Traveler's Notebook Passport Size Refill "003" blank

Refill 003 is the blank insert in Passport format for the Traveler's Notebook – 64 pages of white MD paper, sewn binding, with no lines or grids whatsoever. MD paper was developed specially in Japan in the 1960s for fountain pen writing: a matte, smooth surface that captures ink precisely without feathering or smudging. The result is crisp, clean letterforms that showcase the subtle colour nuances of inks with particular clarity.

Features

• Blank – complete freedom: No lines, dots or grids divide the page. Full space for freehand sketches, mapping, hand lettering or simply free writing in blocks, columns, diagonals.
• MD paper, white: Smooth, matte surface with low absorbency – fountain pen nibs glide without resistance, ink doesn't feather and doesn't bleed through. Pencil, fine-liner, ballpoint and marker all perform reliably on this surface too.
• Saddle-stitch binding: The notebooks lie flat because the binding has no spiral or spine ridge. Writing across the gutter keeps the page perfectly level.
• Passport format: 12.4 × 8.9 cm – exactly the dimensions of a passport. Fits all Passport sleeves in the Traveler's Notebook system, combinable with other refills via connecting elastic bands.
• 64 pages: 32 sheets – compact bulk that won't bloat the sleeve, even when several notebooks are combined.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens and liquid ink rollers: MD paper is designed for liquid inks. Fine to medium nibs produce particularly sharp lines on this surface; wet fountain pens and intense ink colours (iron gall, heavily pigmented inks) flow without feathering.
• Sketching on the move: The blank format suits quick floor plans, mental maps of cities, lettering drafts or travel journal layouts that combine text and image.
• Bullet journalling in pocket format: Without pre-printed grids, you can freely set your own columns, calendar layouts or trackers – the Passport format fits into almost any jacket pocket.
• Combining multiple refills: If you want to keep a blank notebook alongside a lined or calendar refill, connect both with a Passport connector elastic band (sold separately).
• Watercolour and water-based paints: For extensive watercolour work, the paper is too thin and too smooth; for light colouring with brush pens or water-based fine-liners, it works well when water is used sparingly.

For Paper Enthusiasts

MD paper is not archival in the conservation sense – it contains no iron gall formula and is not certified as archival paper. Standard water-based fountain pen and liquid ink roller inks work reliably; archival pigment inks also adhere well to the surface. The matte, lightly smoothed surface is created without coating, which means the nib can feel the paper texture – minimally responsive, never scratchy. This is precisely the quality that makes MD paper interesting for nibs with a broader cut: the slight resistance of the paper guides the nib.

Technical Specifications