Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

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Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

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Seven Seas
Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

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Tomoe River
Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

Price:

$28.00

Rating:

( 199 product reviews )

Shipping:

Calculated at checkout

Max Purchase:

12 unit(s)

This is the 8th edition Writer, with the Sanzen 52gsm cream Tomoe River paper. Please note that all review prior to 4/3/2025 are for earlier editions!

Thanks to its cult-like following, Tomoe River paper needs no introduction, so onward to the Seven Seas Writer!

We like to think of the Seven Seas Writer not as a great fountain pen notebook, but rather as a great notebook that just happens to be fountain-pen-friendly. Therefore, regardless of your chosen writing instrument, you will enjoy this notebook's substantial page count (480), pleasant heft, subtle printed lines, lay-flat capability and unassuming character.

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 automated 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 impregnated cloth, stiffened through the use of a core board sandwiched between between it and the end sheets. You can use the book as-is, or put it inside a leather, cloth, paper, vinyl, fabric, etc. outer cover.

For more information, please read the Seven Seas Writer and Standard Notes and also the Seven Seas Tomoe River Journal Facts.

Tips:

The notebook will lay flatter if you bend it back on itself. Don't be afraid to do this - the binding is very strong. there is no way the pages can fall out by themselves.

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, 2B and softer leads work well.

Pencil marks erase very cleanly from this paper. Use a high-quality plastic eraser.

If you find the book a bit thick for your writing style, please read this.

Recommended accessories:

Cheap Notebook Cover and Insert

MF Faux Leather A5 Notebook Cover with bookmark

Seven Seas + Gfeller Kip leather cover

Herz of Japan Italian leather covers

Super Clips and Mini Clips

Hard or soft writing mats - Order size A5; larger works well too

Blotter paper - Order size A5 (please note that the notebook already comes with one sheet)

Specifications:

Size A5, 210x148mm, 8.3x5.8 inches

Cream-color Tomoe River "Notebook" paper, 52gsm

480 pages (240 leaves) with rounded corners and 7mm lines

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):

Rippled pages

A subtle "waviness" on the edge of the book block

Dog-eared pages (rare)

Except for a torn page, none of these issues 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 table.

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

Product Reviews

Previous | Showing reviews 121-130 of 199 | Next

Wonderful Journal!

Posted by Tristan on 24th Jul 2018

This is by far the best journal I have ever owned. In addition to having 480 pages, it takes fountain pen ink marvelously and writes like a dream.
Just What I Needed!

Posted by Justin on 24th Jul 2018

After growing quite tired of poor paper quality and ghosting issues with another well-known notebook manufacturer I started searching for an alternative. Someone suggested the Seven Seas, and I did hesitate initially because of the price. However, I went ahead and placed my order. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It feels good in the hand, the paper is wonderful, and the binding is probably the best part. It lays flat and doesn't feel like it will start shedding pages. The storage box it ships in is nice, especially if you plan to keep the notebook for future reference. When this one is finished I will definitely be buying another.
Top notch quality with simplicity

Posted by Shamala Robinson on 20th Jul 2018

I have read about the Writer and had used loose Tomeo paper but this is the first time purchasing 3 journals and we can never get this quality in NZ. It was astounding - the quality of the journal, the very sepia toned lines fit really well for writings that take time. I use only J Herbin ink and it is amazing how there is no bleed and certainly no need for blotting paper. Penmenship is rare in this day age and time and this is the perfect looking journal and paper. I have to say that Shibui comes to mind when looking and feeling the Writer ...simple overall but it includes subtle details, such as textures, that balance simplicity with complexity. So very happy that I got 3 of them. BTW, shipping to NZ was extremely easy and fast via USPS and packaging was also very secure. Well done!
excellent books

Posted by Karen Dick on 16th Jul 2018

The Writer fits a custom hard leather journal cover that I have and makes it so much easier to use than hard cover books. The paper takes my fountain pen ink very well, without bleeding through. I will always order two Writers at a time!
Quality like it used to be.

Posted by Mark on 11th Jul 2018

This notebook is expensive. There is that up front. Its a $26 notebook. Now that were past that this notebook quality is exactly what I have been looking for with paper that while thin feels wonderful to write on. The Writer's slightly cream colored pages are easy on the eyes and the line spacing leaves enough room to make revisions after the original penning. Any other mass produced notebook will disintegrate if folded back on itself but this one welcomes it and encourages you to use the book how you will. They are that confident in the quality of their product. You get what you pay for here I regret nothing about this purchase.
I found a better mousetrap!

Posted by Spencer Reppe on 10th Jul 2018

I became aware of Tomoe River paper in Goulet Nation and its availability as a journal at Nanami Paper in Fountain Pen Network. The Seven Seas journal takes up only 25% of my shelf space as an equal number of pages in my old journals. It is very fountain pen friendly, with no bleed through, even with over-writes. Feathering is non-existent (I'm using a medium nib), and show through is barely visible and non-distracting.The page ruling is just faint enough to guide my hand while writing, and is virtually invisible on a fully written page. The creators of the Seven Seas Journal have obviously had input from seasoned journal writers. My only disappointment was that the faux leather cover was out of stock when I ordered the journal. Will certainly buy it with my next order.
Best notebook with the best paper.

Posted by Michael on 2nd Jul 2018

This is the best notebook for fountain pen use without question. First, the construction is exceptional. The binding allows the notebook to lay truly flat. The cover is surprisingly solid, and the sleeve that it comes in is actually useful for storing the notebook.
Second, the Tomoe River is far and away the best fountain pen paper on the market. Not only does it allow your pens to write true-to-size (unlike other "premium" brands"), the paper is VERY consistent. You get the exact same exception writing experience every time you write. There aren't any funny spots or anything like that. This paper allows your pens to flow in a way that is difficult to describe. And ink just looks marvelous on the page. The lines on the Writer are somewhat faint. You can see them when you're writing, but they are not obtrusive in the slightest. It is a nice balance.

Overall I am very pleased with this notebook. I am looking forward to filling its pages.
Awesome

Posted by felix on 1st Jul 2018

Before I use this Tomoe River paper to write i was using Mont Blanc note book 146. Was decided to try it out and guess what!!! It was amazing this paper is so smooth! Kinda regret only brought two of this product, definitely will buy it more in the near future.
Seven Seas Writerh

Posted by Rick Mangus on 26th Jun 2018

As always the best notebook for fountain pen ever. So well constructed, nicely boxed, and come with a blotter. I use the box to stor them in when I am finished with the journal. These are fantastic and well worth the price. I recommend these to anyone that wants perfection in a notebook!
My favorite journal

Posted by Judy on 26th Jun 2018

I've been a fan of the Seven Seas Writer for a few years now. The Writer has everything I look for in a journal: it lies flat; the paper is perfect for fountain pens (though ink does have a tendency to smear sometimes, it's something I can live with because of the pure joy I get when putting pen to paper); and it has a lot of pages without being too heavy or cumbersome to carry. While I use other journals from time to time, this is definitely my favorite and I am so happy that the cream paper is back!

Previous | Showing reviews 121-130 of 199 | Next

Product Videos

Seven Seas Writer Review (06:59)

Seven Seas Writer notebook made with the amazing Tomoe River Paper. A5: 8.3 x 5.8 inches; 14.8 x 21 cm 480 Pages of 52 gsm paper; 7mm ruling Made in Japan Available at: http://www.nanamipaper.com/categories/seven-seas-tomoe-river-paper.html INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/thejournaljoy/ Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the product nor do I receive any compensation for this review/ providing a link to the website.