Premium Quality Journals

[thegoose]

In your opinion, which journal fits the bill when money is no object and you want a high quality journal with quality paper? I like a leather cover and I prefer a blank page with thin, smooth paper.

 

My favorite choice so far is Graphic Image in various sizes. I have a small flexible Graphic Image journal as well as a larger leather hard-cover book, both with blank pages.

 

I have heard a lot about the Allan's Journal and I would like to give one a try. I understand that the quality is unsurpassed and the paper is a thin paper such as used in quality Bibles (Allan's primary product). I wish they were available unlined, however.

 

What is your favorite?

Edited January 22, 2011 by thegoose

[jimhughes]

Can you, please, provide the web site info for ordering this journal on line. I'm afflicted with the disease of Journal accumulation. TIA, Jim

[jgrasty]

Quo Vadis Habana. Since they're changing the paper of the Habana to ivory, I'm switching to the Clarefontaine Basic, which has the same paper as the current Habana. Not as fancy, but the paper is great.

[Ghost Plane]

Cavallini, Quo Vadis, Clairefontaine, and Rhodia. Pear Tree Pens, Goulet Pens, Writers Bloc, farseer911 in the Sales Forum and eBay.

[thegoose]

Allan's Journal can be found at Allan's Journal website and they can be purchased from a US seller at Evangelical Bible website.

 

Graphic Image can be found at Graphic Image website.

[jimhughes]

Thanks, I'm off to spend some money, Jim

[thegoose]

Jim, if you purchase an Allan's Journal, could you give us a review? Thanks!

[inkypete]

Cavallini, Quo Vadis, Clairefontaine, and Rhodia. Pear Tree Pens, Goulet Pens, Writers Bloc, farseer911 in the Sales Forum and eBay.

 

 

Interesting that you name Cavallini. I have tried three or four and they are probably the most fountain pen unfriendly premium journal I have ever tried. They make some really nice stuff but with paper that makes moleskin look like clairefontaine. Haven't tried them for a few years - have they changed or is there a range that are good for FP? The ones that I had were the popular styles with travel themed covers and they were shocking.

[mongrelnomad]

design.y make gorgeous notebooks with fantastic paper. I have one in each size and can recommend them wholeheartedly.

[Triplet Mom]

My favorites are the ones made by FPN member TM Lee. I am the lucky owner of 3 of his handmade journals. Each one is a work of art with meticulous attention to every detail!

[thegoose]

Jim - I have the same journal affliction! The Allan's will probably be my next purchase.

[StyloBug33]

The Habana notebooks have been my favorite by far. I don't know if I will like them in the Ivory paper, but I guess I won't panic yet. I have spent way too much money finding the perfect journal and now they are changing it. grrr...

[ozwill45]

These are gorgeous Papier Plus

[ozwill45]

design.y make gorgeous notebooks with fantastic paper. I have one in each size and can recommend them wholeheartedly.

 

Are they FP friendly, they look incredible.

 

Also, my local book bindery has made some really nice bound journals for me in the past. They are embossed and look similar to a bound thesis. I greedily ordered 5 one year and still have 2 to fill/

[ozwill45]

Allan's Journal can be found at Allan's Journal website and they can be purchased from a US seller at Evangelical Bible website.

 

Graphic Image can be found at Graphic Image website.

 

Most bible paper is not FP friendly. I'd be interested to know if these are.

[Pen Nut]

Can you, please, provide the web site info for ordering this journal on line. I'm afflicted with the disease of Journal accumulation. TIA, Jim

 

 

Conference folders is my latest downfall. Wouldnt care but I do not go to any :embarrassed_smile:

[Chris]

Jim, if you purchase an Allan's Journal, could you give us a review? Thanks!

 

I think you'll find there are a couple of reviews of these on this site already. In essence, beautifully made, lovely fine paper that works with most inks - no bleed or feather but some visibility through the page because of the thinness of the paper, not as expensive as you might think, nice people to do business with, lovely leather covers. My first is nearly full after three years in my briefcase and is in lovely condition still. The newer versions are even better for a number of minor details.

 

Only downside - if you use a very wet ink, the thin paper will crinkle a little, but that is no surprise. Use a fine nib and dryer ink and all is perfect. Oh, the lines are close together which some might not like, but it does mean the journals last a long time!

 

I have a couple in stock and I only wish my words were as nice as the journals!!

 

Chris

[River]

I have a HOM Home Essentials journal that I love, and it works very well with my pens. However, I never used a broad nib on it, so I don't know how it would be with a very wet pen.

[colrehogan]

I bought an MB journal last week but haven't written in it yet.

[GutSchrift]

Cavallini, Quo Vadis, Clairefontaine, and Rhodia. Pear Tree Pens, Goulet Pens, Writers Bloc, farseer911 in the Sales Forum and eBay.

 

 

Interesting that you name Cavallini. I have tried three or four and they are probably the most fountain pen unfriendly premium journal I have ever tried. They make some really nice stuff but with paper that makes moleskin look like clairefontaine. Haven't tried them for a few years - have they changed or is there a range that are good for FP? The ones that I had were the popular styles with travel themed covers and they were shocking.

 

 

I have the Cavallini Roma Lussa as my regular journal. It's not the greatest fp paper I've ever used. I happen to LOVE Original Crown Mill Pure Cotton, which is my standard correspondence stock. I've also been a huge Rhodia fan even since the time before I met found my love of fountain pens. That is also incredibly well-behaved paper. Now back to the Cavallini. Like I said it's not spectacular. It certainly won't out-perform the other brands I did or did not mention (including clairfontaine, G. Lalo, etc.) but it does its job well and in a beautifully designed way. The Roma Lussa I have is just wonderful. There is a bit of feathering, but never any bleed-through and it's relatively smooth paper. So -- it is my favorite journal right now. Elegant and timeless (especially with those marbled pages! However, I'm just biding my time until I can get one of those Epica leather journals.