Congratulations to Canadian stationer Papterie Nota Bene for being prominently featured on two pages of today’s National Post.
By Nathalie Atkinson, Move over Moleskine is a richly illustrated leisurely look at the fine notebooks and writing implements that many of us enjoy.
What the online article doesn’t show are the photos and prominence that the print edition gives to the article.
The front page of the “Weekend Post” is covered with seven photos and the caption, “Never too cool for school”. Shown are a Roots saddle bag, Hermès Ulysses notebook, Field Notes notebooks and pencils, Erinzam notebooks, Rite-in-the-Rain notebook (with Ticonderoga pencil), Faber-Castell Textliners, and Whitelines notepads. I was certainly surprised and delighted by the prominence given to pencils.
The fourth page of the section has a near full page article, and shows some more photos of stationery items: A Kikkerland Endangered Species eraser, Globus pencil sharpener, Rhodia pad, Very Best mechanical pencil, and Reused News colour pencils. Pencils clearly rule!
The article is a tour of today’s stationery trends, guided by an interview with Russell Hemsworth of Papterie Nota Bene. I’ve never been to his store, but I’ve spoken with Russell on the phone and via email, and can personally vouch for his great service.
We get the scoop: Moleskine has officially jumped the shark, with Field Notes being the new hipster favorite. Longstanding brands like Canteo, Rite-in-the-Rain and Rhodia are also in high demand. And pencils, pencils, pencils!
Thanks to the Post for the article and congratulations to Russell.
Interesting stuff. Never heard of ‘jumping the shark’, but Wikipedia has explained it for me.
With apologies to all, I am more of a pen and paper guy than PENCIL and paper.
That said, I am intrigued by what I’ve read about Canteo notebooks.
Are they worth pursuing? They don’t seem to be available in the States.
On a scale of 1 – 10, with a Moleskine as a 5 and the best notebook you could imagine, how would it rate, and why?
Thanks,
Tom
Hi Tom, I don’t personally know, but I do intend on soon acquiring a Canteo notebook. I’d also like to get a Leuchtturm 1917 notebook, which features numbered pages and a front index – which seems like a very useful way of locating content.
I’ve tried a number of notebooks, but Moleskines are great quality and, importantly for a lefty like me, they seem to lie flatter than the others, so they still win in my book (pun intended).
That’s the amusing thing. They’re just good quality notebooks… the product is the same as it was 5 years ago. It’s just people’s perceptions that change.
Having said that, I’m mostly a Filofax user… I like being able to reorder and selectively discard sheets. Moleskines are for journalling.