Choosing fountain pen paper & notebooks comes down to a practical fork: do you want a dedicated writing surface with a grid, or a ready-to-use set that adds a pen, ink, and journal? The MD A5 Grid Ruled Notebook and Speedball Calligraphy & Illustration Executive Fountain Pen & Journal Kit serve different writing routines, so the right choice depends on whether page structure or an all-in-one format matters more.
Quick verdict
Choose the MD A5 Grid Ruled Notebook if your priority is organized writing on bleed-resistant paper with a ruled layout. Its notebook-focused design is the clearer fit for journaling, lettering, and notes where consistent spacing matters.
Choose the Speedball Calligraphy & Illustration Executive Fountain Pen & Journal Kit if you want the writing instrument and core accessories included with the journal. It offers a broader starting setup in a smaller journal format.
The two listed prices are $10.99 apart, making the main decision the format rather than a small difference between otherwise similar notebooks.
At a glance
| Product | Listed price | Format | Distinguishing detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD A5 Grid Ruled Notebook | USD 22.99 | A5 notebook | Bleed-resistant paper |
| Speedball Calligraphy & Illustration Executive Fountain Pen & Journal Kit | USD 12.00 | Pen and journal kit | Pen, journal, cartridges, and converter |
Where each product wins
MD for notebook-centered writing
The MD is the stronger match when the notebook page is the centerpiece of your routine. Its fountain pen-friendly design and ruled format make it a focused choice for writing sessions that benefit from visual guidance.
Speedball for an all-in-one setup
Speedball is the better fit when you want more than paper in the package. The kit format combines a fountain pen, journal, black ink cartridges, and a converter, so it addresses several parts of a writing setup at once.
Product notes
MD A5 Grid Ruled Notebook
The MD A5 Grid Ruled Notebook suits a writer who wants the page to provide structure. Its 5mm grid, light blue lines, and markers every five squares are designed for measured writing and letter counting, while the bleed-resistant paper is described for fountain pen use. The 188-degree opening and thread binding support a notebook format intended to stay open during a writing session. Its limitation is the notebook-first format: shoppers seeking a pen, black cartridges, and an ink converter alongside the journal should look to the Speedball kit instead. At USD 22.99, the MD is the higher-priced choice in this comparison, with a $10.99 gap separating it from Speedball.
Speedball Calligraphy & Illustration Executive Fountain Pen & Journal Kit
Speedball makes sense when the goal is a complete pen-and-journal starting point rather than a ruled notebook. The set includes an Executive Fountain Pen, a 5.5 x 5.5-inch journal with 152 blank pages, two black-ink cartridges, and an ink converter for using your own ink. That combination is the clearest reason to choose it: the writing instrument and core accessories are part of the kit. Its limitation is the page format. Because the journal is described as blank, it does not offer the MD notebook's 5mm grid, light-blue ruling, or letter-count markers. Choose Speedball when those included components matter more than a guided page layout.
Final choice by use case
- Choose the MD A5 Grid Ruled Notebook for structured notes, measured lettering, or a notebook-first fountain pen journal.
- Choose the Speedball Calligraphy & Illustration Executive Fountain Pen & Journal Kit when you want a pen, journal, cartridges, and converter together.
- Choose based on format first: the MD is a dedicated A5 notebook, while Speedball is a pen-and-journal kit with blank pages.
For a focused writing surface, MD is the more direct match. For a broader starter arrangement, Speedball offers the more fitting format.
