Paper Tested / About
About Paper Tested
Will my fountain pen bleed through this? That’s the question this site tries to answer, one notebook at a time.
What this is
Paper Tested is an independent database of notebooks and paper, rated for how they cope with fountain pens: bleed-through, feathering, ghosting, sheen and drying time. You can search and filter the lot, compare two side by side, or let the picker suggest a few for your pens and inks.
Where the ratings come from
I don’t make ratings up. Every rating comes from an independent reviewer’s published test, and each notebook’s page lists its sources so you can read the original review yourself.
Shop listings and brand marketing copy don’t count. A shop calling its paper “fountain pen friendly” isn’t a test. Where nobody has rated something properly yet, the page says so rather than guessing.
Who’s behind it
Hello, I’m Dean. I’m a fountain pen and stationery fan in the UK, and I also run Margins of a Day. Paper Tested is my way of pulling together what reviewers have already found, so you can check a notebook before you buy it.
How the site makes money
Some of the shop links here are affiliate links, including Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something through one of these links, the shop pays me a small commission and you pay exactly the same price. That’s what keeps the site going.
The links never change the ratings. A notebook’s verdict only restates its cited reviews, whether or not any shop pays a commission on it.
Get in touch
I’d love to hear from you, especially about:
- Corrections. If a rating looks wrong or a link is broken, please tell me, ideally with a link to the review.
- Notebook suggestions. Spotted one I’ve missed? Send it over, along with any published fountain pen tests of it.
- Brands and sponsors. Enquiries about sponsorship or working together are welcome. Just bear in mind that sponsorship can’t buy a better rating.