Over the summer, the pen community learned that the company responsible for manufacturing Tomoe River paper was changing its manufacturing processes, which would result in the “new” Tomoe River having a different feel than the current version of the ultra-thin, fountain pen friendly paper that many of us have come to know and love. For the record, I have not had the opportunity to compare the new paper side-by-side with the old, but if you’re interested in reading about the differences, I would refer you to these posts by Yagan at Macchiato Man and Daryl from Atelier Musubi. From what I can tell, Tomoe River paper will continue to be fountain pen friendly, but with a different texture (more tactile), a slightly thicker page, and a less pronounced tendency to showcase sheen on certain inks.
Each Everyday Book comes packaged with a leather blotter and writing guides, which can be used to create a ruled page by placing the guide sheet behind each page of Tomoe River Paper.
That said, as the title of this post implies, it’s still possible to get your hands on the old version of Tomoe River paper. Both Galen Leather and Atelier Musubi have large stocks, and have indicated that they will continue to use the old version until their supplies are exhausted. Today, I will take a look at Galen Leather’s leatherbound “Everyday Book,” a 200 page/400 sheet notebook that features the blank, 52gsm white Tomoe River variant and is an excellent choice for those looking for an unlined Tomoe River notebook or journal.
For pretty much every Galen Leather product I have owned, I’ve opted for the brown “Crazy Horse” leather. I love how brown distressed leather looks as it ages, especially on a book. The leather cover manages to be thin without feeling flimsy, and the flexibility allows the notebook to open and lay flat. While the Everyday Book contains blank pages, it ships with lined and grid writing guides, as well as a leather blotter in case you need to close your notebook before the ink dries. (Tomoe River paper is known for its relatively long dry times.)
Tomoe River paper is beloved for its thinness, demonstrated here by comparing the 200-sheet Everyday Book (middle) against two other notebooks (Write Notepads Hardcover Notebook and Life x Kleid Noble Note) that contain around 100 sheets of different paper.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
Galen Leather has rapidly expanded their product offerings from leather notebook covers and accessories to include notebooks, desk accessories, and portable writing boxes/desks. I’m a huge fan of Galen Leather, including this notebook, and have used their products for years. You can purchase the Everyday Book (or “Everyday Blank Notebook” as it’s sometimes called) directly from the Galen Leather website. The A5 leather notebook starts at $36, with A6 and B6 sizes also available for $24 and $29, respectively. Some colors and sizes are currently sold out, possibly due to a run caused by those stocking up on old Tomoe River products before vendors have to move to new stock.
A Note on Tomoe River Paper Alternatives
Personally, I won’t be stockpiling “old” Tomoe River paper. It doesn’t sound as though the new paper will be any different for my purposes, as I actually prefer slightly thicker, more tactile paper, and don’t pay much attention to ink sheening or shading. For those interested in reading further about other fountain pen friendly papers that I enjoy, be sure to check out my series, “Best Paper for Everyday Writing.”
Disclaimer: Galen Leather sent me the notebook pictured in this review free of charge, for review purposes. I have not been otherwise compensated for this review. This post does not contain affiliate links.