Review of Smythson of Bond St's Featherweight Paper -

[biffybeans]

Click to see full review with photos and links

 

Smythson's Featherweight Paper holds up to it's claim of being Fountain Pen Friendly

 

Perusing the web, I came across these splendid little notebooks- these in particular known as "Panama Notes."

 

Handmade in England by Smythson of Bond for 100 years, I was intrigued by these luxurious little books and surprised to read what they say about their paper; "Normally such thin paper is not appropriate for use with a fountain pen but Featherweight paper is tested to ensure that it is strong and opaque enough to be used with fountain pens without bleed."

 

Oh sure. I've heard that before.

 

So these days, anytime I hear a paper laying claim to being fountain pen friendly, I know that I have GOT to check it out. Especially when the paper in question is labeled as "Featherweight" and weighs in at 50g/m.

 

So I sent an e-mail off to Smythson of Bond Street and received a few sample sheets of this FABULOUS paper.

 

No feathering, no bleeding....it's incredible. It's a light pale blue watermarked paper that reminds me of that thin airmail paper. (But not as crinkly)

 

The paper is very smooth, completely wonderful to write on, but the fountain pen inks I used in this test did take quite a while to dry. I would suggest keeping a sheet of blotter paper in the book. Take notice of how the heavily saturated Midnight Blues showed really nice shading on this paper.

 

All pens tested on this paper wrote to their true nib width and didn't spread out all over the place.

 

Showing how thin the Lamy EF Studio wrote on this paper compared to a Sailor F.

 

Showing a scan of the reverse of all 4 test sheets. Paper came out very light on scanner & I had to up the contrast a bit to get them to show up - which is making the color a little darker than it actually is. No bleeding at all.

 

Smythson's products may not be for everyone - the 3x5" Panama Notes runs $70, but these might make excellent gifts for those fountain pen enthusiasts that you never know what to buy for.

 

I sent another letter off to Smythson inquiring if their books lie flat, and if the Featherweight paper is available in all of their books.

 

Per Amanda B. Doherty, Senior Account Executive KENT & COMPANY, "Most of our notebooks and manuscript books feature the Featherweight paper (from pocket notebooks to 8x10 manuscript books) as well as most of our diaries. The larger books lie flat when opened but the smaller books tend to close due to the binding, etc. And all of our Featherweight Paper is Smythson's signature pale blue color."

 

See more of Smythson's products here: diaries and books

[misterh]

Thanks for the review.

 

Last week when I was in London, I went into one of their shops as I was interested in one of their diaries. I too was sceptical about the paper, but the assistant assured me it was fine for use with fountain pens and even let me put a note into his diary using one of my pens to prove it!

 

I was amazed at how well it took fountain pen ink and brought one of their red leather Panama diaries. As you say, they aren't cheap, but it does seem to be of very high quality and using it will give me a lot of pleasure throughout the year. That is how I justified the expense anyway

 

[biffybeans]

Very very cool.... I love hearing that at least one person here already has one!

 

 

Thanks for the review.

 

Last week when I was in London, I went into one of their shops as I was interested in one of their diaries. I too was sceptical about the paper, but the assistant assured me it was fine for use with fountain pens and even let me put a note into his diary using one of my pens to prove it!

 

I was amazed at how well it took fountain pen ink and brought one of their red leather Panama diaries. As you say, they aren't cheap, but it does seem to be of very high quality and using it will give me a lot of pleasure throughout the year. That is how I justified the expense anyway

 

[AlecG]

Nice review, thanks! You are such an active member here.

 

Do you also have the idea that the pale blue color of the paper prevents it from showing bleeds as easily as white paper does?

 

Besides that I find it wonderfull stuff. I got a classic floppy manuscript laying, but I'm just not ready to use it.

So unbelieveable expensive?!

I got the panama travel notes as well. Man that hurts, but the floppy is something like 180 pounds.

And the shipping cost?! Astronomical! but you'll get something nice, beautiful packaging, really beautiful packaging.

But £30 for shipping mama mia!

 

One day, one day when I'm gonna write my first real travel book I'm gonna use the floppy but until that time? I sometimes take it off the shelf, smell it, open it carefully , let the pages whisper

and put it away again. Careful, it's precious.

 

Until that time, I'm using the Allan's Journal. I think they are just as good as the travel notes....

Just see my review of the travel notes against the Allan's Journal here.

And somewhere there was a visual comparison against the Moleskine.

Edited October 16, 2008 by alecgold