Traveler's Notebook Regular Size of blue colored leather

The Traveler's Notebook Regular in Blue is a vegetable-tanned cowhide leather cover, hand-cut in Chiang Mai, Thailand – rough at the edges, smooth on the outer surface, with the characteristically cool, slightly rough tactile feel of untreated natural leather. The rich indigo blue changes with every use: grip marks, creases and an increasing patina are not flaws, but the actual promise of this system. The cover is the starting point for a modular notebook system that can be adapted to any situation through interchangeable inserts.

Features

• Vegetable-tanned cowhide, hand-cut: No chemical tanning agents – the leather remains open-pored and breathable. The cut edges are deliberately unsealed, giving the piece its handcrafted character and accelerating patination.
• Indigo blue with natural colour depth: The tone sits between midnight blue and ink blue – rich and dark, with subtle variations in brightness from piece to piece, as is typical of vegetable-tanned leather. The blue deepens over time and with care.
• White leather powder on first opening: The white powder visible on first opening is natural leather fat. It can be rubbed in with a soft cloth and conditions the surface right from first contact.
• Modular cord system with sealed binding cord: The inserts hang from a secured inner cord. Changing an insert takes seconds – no gluing, no stapling. Up to three standard inserts can be carried simultaneously, with a connector band allowing even more.
• MD Paper blank insert included: The included blank insert (64 pages) is printed on Japanese MD Paper by Traveler's Company – a cream-coloured, smooth paper with excellent ink compatibility for fountain pens, which neither bleeds nor sheds fibres.
• Closure via elastic band with tin clasp: The closure runs as an elastic band along the spine and is secured by a tin clasp – lightweight, functional, without metal fasteners or press studs.
• Supplied in linen protective pouch: The cover comes in a cotton-linen pouch that can also be used for long-term storage.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens and MD Paper: The included MD Paper responds beautifully to wet nibs – inks show good shading, no bleeding, minimal drying delay. For calligraphy or broad nibs, it's advisable to use a sheet of paper underneath to avoid impressions on the following page.
• Initial care: Simply rub the white leather powder on first opening with a soft cloth – this conditions the surface and immediately makes the leather more supple. For regular care, a neutral leather fat or leather balm is suitable.
• Combining inserts: If you travel regularly, combine, for example, a ruled insert for notes with a monthly planner insert and a waterproof clear pouch for tickets and boarding cards – all in one cover, with no need to repack.
• Journaling and scrapbooking: The blank insert is ideal for gluing in keepsakes – train tickets, labels, photos. For more frequent gluing, a kraft paper insert offers a bit more stability when adhering items.
• Leather care in wet conditions: If the leather gets wet, gently blot it with a soft cloth and let it dry in the shade – no direct heat. The blue can slightly transfer to other materials when wet, so keep it away from light fabrics until the leather is fully dyed through.
• Actively developing patina: Scratches and pressure marks are not mistakes – they are part of the material. To encourage patina development, apply a dark leather fat after a few weeks, which deepens the indigo tone and conceals minor surface marks.

For Journaling and EDC Enthusiasts

The Traveler's Notebook Regular operates on a binding principle that consistently prioritises reversibility: no insert is permanently fixed. The sealed inner cord holds the booklets through tension, not adhesion – meaning replacing a full insert with a new one takes literally a second. The MD Paper, manufactured in Japan, has a weight of around 52 g/m², which makes it lightweight whilst remaining ink-safe: fountain pen ink dries cleanly without penetrating deep. If you carry multiple inserts simultaneously – for example blank, weekly planner and clear pouch – you can attach them to the outside of the cover with a connector band, increasing capacity without adding bulk inside. The Regular size (22 × 12.5 cm) is narrower than A5 but fits in most jacket pockets and rucksack compartments.

Technical Specifications