likely associate stationary excellence with Crane. We all need some blank, unadorned paper and envelopes for when the occasion calls.

More from the incomparable Smythson of Bond Street. For those who are more than serious about their stationary game, this chic organizer will house their goods in supreme style.

You can find a suitable letter opener that will do the job just fine, but a basic letter opener has all the lure of a can opener. Why bother? Which is why they’re an item that has always been ideal for ornamentation and aesthetic flair. We think this honey of a Gecko letter opener hits the sweet spot—a fine instrument that will look incredible on their desk.

Writing letters gets a fresh boost of energy with Pigeon’s origami-like stationary that serves as writing paper and envelope all in one. Just super clever, idiosyncratic, functional fun.

An elegant and discreet set of stationary doesn’t need to break the bank and is always something good to have on hand. Sure, you can’t go wrong with Papyrus, but we’re taken with this set of paper and envelopes for notes and letters from G. Lalo. Charming.

Okay, they're serious about upping their correspondence game—what seals the deal better than a wax stamp? Are we being extra? You bet. The stamp can be as simple as an initial, but no matter what you choose, it lends another level of care and presentation in any missive they send. In fact, you should also buy one of these for yourself.