It’s that time of year again, when I search for an office journal that is fountain-pen friendly!
As the photo below shows, bleed-through is an annoying problem, as I use both sides of the paper and I also write with medium, wet-writing nibs (usually Sheaffer or Parkers). So please wish me luck on this important quest. My current office journal is nice, but the bleed-through drives me nuts (please; no remarks about what a short little drive that is).
The notebook I’m currently using is a Gallery Leather Desk Planner 9-1/2″ x 7-1/4″ journal. It has detailed color maps of the world, important toll-free number and website info, and is printed on a pretty cream-colored smooth paper. The leather cover is thin and bendable, which I like, and the pages are gilt-edged, which adds a classy touch. But the bleed-through is a deal-breaker for me. Since I’ll be paying for my journal myself–no freebies at this blog–I won’t be reporting on a wide sample, but you’ll learn how my search progresses. Isn’t this exciting?!?!??!
UPDATE:
After exhaustive research—and I’m not kidding you—I opted for the Black n’ Red Executive Notebook, which is an 11-3/4″ x 8-1/2″ linen-lined hardcover journal with 192 gray-lined pages, 33 lines per page. These have sewn bindings and the pages show—at least with a Mont Blanc fine nib and my favorite Levenger amethyst ink—absolutely no bleed through in the little test I did on a back page. I won’t be using these—I got a couple from Amazon at about $15 a pop—until the new year rolls around, but I have high hopes! These also have color geographic and Metro maps, which are neat if not vital to the mission. They look understated, stylish, and businesslike, and there’s a little red ribbon for keeping track of what day you’re on. I’ll keep updating this blog entry as time goes on so keep an eye out for updates!
Jim's World and Welcome To It 
Oct 09, 2014 @ 20:46:15
I’ve been living off of a Daytimer (made in Allentown PA!) since two jobs ago and its never let me down. That said, I’m a Cross ballpoint guy.
Oct 09, 2014 @ 21:48:24
Hey, Mark! I’ll check those out. I like the idea of an Allentown-made journal!
Oct 10, 2014 @ 15:46:32
If, like me, you cannot stand poor quality paper on which you see all sorts of feathering and bleedthrough, there are a couple of really awesome quality paper makers which you might want to try.
Rhodia / Clairefontaine from France is the gold standard for fp friendly paper. It is usually available at ‘the container store’ otherwise you have to get it shipped from an online retailer.
Other locally available options that are quite good include Black’n Red notebooks , which can be found at staples or rite-aid.
Lastly there’s miquelruis MR notebooks which are quite good. I see them at frys and barnes and noble.
Rhodia though is the primo quality. If you haven’t used Rhodia, you havent lived.
Good luck with your quest.
Oct 10, 2014 @ 15:58:19
Thanks, Syed; that’s excellent info! I’ll check those out!!!
Jun 01, 2015 @ 00:31:09
I am a fountain pen collector I only use black and red. This paper is fountain pen friendly at a very good price.