Washing my linen

A linen covered notebook from Graf von Faber Castell you say? Ship it in.

This is what they say...

"A small bookbinding shop from Bavaria produces the notebooks with linen cover for us. They offer plenty of space for everything you wish to put on paper. The high-quality, particularly smooth paper provides maximum writing comfort. Thanks to the elaborate thread-stitching of the individual sheets the book can be placed down with a specific page opened up and even after frequent use the pages remain secure in the book spine. Graf von Faber-Castell notebooks are available in A 4, A 5 and A 6 format and a selection of attractive colours. In addition, small sketches lovingly drawn by Kera Till give the notebooks with linen cover a special touch. The Guilloche pocket pencils for the Perfect Pencil are also available in various colours to match the notebooks.

Linen-bound book A5

They contain high-quality, particularly smooth paper that offers highest writing comfort as every writing instrument easily and conveniently glides over it. The paper is also impervious to light so that the writing doesn't shine through. The elaborate thread-stitching of the individual sheets ensures highest quality and durability: the book can thus be placed down with a specific page opened up and even after frequent use the pages remain secure in the book spine."

My funky turquoise model arrived just the other day, and Federico and Tommes on Twitter wanted my verdict...

I have a selection of pens on the go, ideally suited for a paper check.

1. Montblanc BB loaded with Ancient Copper by Diamine.
2. Pilot Custom 823 Broad loaded with Chopin by Diamine.
3. Sailor 1911 Medium loaded with Shikiori by Sailor.

The paper is indeed smooth. It's bright white and very welcoming to all the nibs. It's especially welcoming to the big nibs (or paint brushes as Justin, my co-host at Stationery Adjacent calls them); the paper loves to suck ink from them.

Oh.

Smooth absorbent paper feels lovely to write on, but generally is not what a fountain pen user is looking for. Both the Montblanc and the Pilot Custom feathered. Not a lot. But enough. Actually, so did the Sailor. Even a medium Kaweco Sport left a fluffy cuddly script.

The other thing about absorbent paper, is that it tries to distribute the ink uniformly, which frankly, is the opposite of what those keen on sheen want. This paper will tame the sheeniest of sheeny things.

As to the claim: "The paper is also impervious to light so that the writing doesn't shine through." Poppycock. Everything shines through. It doesn't bleed through, and it isn't a problem, but it is visible.

Now - let me be contentious. The paper is excellent. This is very good commercial stock. It looks and feels luxurious, and will serve the vast majority of the market extremely well. Write on it with a rollerball, a gel, a ballpoint or a pencil and it's great. Get your f nib on to it. No problems. Actually, a medium is going to be OK too unless you're looking very closely.

Inky people sometimes forget that we're on the edge of the edge cases. While we fret about the future of Tomoe River, the vast majority of the paper-buying public have no idea where the Tomoe River is or what colour its water runs.

Now - as to the rest of the notebook. It absolutely reeks of quality. The workmanship is top notch, the styling elegant and the branding understated. Supremely "grammable" as some might say.

I will happily use it and enjoy it, but with nothing bigger or wetter than a medium nib. It's gorgeous, but it's no Rhodia, baby.