(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)
Franklin-Christoph’s 5.3 Notebook Cover is a versatile cover that can be used with FC Bamboo notebooks, Field Notes, and other pocket-sized (3.5 x 5.5) notebooks. It measures 3 and 11/16 inches x 5 and 15/16 inches (=94mm x 151mm) and it is about 5mm thick.
The cover comes in various materials and colors: Ashen and Umber waxed canvas; Napa black and boot brown leather; Suit gray and dark blue; and Linen brown and blue. My cover is Suit gray. The material is soft to the touch with light texture and the edges are stitched. The diagonal-shaped corners are an elegant and unique touch.
The cover is adorned with the Franklin-Christoph “F” logo in contrasting fabric. A smaller logo appears on the back.
The inside cover is also nicely stitched and has a cut-out shape. Attention to detail and design is a characteristic of the Franklin-Christoph brand.
One Franklin-Christoph 5.3 ruled notebook comes with the cover. The paper is white bamboo with 6mm spacing. Each notebook has 32 pages. You can get 3-pack refills in ruled, dot grid, or grid for $10.00 or a 4-pack medley for $12.00.
The paper is definitely fountain-pen friendly. I tested it with all my currently-inked fountain pens. None of the inks feathered or bled through.
I also did ink swabs from various brands. None of the swabs bled through. Although the shimmer in Diamine Purple Pazzazz was visible, this paper doesn’t show off the sheen in Lamy Dark Lilac or Sailor Yama Dori. Sailor 123’s unique characteristics were visible, however.
I tested a variety of regular pens--gel, rollerball, Sharpie, and brush pens. All performed well, but the Sharpie did bleed through the paper (as Sharpie pens usually do).
I am genuinely impressed with Franklin-Christoph’s 5.3 notebook. It is super thin and light, weighing only 69 grams with a notebook inside. Pocket notebooks shouldn’t be bulky or heavy, and this one will slip neatly into a purse or a jacket pocket. Keep in mind that there’s no closure and the notebook doesn’t lay completely flat after you’ve opened it. Still, this is a classy little notebook that will fit right in at the office.
The Franklin-Christoph 5.3 Notebook Cover is $20.00. Leather versions are $22.50.
(Franklin-Christoph provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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