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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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Calculated at checkout
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

Previous | Showing reviews 41-50 of 104 | Next

  1. Perfect Notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 28th May 2019

    I ordered my second one of these notebooks recently and after at least a year and a half, my older one is holding up splendidly. I make comics, and the Standard takes to pencils, fountain pens, and brush markers just wonderfully! I love the way the paper warps and textures after you use it. Not for everyone, but if you're fond of that crinkly 'antique notebook' feel, you're going to adore these.

  2. The Best writing paper bound in a journal 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 27th May 2019

    I have been using Tomoe River paper in favor of all of the other papers I have tried. My fountain pens glide over the paper surface so smoothly. Writing takes much less effort and the different inks I use don't bleed at all. I was delighted to find by beloved paper expertly bound to lay flat while I write, unlike so many other journals with inferior binding. And it has 240 sheets (480 writing pages), but is only half an inch thick. I will be ordering more of these to stock up in case they become unavailable in the future.

  3. Seven Seas Journal 4 Star Review

    Posted by on 13th May 2019

    Super service, great packaging (5 Layers) Journal in perfect condition.
    Paper is super thin and great for all my pens. What a challenge this is gonna be to fill it.
    This is my first contact with this company and will now be top of the list for

  4. Best Notebook Ever! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 12th May 2019

    I love the Seven Seas paper. I used one of the Nanami Crossfield journals last year and was thrilled with how it held up to any ink I used: fountain pen, gel pens, triplus markers, whatever. No bleed through. I am excited to start using the blank version. I ordered it because I occasionally I use water color, pastels, oil pastels, or acrylics in my journal, and I didnt care for the crosses on those pages. I know from last year that the paper holds up well to collage and mixed media. This is a great product!

  5. Perfect notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 16th Apr 2019

    The perfect notebook in my opinion. I am buying an extra to stock up.

  6. Takes to My Sailor Very Well 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 26th Mar 2019

    I was a little bit weary about how thin the pages were at first - they're not kidding about how thin it is. I had no reason to be worried though. There is no bleed through and any ghosting is easily ignored once the other side of the page is written on. My pen glides right over the page, smooth as butter and it has been a joy to write on so far. I've used Rhodia and Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks in the past. The Nanami Seven Seas blows the Leuchtturm out of the water (no pun intended) and rivals the Rhodia in quality.

  7. A perfected Notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 28th Feb 2019

    Elegantly understated.
    I love how the Blank Cover makes it feel so personal: Mine to make of it what I will : )
    So many pages while still not being fat and it's still relatively lightweight!
    Beautiful Paper!!: With a soft white hue that isn't glaring. Feels amazing to write on.
    Ink flows better on this paper.
    Blank pages are a lovely blank canvas; took some time to get used to writing straight, but now it's a must have for me.
    Robust. Durable!
    Lies Flat!! I get the most out of my pages with a comfortable writing experience.
    Better than what I thought a perfect notebook could be.
    This and the Writer are my favorite Notebooks, and always with a Cafe for when I need more mobility.

  8. Excellent paper, excellent binding 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 26th Feb 2019

    I use Tomoe River paper exclusively for writing and journaling. Seven Seas offers an excellent binding of the most sheets at the best price. The notebook can be placed in a refillable cover. I keep extras on my shelf.

  9. One notebook to rule them all... 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 5th Jun 2018

    I've just received my second order (arrived in less than a week all the way to New Zealand again - amazing!). I need to never run out of these notebooks - ever. Worth every penny. Thank you :)

  10. Beautiful 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 30th Apr 2018

    I purchased this as a gift for my daughter. It was so beautifully presented I will have to get another for her and her siblings. This is mine.

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