Hobonichi Cover V&A Series: Blackthorn (A5)
The Hobonichi Cousin Cover "Blackthorn" from the V&A Series features a botanical floral pattern from the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London – one of the world's most significant design museums. The motif depicts the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in the visual language of the British Arts and Crafts movement: dense flowering branches, arranged flat on a rich background, with the characteristic attention to detail of the late 19th century. The front cover features the "Leicester" wallpaper pattern by Henry Dearle from 1912. The cover is crafted for the Hobonichi Techo Cousin in A5 format and protects the notebook with a sturdy, textured case.
Highlights
- Historic V&A Archive Pattern: The Blackthorn motif comes directly from the textile and design collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The nature depiction typical of Arts and Crafts – dense blackthorn blossoms, rhythmically distributed across the cover – makes every cover a wearable piece of design history.
- Perfect Fit for Hobonichi Cousin (A5): The cover is precisely tailored to the A5 Cousin – with book stoppers, interior pockets, and Hobonichi's typical flap geometry. The book sits securely without slipping or opening.
- Print on Textured Surface: The pattern is printed onto the cover material and shows clear contour lines and rich color application even with intensive use. The surface has a slightly textured feel – not smooth and slippery, but grippy in hand.
- Interior Pocket: On the back is an open pocket for business cards, notes, or postcards – direct access without detours.
Application & Tips
- Year-Independent Use: The cover fits any Hobonichi Cousin (A5) regardless of year – including older books from the shelf or books used as free notebooks rather than annual planners.
- Combination with Cover on Cover: Unfortunately, this cover is not compatible with the transparent Cover on Cover protective slipcovers.
- As a Gift: The V&A connection and historic motif make this cover a companion that also works as a gift for those interested in design and art history – without need for explanation.
- Ink Paper Inside: When filling the cover with a Hobonichi Cousin, you write on Tomoe River Paper – the gossamer-thin, fade-resistant paper responds excellently to fountain pens, gel pens, and fine-liners alike, shows shading and shading effects clearly, and dries cleanly.
For Design History Enthusiasts
The Hobonichi V&A Series was created in cooperation with the Victoria and Albert Museum and draws on historical pattern documents from the museum's archive collections. The Blackthorn motif stands in the tradition of the Arts and Crafts movement: botanical nature as ornament, comprehensive and rhythmic, without perspective illusion – a design language that deliberately positioned itself against industrial mass production of the 19th century. On an everyday object like the Hobonichi cover, this heritage gains a new, functional dimension: the pattern travels from the museum hall into your jacket pocket.
Technical Data
| Model / Series: | Hobonichi Cover V&A Series: Blackthorn |
| Format: | A5 (fits Hobonichi Techo Cousin) |
| Pattern: | Blackthorn, botanical floral pattern based on V&A archive original |
| Features: | Interior pocket on the back |
| Collaboration: | Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Origin: | Japan |
| Included: | 1 Cover (book not included) |
