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Seven Seas "STANDARD" A5 Blank Journal 5th Edition

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Price:
$28.00
Rating:
( 104 product reviews )
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Max Purchase:
5 unit(s)
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The SS Standard is back! Now with the Sanzen Tomoe River notebook paper, 52gsm!

 

Please note that all reviews prior to August 2022 refer to older versions, which used TRP from the Tomoegawa company.

 

What we mean by "Standard": Plain, regular, no-frills. No lines on the pages. Simple, tough, no-nonsense design. It's a blank canvas, ready for your personal touch. But at the same time, it is so dense with capacity, and its paper is so thin and receptive, that by the simple act of adding ink you physically transform the book in a way that is real and tangible. That much will become apparent as you go through more and more pages. We think it is better for capturing your thoughts, vision, aspirations, art, work, and whatever else you choose to put down, than any other notebook. And even if you're the type to throw away old notebooks, you'll probably want to keep this one long after it is filled.

Features:

 

  • Flexible, semi-stiff coated fabric cover.
  • Smythe-sewn (thread-bound), lay-flat binding
  • White Tomoe River paper - lots and lots of it
  • No printing or branding except for the back end sheet
  • Comes with a kraft slip case

 

The pages are "thread-bound", which is a very old and still the best production method of bookbinding. Thread-bound pages are sewn (with a special sewing machine) into signatures, which are gathered to form a text-block, which is then cased into a cover. This method allows the journal to lay flat with no stress to the spine, and for that reason it is the absolute best method for binding a book (including a library book) that sees the daily rigors of opening, closing and pressing down with the hands. It can even be folded back on itself. If you were to go on an around-the-world trip over the course of many months and needed to document your experiences in great detail, this journal would certainly be up to the task.


The paper size is A5 (148x210mm or 8.3x5.8 inches), and 15mm thick. The cover is made of buckram, which, aside from leather, is the absolute toughest flexible cover material available. The cover has also been made stiffer through the use of a core board sandwiched between the buckram fabric and the end sheets. You can use the book as-is, or put it inside a leather, cloth, paper, vinyl, fabric, etc. outer cover.

Tips:

 

  • The notebook will lay flatter if you bend it back on itself a bit. Don't be afraid to do this - the binding is top notch.
  • If you use a fine-to-medium fountain pen, the ink will generally dry fast enough. If it doesn't, close the book on the included pink blotter sheet.
  • If you use a pencil, softer leads such as 2B and 3B work well.
  • Pencil marks erase very cleanly from this paper, and using a high quality eraser is pure pleasure. Don't be surprised if you find yourself making mistakes on purpose.
  • If you find the book a bit thick for your writing style, please read this.

Recommended accessories:
 

Specifications:
 

  • Size A5, 210x148mm, 15mm thick, (8.3x5.8x0.7 inches)
  • White-color Tomoe River "Notebook" paper
  • 480 pages (240 leaves), no lines, rounded corners
  • Lay-flat thread binding
  • Flexible, tough, thin water-resistant coated-fabric cover
  • Ivory-colored end sheets
  • Comes with one A5 blotter paper
  • Made in Japan

 

ABOUT MANUFACTURING VARIATION: We've found that Tomoe River paper, and thin paper in general, is unlike working with "regular" weight papers such as 20 lb bond, laid, wove, etc. papers (we have actually be unable to find any binders in the US that are willing to work with TR paper). Tomoe River paper is very sensitive to humidity, and when bound in a thick book by machine as ours are, some unexpected variations can occur. So far, we've experienced the following (also please see the pictures):

  1. Rippled pages
  2. A subtle "waviness" on the edge of the book block
  3. Dog-eared pages (rare)

None of these issues will affect the writing surface or quality of the writing experience, and it's not practical for us to go through each book page-by-page (these issues can be quite random). However, if for any reason you are not satisfied with the book you receive, please let us know (dave@nanamipaper.com) and we'll do our best to rectify the situation. Thank you for your understanding!

For more information and design goals, please read the Seven Seas Journal Fact Page.

If you'd like to compare this journal to the cost of other journals, please see our notebook value comparison.

Did you know that Hemingway wrote with a pencil? We like to think that, had he known about the Seven Seas Standard, he would have used a fountain pen. Here's the full story.

 

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Product Reviews

Showing reviews 1-10 of 104 | Next

  1. Only notebook I use. 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 13th Oct 2023

    I have purchased these notebooks without fail for several years. I have refused to work on anything else. They last forever, the paper is super thin but durable, and nothing bleeds through. I use it as a notebook for work, but also for sketchbooks. I have yet to use a type of ink that will bleed though, and I love the smoothness of the paper for paint. Love them.

  2. My favorite journal ever 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 18th Jul 2023

    I've tried many kinds of journals and Nanami is by far my favorite. So many inviting pages, thin yet tough, ink and paint doesn't bleed through. The pages invite experimentation and creativity and play. I've been keeping a journal all my long life and this is the best....xoxoxo

  3. My favorite notebooks 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 2nd Jun 2023

    I was late coming to Tomoe River paper, which is perhaps why I don't have any issue with the new versions? I've used the new one and the middle one, never the beloved original. To me, for what it's worth, using a Pelican 823 F, or a Sailor 1911 VF, or else random Bics or Sharpies or a pencil sometimes these days, there is nothing wrong with this paper. Not to my eye anyway, or for my use (writing notes or else long form stuff for hours at a time + keeping a day book). It's tough to go back to any other notebook at this point, actually; these really do feel like they come to life as you use them. I don't put covers on, just let them wear slightly. I mean they don't wear much. Binding, paper, intangible feel: all perfect. Like I've debated buying a hundred at once in case the world ever breaks. Just to have them. The paper IS soft though, so if you aren't fond of thin, soft, oddly compelling paper, maybe go in another direction.

  4. Always 5 Stars 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 15th Nov 2022

    A+++++++

  5. The paper is not up to par 2 Star Review

    Posted by on 7th Nov 2022

    I am sorry to say that the paper bleeds, and feathers.

    I write almost exclusively with very fine nibs that are flexible, and my favorite ink is the Pelikan royal blue.

    I have bought a great many notebooks from this site, some with the "original" TR paper, some with the "new" TR paper, and I thought to try the Sanzen TR paper.

    In my opinion, and for what I do, the "new" TR paper is easily the best, when it comes to bleeding and feathering. It almost never does. The "original" TR paper is smoother, and less "crackly" than the "new", but sometimes, depending on the combination of ink/nib would misbehave.

    The Sanzen TR paper is, for my purposes, unusable.

    The notebook itself is identical to what we know and have come to expect from Nanami, which is to say, top notch. As is the service.

    Christos

  6. The Very Best 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 2nd Nov 2022

    The elegance of perfectly executed design, rendered in the best available materials, speaks for itself, especially in an item as tactile as a notebook. Here it can be yours for a small sum. I've used the Crossfields for graduate school for 16 months, and I just got the Standard for a journal. Lays flat, uses the best paper in the world, is tough as nails, and perfectly receptive to any ink, or anything else you can throw at it, even watercolor. The slipcover is a great touch, useful, but I do recommend the Gfeller case, a leather journal cover sold elsewhere on this site just for these notebooks. The other reviewers on here are not exaggerating: It is extremely unlikely you'll find a journal better than this one, in terms of craftsmanship, design, materials, AND value.

  7. My favorite journal ever 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 25th Sep 2022

    I love this notebook. The shape, the size, the marvelous smooth thin paper that won't bleed with any pen. Heaven in a notebook.

  8. NEW Paper 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 20th Sep 2022

    I've been using Nanami Tomoe River journals on and off for a few years, through several variations.

    All have been exquisite and extremely durable, and this newest iteration is no different. The paper is a bit "smoother" than in the past perhaps, although pens continue to glide over the page with near zero effort.

    These hold up well as _very_ light scrapbooks as well, with the occasional card or photo pasted in.

    Would highly recommend for the active writer--480 pages last a long time!

  9. The perfect notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 5th Sep 2022

    I write with a fountain pen or a pencil. The ink doesn't bleed through the very thin page. The graphite stays put because the binding is firm. It's compact and tough enough to travel. The thread binding allows the book to lie flat, and holds the pages through many turnings. The durable buckram cover protects the pages.
    I suggest that you order your next volume in advance just in case they're temporarily sold out.

  10. Really Nice 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 25th Aug 2022

    A really, really, really nice journal. Lovely to writing in, very satisfying. So glad I bought two. Will be back for more!

Showing reviews 1-10 of 104 | Next