Oxford Signature Notebook

[Holdav]

I have been looking for some cheap fountain pen paper and notebooks for a while, and stumbled upon Oxford Optik Paper. The Oxford Signature Range took my fancy and I ordered a pack.

 

After some research, Hamelin, formally John Dickinson Stationary, makes the Oxford brand. Hamelin also own the following brands:-

 

Basildon Bond

Cambridge

Challenge

Lion Brand

Summit

Three Candlesticks

 

I was a little shocked by this, I had also been using Basildon Bond Paper for writing on which I rate highly but that's for a different review, this is about the Oxford Signature range so I'll start.

 

It is available in two sizes, pocket (90x140mm) and A5 (150x215mm) and both sizes can be found in their Masculine and Feminine ranges, these really only indicate what colour they come in. Feminine comes in Light Pink, Magenta/Dark Pink, Lilac and Cream. I was told Masculine came in Dark Blue, Green, Brown and Black but my pack contained Blue, Grey, Brown and Black. While I would have liked the Green it's not something I'm going to lose sleep over.

 

All of the signature range have a durable hardback cover that has some flex but will do the job of protecting your notes and would suffice in giving you the support needed to write with a fountain pen at least for a short while, a document pocket on the inside of the rear cover, a ribbon bookmark, an elasticised closure and the lovely 90gsm Optik paper.

 

The Optik paper is truly wonderful to write on, it is advertised as "Its whiteness optimises reading comfort" – Well I'm not sure about that, its white paper, sometimes a nice Ivory is just as good, with some inks, better – "and its satin effect makes it pleasant to write on with minimal 'show through' of notes." And I couldn't have put it better, it is very smooth and really a pleasure to write on, there is no feathering using any ink I own (Diamine, Pelikan, Lamy, Sailor, Omas, Montblanc and Delta) nor have I had any bleed through with my wettest pen (Lamy 2000) or widest nib (Rotring 1.5mm Artpen) there is however the slightest show through but there is no problem using both sides of the paper.

 

 

Possibly the greatest trick up the sleeve of the Oxford Signature line is the price, they are quite simply fantastic value for money. I bought a pack of 5 in A5 for £20 working out a mere £4 a book, when compared to a Rhodia Webnotebook at £12 a book, Leuchtturm 1917 for £12 or a Quo Vadis Habana for £15 they quickly start looking great.

 

(Sorry about the reflection of my dvd shelf)

 

Sadly there are a few problems with the Signature range, number one being they do not lie flat, if that is something you look for then I'm afraid this is not for you.

 

 

Two they are only available as lined notebooks, this is something I'm a little upset about, I would have loved a plain or dotted version but they are only available as lined notebooks and three, as with most quality fountain pen paper, drying time is extended over the poorer, absorbent fountain pen paper but this is just something you have to expect.

 

Summery:

+ Amazing Value

+ Quality Fountain Paper

- Only in pocket and A5

- Only lined paper

- Does not lie flat

 

If I have missed something you want to know or feel it would help the review, please ask or let me know and I'll do my best to answer it.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I live in the wrong section of Germany. In Frankfurt I could get this paper, not in Heidelberg.

 

I have a cheap school notebook of 90 g Oxford Optic. It is as good or better than Clairefontain Velvet.

That I can get and it is not terrible expensive, but I want some Oxford Optic, which was the first real good paper I'd been exposed to.

 

Others rate it as good as Rhoda.

 

Some one sent me a sheet of Spanish Oxford Optic.

 

I'll have to order some the next time I get to my B&M or online.

Somewhere I saw it in A 4, in I don't fiddle with small note books.

 

I'm greedy of course...I got to find out if it comes in 100-110-120 or 150-170...yep. A ream of Singles sheets.

 

Black and Red uses Oxford Optic paper.

Edited January 20, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[lewis]

I have been using one of these for a few months, i agree, they are great value for money and really nice to use, smooth to write on no issues with bleed through.

 

Lewis

[The Good Captain]

For future reference, where did you get them from?

[lurcho]

Nearly bought one of these last night, but Staples was closed, so I settled for Tesco A6.

 

It's a shame that the Oxford doesn't lie flat, because the sewn soft-cover version that they discontinued about three years ago lay perfectly flat, and the Optik paper was superb.

 

Isn't it possible to break the back of this notebook as is sometimes the case/

[Holdav]

I ordered them from huntoffice dot co dot uk with a few more Oxford things like the npads.

[Bo Bo Olson]

A Gentleman sent me a Oxford Optic spiral notebook from England.

 

 

With Lamy Blue in B, there was --yes/BEF. yes you could see feathering with your bare eyes.

DA Copper Brown in a F easy full flex the paper was not perfect. There was feathering under 2.8X magnification. No-BEF.

In R&K Solferino ... in a Pelikan BB was some slight feathering too. (Mine was pink red I gave the ink away,)

Yet with my 1.5 Lamy Joy with Lamy Blue, there was no feathering.

Odd the nib like with the Lamy pens makes such a difference with the same ink on the same paper.

 

DA Copper Brown was good in a regular F though. It was very good in a semi-flex M also.

 

It is a good paper for a shading ink. That means it will be a tad slow to dry.

Inks scribbled.

Waterman blue black, in a regular F,and a 'flexi' OF that gave different tones of shading.

Herbin Vert Empire Blue Pervencial, Cafe de Illes, Lie de The`.

Pelikan Topaz and Jade, and a wonderful vintage orange. The vintage gray was great. The vintage Lilac shaded well. I lucked into some old '80-90's cartridges. I really like that orange. Pelikan Violet was nice.

Lamy Violet is a great color.

Besides DA Copper brown, were also DA Bordeaux, DA Havana, DA Moss green which needs a wet nib.

 

There was no bleed through, no show through, just a tad of echo.

 

The paper is good.

I'm very happy to have so much to use and play with.

[lurcho]

Just bought one of these from Staples (UK).

 

£3.99 for the one, from a bricks-and-mortar shop, and they're cheaper if you buy online by the three-or-more.

 

But contrary to one of the reviews above, these fantastic notebooks do lie flat. Not flush with the desk, but they do not have a valley between any two open pages.

 

As a side-note, I noticed that Black n' Red also have the same (Optik) paper now. I believe some have had issues between some FPs and this paper, but I haven't, and find that it's suited to wetter nibs and inks.

 

Best Moleskine contender yet, though I'm still growing a soft spot for cheap and nasty notebooks like the WHSmith A6.

Edited February 3, 2012 by lurcho

[timjthomas]

Any way to pick these up in the US?

 

-Tim

[Holdav]

Sorry, I don't know of anywhere though I heard in the latest writetime - I think - That the Goulets may be getting some Basildon Bond in, as its made by the same parent company they may also be able to get some of the Oxford line so that would be my first and really only suggestion.

[ParkerNutter]

The "Black n Red" product line is relatively easy to find in the US (Amazon, Staples, even Walmart carries it).

 

It is produced by Oxford.

 

I've found that it has excellent FP paper with no bleed through.

Edited May 2, 2012 by ParkerNutter

[terminal]

The "Black n Red" product line is relatively easy to find in the US (Amazon, Staples, even Walmart carries it).

 

It is produced by Oxford.

 

I've found that it has excellent FP paper with no bleed through.

 

Like this one??

 

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Red-Hardcover-Notebook-L67000/dp/B00015YORO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335932934&sr=8-3

[gosudar]

Anyone in the UK interested in Optik paper might like to know that Morrison (supermarket chain) are selling 'Oxford 100% Recycled Paper' notebooks (90gsm Optik) at £1 for A5 (140 pages) and £1.50 for A5 (same no. of pages, I think)

 

Never say'No' to a notebook!

 

G

[ParkerNutter]

The "Black n Red" product line is relatively easy to find in the US (Amazon, Staples, even Walmart carries it).

 

It is produced by Oxford.

 

I've found that it has excellent FP paper with no bleed through.

 

Like this one??

 

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Red-Hardcover-Notebook-L67000/dp/B00015YORO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335932934&sr=8-3

 

Yes, I've seen those at Office Depot, sometimes at Walmart, and even several sources on eBay. Pretty certain it's the same paper that Oxford sells in the UK.

[terminal]

Wow, ok, thanks, I would NEVER have guessed that

[OMASmaniac]

does anyone know if the paper is acid-free and has archival qualities? Old Oxford paper wasn't.

[Holdav]

Sorry about the delay. That's not something I know or have found. So I have contacted Oxford directly and hopefully will get an answer soon!

[fountainpen7]

Looks like great paper, I will have to look into this. Do you know if it is available at major office retailers?

[Scylax]

In Britain at least you can find it everywhere from major supermarkets to WHSmith to Staples

[Holdav]

Sorry its taken so long Omasmaniac, I didn't get a reply from my email. But when I asked on facebook I did get a reply from them. The optic paper is acid free! Hope this helps.