Full review with images found here: Little Habana Review

The US made "Little" Habana -similar to the big "Papa" Habana, except that the paper is thinner. These will continue to be made in the US, and the paper grades are going to stay the same. There had been a question of whether to continue production in the US and the answer is YES! They will continue to be produced in the US.

- Large notebook - 90 g paper
- Small notebook - 64 g paper

And per Karen Doherty of Exaclair: The French version with ivory paper, (currently 60g in both the large and small,) will be replaced with 85g in each. These will NOT be imported to the US, as Exaclair WILL be importing the Rhodia Webnotebooks instead. (with 80g paper)

Exaclair does not currently feel the need to import two ivory papered journals.

Size difference between the large & small Quo Vadis Habanas

Of note- each of these has a flexible cover, BUT the cover on the small Habana is less flexible that the one on the large. That's good news for those of us that don't normally write on a flat surface. I like to write everywhere and I often end up propping a journal on my knee. A hard backed book that lies flat is ideal for this, and like I said, the flexible cover on the Habana is much firmer than that on the large. They both also lie flat.

Size comparison between large and small Habanas and Moleskines. I find the small Moleskine to be annoyingly unusable, the large Habana to be best suited for desk writing, the little Habana to be a great travel size and the large Moleskine just right for my needs. If only the Moleskine had the Clairfontaine paper I'd be in heaven. Here's to hoping the new Webnotebook suits all of my needs...

Pen test in the little Habana with the 64g paper. (By the way - that's Sailor Blue, not Blue-Black) The Staedtler Lumocolor & Sharpie bled through, but that's not surprising, because they bleed through everything.

NONE of the fountain pen inks feathered at all. A few of the inks left small blood dots on the reverse side of the paper. Not shown on this page, I used a .07 (Binder) cursive italic in a Pelikan M200 filled with J Herbin Eclat de Saphir and this paper didn't seem to like the wider nib because it bled through the paper. Not badly, but enough to be annoying. With the thin width of the ruling with this book, it's not really suited for such a large nib anyway.

I made a mistake in stating (in the handwritten review) that the paper (90g) in the large Habana would be replaced with the paper in the small Habana. (64g) They are staying the same. (Sorry - too lazy to re-write and re-photograph the handwritten review)

Close up of writing in the little Quo Vadis journal. Sailor Blue-Black showing nice shading. Written with an EF Lamy Safari fountain pen.

Probably my only complaint about this little Habana is where they placed the top and bottommost stitches to secure each signature. Because the paper is thin, if you hastily turn the pages and grab them from the middle of the bottom (or top) of the page rather than the corner, the pages can lift and the whole signature comes up. Do this often enough, and I'd be concerned that those stitches would tear.

Difference in ruling. Small Habana to the left, (5mm) a large Moleskine in the center (6mm), and the large Habana on the right. (8mm) White versus ivory.

5mm ruling makes me my handwriting feel a tad too claustrophobic, but for people with small handwriting, or those that write with a fine or an extra fine fountain pen, you are going to love these.

You can buy the US Habanas at Swisher Pens. $15 for the small and $20 for the large.

*The use of "Little" and "Papa" are my own, and not that of Exaclair/Quo Vadis.

How do you rate the Baby Quo Vadis to the Rhodia e-pure?

Zoe

Very different animals with regards to width. The ePure is a substantially fat journal, but the paper is heavier. ePure paper is smoother to write on. Both have minimal bleed through. The cover is very thin on the ePure. The binding is stitched in Habana, and glued in the ePure. I only have a large ePure, so I can't really compare them size to size.

For whatever reason, I think I'd enjoy doodling better in the ePure than the Habana. The wee Habana is not for me. I don't like the thinness of the paper, or the thin ruling. It will probably be perfect for some people. I also don't care for the large Habana, because it's too big to fit in my bag, and the cover too flexible to write with it propped on my knee.

The Habanas are really nice & well made journals and I would recommend them to anyone that appreciated the features they have to offer. They just don't suit my personal needs.

Thanks, Steph. I tried out the baby Habana the other night for a possible bring along on a trip I am planning in January as it is small enough for my watercolour basket. I didn't like it--too much bleed through and I am a turn the page, write sort of person.

Now do I go out and buy the Rhodia or settle down with the 10-zillion journals I already have.

I think I'd like it more with thicker paper, but for many people - I think they will like it.

Nice review as usual Steph. I agree with you - I like the smoothness of the paper in my little Habana, but I really prefer a slightly heavier weight, because I like to sketch in anything I carry around. I'll probably still use the one I have, but will look out for the heavier paper next time I get the chance to buy one.

Yes yes - you will have access to the 85G ivory model, which will probably be pretty sweet.

Sophie - ever try the Fabriano Artist Journals?

Thanks for the info, Stephanie! I'm one of the freaks that loves the Habana the way it is. I actually like the thin paper of the baby Habana (I'd be more eager to try the Allan's Journal with the really thin India paper if it had some way to keep it closed). And I love the 5mm line spacing--I have small handwriting and use XF nibs. I also love the bright white paper. So I'm relieved to hear that they'll keep making them unchanged!

I purchased a big Habana recently, and I actually am somewhat disappointed by the wider line spacing and the thicker paper (which doesn't feel as smooth). I'll still use it for class, but not for a journal. I find the baby Habana just the right size for a journal. I only use one side of the paper--if I used both sides, I wouldn't like the showthrough, either. But I can't seem to get myself to write with my hand towards the middle crease, even if the journal lays flat! The paper in the big Habana is thicker, but it also feels less smooth to the touch (I haven't started writing in it yet). Plus, I find a page or two in the baby Habana just the right size for a day's worth of quick thoughts--I'd feel compelled to fill the whole page (with drivel) in a larger journal!

I have both of the Habanas, and I'm not sure I personally like either one. The paper in the large one is great, but the book is too large for my needs, I gave it to my husband. I like the size of the smaller one, but I don't care for the thin paper and the cramped ruling. I will still probably use it for notes, etc - but not for every day journaling.

Since you prefer the small version, do you have any problems turning the pages and having the signatures lift up?

I actually haven't had this problem so far. I find that the signatures have been staying down for me, and haven't been moving around or anything while I write or turn the page.

Hi Steph. Just curious. Have you heard anything about when the Rhodia Webnotebooks (those with the better paper) will be arriving in the U. S.?

Alan