Leuchtturm1917 A5 Hardcover Journal
When I think of high end, quality, fountain pen friendly paper, there are an increasing number of brands that come to mind. Sure, we’ve heard of Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Tomoe River, and (dare I say) Moleskine. Yet there’s a company that continues to grow in popularity here in the U.S. called Leuchtturm1917. As you may guess from their name, Leuchtturm1917 was founded in 1917 in Germany. They have a wide array of products – from multiple sizes and rulings, to different color options and special limited editions, to planners and filing/storage needs. To start with, I’m particularly fond of the Leuchtturm1917 A5 Hardcover Journal.
I admit that when I saw it claims to be fountain pen friendly and yet has 80 g/m2 paper, I was skeptical. Concerns of ink feathering, bleeding through, and other such calamities ran through my mind. Luckily, I didn’t need to worry. It turns out that the paper is truly as they claim – ink-proof! I tested several nib sizes on my Leuchtturm1917 A5 Hardcover Journal, and am extremely happy with the results. Even the ink from the double broad nib barely shows through.
Sure, the paper is not glossy like some of the aforementioned brands, but instead has a tiny bit of grit to it. That tactile sensation really lets you enjoy your writing as your pen glides effortlessly across the paper. Another great part about not having gloss is the paper wicks the ink from your fountain pen right away.
I tested their A5 size (what we mainly carry, though special orders are possible), and have the version with blank pages. Leuchtturm1917 also makes this in lined, graph, and dot grid. This gives you plenty of options to fit your journaling needs. As for the cover, they make around 20 different color choices. Of course, I chose my favorite color – green!
I like how the bottom of each page is numbered. Each book has 251 numbered pages, and is thread bound. There’s also a table of contents at the beginning for easy navigation to the desired subject. As if this isn’t enough, Leuchtturm1917 also includes 8 perforated and detachable sheets. This next part I’ve never used, but I know many find functional – the gusseted pocket in the back. It can be handy for storing business cards, loose notes, or who knows what else. Another great feature is that the Leuchtturm1917 A5 Hardcover Journal easily lies flat. That’s really important to me as I’m writing or drawing on these blank pages. Lastly, a cool bonus is the stickers they include for labelling and archiving your journal once it’s filled. That way it’s easily discernible from the other journals on your shelf.
What do you think? Do you have yours yet? You can check it out here.