Design.Y Handmade Leather-bound Notebook from Japan

Grab a tissue before you click through to this link, because you’re going to drool: Design.Y, Handmade Leather-bound Notebook.

I just found Design.Y via the Pencil Talk blog, and I had to sit on my hands to keep myself from immediately clicking the buy button for a few of these VERY expensive notebooks. At a base price of Â¥3780-9410 (about $60-118 USD) each, not including shipping from Japan, these won’t be for everyone, but boy do they look nice… I don’t know how long I’ll be able to resist breaking open my piggybank…

They’re hand-made, with real leather covers. Four sizes are available, including a wonderfully chunky yet compact 600-page pocket size model. Each notebook is made to order, so you can choose the color of the ribbon marker, lined or plain paper, whether or not it has an elastic closure and whether the page edges are dyed. Brown and black leather covers are available, in either cowhide or goatskin. The paper is very thin so ink will show through, but that doesn’t seem to stop fountain pen users from raving about the lack of bleedthrough and feathering, as well as the overall high quality of the craftsmanship. The only complaint I’ve seen is that they are too nice to actually use!

You can order online from their website, and PayPal is accepted.

Only 8 months til Christmas, start dropping hints now!

5 thoughts on “Design.Y Handmade Leather-bound Notebook from Japan”

  1. I first came across these on the Fountain Pen Network forums. I think they may be the nicest journals I’ve ever seen. I’m going to try to be an extra good boy this year and put one of the small, chunky ones at the top of my letter to Santa!

  2. Oh man… I think I agree with the “but it is too nice to use!” argument.

    Well worth the price, though, if you think about it, considering they’re handmade.

    Alas, not enough time to get together the money for one for my birthday (it’s later on this month) but I’m pondering saving up and getting 2… one for me and one for my best friend, who’s also a notebook addict. =D

  3. Thank you for the mention!

    I believe your conversion rates are a bit off – Â¥3780 is more like US$47 right now.

  4. The only complaint I’ve seen is that they are too nice to actually use!

    Let me be the killjoy: the paper is too thin. I describe the problem in overlong detail in a review if you want to read more. Stick with Rhodia Webbies.

  5. @ jseliger:
    The link in your post is not working– would be grateful for an update

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