Smythson Paper Quality (Or The Lack Of It)

[Anitropius]

Tonight a friend came back from London. With her she had a bottle of Diamine ink and a small little teeny-weeny notebook from a brand I recognized; Smythson.

Being a materialist, I squealed with glee and decided to try out the book, especially since I remembered hearing that the paper should be notebook-friendly.

 

So far, it is definitely not.

 

The paper is very thin, and I expected show-through, but not bleed-through. Even with my one of finest nibs (Lamy 2K EF) and one of my most well behaved inks (Lamy black) there was some bleed-through on the pages.

 

I have looked at reviews online and they all seem positive, which I find strange. Have any of you had similar experiences with Smythson paper? Apparently they all use the same paper in all of their notebooks, so I am sure there's quite a few of you who has used them at very least.

 

And ah, yes, I'm sorry if it seems like I'm simply ranting. I will admit that I am very disappointed with the notebook, but I am seriously curious what your experiences with the paper is like.

 

Thank you for reading

 

[camoandconcrete]

I have used their notebook paper in the past and didn't have any problems with my pens, though, I have mostly very fine points and don't use ink other than MB and Aurora. I also use their paper in my correspondence cards and find it to perform excellently with FPs. Maybe the notebook you tried was from a bad batch?

[Anitropius]

I have used their notebook paper in the past and didn't have any problems with my pens, though, I have mostly very fine points and don't use ink other than MB and Aurora. I also use their paper in my correspondence cards and find it to perform excellently with FPs. Maybe the notebook you tried was from a bad batch?

I am thinking along the same lines. If this is the case I find it even more disappointing that such a well regarded company messes up for such a small item at such a high price point, though.

 

I'm glad that your experiences are of the better kind though.

[Centopar]

They're phenomenally expensive, those notebooks. I have one (also a gift), and I've not had any problems with it; I also have some of their notecards and envelopes, which play very nicely with FPs.

[daintydimsum]

personally I didn't find my featherweight paper to play too nicely with my pens. I've noticed feathering but no bleed through. perhaps a QC issue.

[Centopar]

I mostly use mine with a Japanese F nib - could be where we're experiencing the difference.

[daintydimsum]

I actually don't use anything wider than a Japanese F, and have actually only used it with a Nakaya SEF, so I'm not sure what's up. Could be I got unlucky.

Edited January 7, 2014 by daintydimsum

[Anitropius]

Hmm, it seems as if it's a QC issue then. Thanks for your responses. I needed a pocket book, so I'll suppose that I'll use this one up. It was a gift after all, and I hate wasting things. I've sent Smythson an email containing my experience with the book, and I'll doubt they'll do much to help, but I'd hate to have anyone else be disappointed with a notebook in this price range...

[mikeg]

I tried one of their dairy's a couple of years ago and was unable to use any of my fountain pens at all, really disappointing.

[gmax]

Wow, that's surprising. I use large Smythson notebooks for work every day, and find that they work perfectly with my fountain pens.

 

My daily writer is a Pelikan M00 with OB nib, usually inked with Rohrer and Klingner Verdigris. I've also used a wide selection of Diamine iniks with no issues.