Seeking Antique-looking journal, ideas?

[ScottT]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm currently shopping for my girlfriend and am seeking a journal for her to use. I'd like it to be more antique than modern, good-quality paper (of course) and of the type that when people see it, they think 'classy'.

 

Now I'm about as classy as week-old roadkill :blink: so you see my problem. Where might I find such a wondrous journal?

 

A nice to have option would be refillable of course.

 

If anyone can help, I would surely appreciate it.

 

Thanks,

ScottT

[WillAdams]

Both Border's and Barnes & Noble Carry nice quality leather journal covers with refillable inserts.

 

Not fabulous, but nice.

 

William

[andyr7]

I ended up buying three of these, in different colours, red tan & black. All are lovely, and probably have the 'feel' you want, with the marbled page edges.

 

Roma Lussa Leather Journal

 

UK source is shown but the labels show "Made in Italy for Cavellini & Co, San Francisco" so there must be a US source too if you Google wisely!

 

Andy

[pigpogm]

I'm currently shopping for my girlfriend

 

It's worth spending the extra to get a girlfriend you really like. Too many people compromise on that, and it rarely ends well.

 

 

Sorry.

 

PaperBlanks make some nice vintage look notebooks, and Ciak are supposed to be very nice, with real leather covers. I've no idea what either of these are like for fountain pens (I've never actually seen a Ciak, bought a PaperBlanks diary for my wife, but it's not been tested yet), but I'm sure other people can fill in on that (assuming that's important to her).

[umenohana]

These look antique. I'll have to buy one when I finish my current one.

 

Some may like leather strip ties, but I think it's more rustic than classy.

 

-Hana

[pigpogm]

Some may like leather strip ties, but I think it's more rustic than classy.

 

Leather strip-tease? :blink:

 

:blink:

 

What?

 

Oh.

 

Sorry.

 

[ToThePoint]

I would highly recommend taking a look at Renaissance Art. I have one of their Moleskine covers and a thrilled at the quality and craftsmanship for the price. It is absolutely lovely. And their woven ties certainly do not look "rustic."

[antigone]

PaperBlanks make some nice vintage look notebooks, and Ciak are supposed to be very nice, with real leather covers.  I've no idea what either of these are like for fountain pens (I've never actually seen a Ciak, bought a PaperBlanks diary for my wife, but it's not been tested yet), but I'm sure other people can fill in on that (assuming that's important to her).

Watch out, the Paperblanks I tested (about 2 or 3) HATE fountain pens. The backside of the paper in these notebooks makes ink feather beyond moleskine-measure Gel pens work fine btw.

 

Ciaks have nice paper (even for FPs) and the (faux) leather cover is all soft and nice to touch, but the book won't stay open or lay flat on its own. On the other hand the elastic closure will definitely not let it fall open on its own. My boyfriend got me one as a present and I liked it very much

I'd say it depends on where your girlfriend writes in her journal most of the time. If shes one to carry her journal everywhere, the Ciak may be perfect. If she writes at her desk mostly, it may bother her to have to hold the journal open all the time.

[ScottT]

Hi Everyone,

 

Thanks for all the help!

 

Lots of choices, and I appreciate all the input.

 

As this is going to be an everyday, use it for everything including lists type journal, I may give the Epica journals a pass, though I wouldn't mind one for me!

 

Again, thanks to everyone for the help.

 

-ScottT

[london]

I ended up buying three of these, in different colours, red tan & black. All are lovely, and probably have the 'feel' you want, with the marbled page edges.

 

Roma Lussa Leather Journal

 

UK source is shown but the labels show "Made in Italy for Cavellini & Co, San Francisco" so there must be a US source too if you Google wisely!

 

Andy

Hmmm. I like the look of those.

 

- Mark

[simonsong]

My recommendations (all tested with my Platinum music pen and Aurora ink, the nib is quite broad):

(1) Epica journal with handcut paper. The one with the so called Amalfi paper would not work with fountain pen (I have tested a sample sent by Epica).

(2) Aspinal of London, just bought one with full leather. One side of the paper is quite smooth, the other is with some tooth which forces one to write slowly. One thing bothers me is that the paper is a little see-through.

(3) La Scuderia del Duca ( http://www.carta-amalfi.it/catalogo.asp?cat=8&parent=0). Genuine white Amalfi paper.

 

The paper in all these journals is fountain-pen friendly, no bleeding-through, no feathering.

 

Simon

[ScottT]

Thanks for the input, simonsong.

 

I like your number 3 choice! Very tasteful.

 

-ScottT

[Badger]

I bought a Roma Lussa journal and absolutely love it. I like to take my journal out and about so the leather wrap stops any papers bending in my handbag. I think the design and marbling is classy and timeless. I will buy another when this is full.

Badge

[MarcShiman]

To me there has to be balance between the price and the quality - I'd love to spend $70 on a journal and get something gorgeous, but then it would make me afraid to spoil it with my sometimes inane ideas.

 

Moleskines are nice, but don't work with all of my pens. I also want a leather cover.

 

I've settled on the Gallery leather/Paperchase Journals found at Borders. The large size is $24.95 for 192 pages. Gold gilded edges, ivory paper, lined nicely. They are just right for me. At that price I don't mind wasting a page writing something stupid

[Badger]

Watch out, the Paperblanks I tested (about 2 or 3) HATE fountain pens. The backside of the paper in these notebooks makes ink feather beyond moleskine-measure  Gel pens work fine btw.

 

I bought a beautiful PaperBlanks diary but found the ink sat wet on the paper, I didn't like it so gave it away. Don't they advertise as being fp friendly?

[Walter's daughter]

I know this is an old thread, but I was given a beautiful Paperblanks journal for Christmas. My delight turned to horror when I began to write in it-----even with my finest, driest writer it felt (and looked!) as though I were writing on blotting paper

Before looking on here for Paperblank references, I rang their customer services. The gentleman I spoke to suggested that they had had no complaints about their journals' incompatibility with fountain pens, so perhaps I just had a bad one. He is going to post me a replacement plus another one just in case the first replacement has the same problem. I am, of course, pleased with the response, but from what others have said on here, not optimistic!

 

Surely, with such an attractive product, the company would ensure that the paper would be suitable for fountain pen users? ---- or don't they know we're out here?

Incidentally, I pointed out FPN to him as evidence that I'm not a lonely, insignificant customer.

 

I'll keep you all posted on this one.

 

Angela

[guy]

Please do... I bought an antique looking Paperblank journal about two months ago.

It is stuck in a drawer, because I too had the same problem... no matter what fountain pen I used it was like blotting paper.

 

Good luck

[p-zero]

I have a coptic bound Paperblanks journal. I am not crazy about the paper. It is smooth & there is no bleed through & no feathering, or at least hardly any. What I don't like is that the ink sort of soaks in to the paper & doesn't look nice like it does on other papers. <_<

 

edit for type-o

Edited January 6, 2007 by p-zero

[bernardo]

I strongly suggest Peperblanks. I've tried them with M, F, and XF nibs using Lamy, Parker, and Sheaffer ink and the paper takes it very well.

[Slush99]

is there a website or something for paperblanks? <_< <_< sounds really really nasty.