LEUCHTTURM1917 - Notebook Hardcover Medium A5-251 Numbered Pages for Writing and Journaling (Anthracite, Dotted)

I've been using this journal over a year now, and really love it. It still looks awesome on the outside... and on the inside, well, there you'd find my private thoughts and artwork. I use this notebook exclusively with fountain pen inks... a variety of inks. Usually there's no bleed through. Occasionally there is. As an artist, my challenge is to make the bleed through situations into something beautiful. I find that to be a lot of fun... so am staying positive and not complaining.This is a great notebook for writing in. There's an index of several pages at the beginning, and the pages are numbered, so it is perfect for use as a bullet journal or writer's journal, or whatever you like. The pages seem kind of thin, but still good quality. I have other bullet journals with thicker pages. But it is what it is and either you like it for what it is or you don't. I would not hesitate to buy another journal like this one, when this is full. However - if I was to do it again, I wouldn't limit myself just to fountain pen ink in this journal. Probably there are other pens that would be better for this one, like the Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens which are bright and beautiful and will not bleed through. (I just tried them on my pen check page at the back of the notebook, and they are perfect for this thickness and quality of paper.The cover of my Leuchtturm 1917 is hardcover, and the color is pink... what they call berry. It is so pretty. I'm glad I bought this one. It comes with the elastic, as pictured, and there's a nice sturdy pocket on the inside back cover. I've found it very handy for smaller items I pick up during my travels. The endpapers are white... a sort of creamy white. Everything about this notebook journal speaks quality.I've used this as a travel journal, for recording quotes, and as a memoir journal, using a prompt book. I'm not using it for my daily observations of life, though it could be that type of journal if need be. I do a lot of ink painting in this journal. I use the same inks I put into my fountain pens - Noodlers Inks in a variety of colors, and De Atramentis® Document Ink. I've also used the Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens in this journal. It does well with all, but as you can imagine, if I put on the ink too thickly there's that risk of bleed through... so I've learned how much to use, and how much I can get away with layering it before the ink goes through the paper. It is a learning process.Recently I used a pen with a medium nib, and that bled through. Not good... and usually I use the extra-fine nibs which are better for preventing bleed through. Not a problem though - I turned the page and used the bleed-through page to create a bit of art using fountain pen ink applied by water brushes. I like the way it turned out even with the bleed through - it became part of the art.So, if you're looking for a good quality notebook with thin paper... numbered, with an index and pocket, this could be the right journal for you. I recommend it. I like all the colors, especially the berry pink which is so, so pretty. No complaints from me.

Review of: "1917 Medium Size Hardcover Ruled Notebook, Black," by Leuchtturm.I purchased this notebook as an alternative to Moleskine which I had been using exclusively for about seventeen years now. I am very happy with my acquisition as I feel that it is an improvement to Moleskine as both are the same price. The manufacturer specifications list: "Numbered pages and blank table of contents for easy organization and notes. Thread-bound opens flat. Acid-free and ink proof paper, expandable pocket inside back cover, page marker and elastic closure. Stickers for labeling and archiving. 249 numbered pages, 8 perforated pages, 5.75 x 8.25 inches."I enjoyed the fact that the pages seem just a little thicker than what Moleskine uses. I love the numbered pages and the fill-in table of contents in addition to the date and subject line at the top of each page. The book is similar to Moleskine in that it has a back pocket along with very useful organization stickers to include front cover and spine stickers in order to label and archive. The book comes with two ribbons to organize an important area in the book along with the current page (or whatever is deemed important to the journalist). Like the Moleskines this book has an elastic band to hold the book closed. I use gel and other non-traditional ink pens which do show through to some degree from one side of the paper to the other. The pages feel like they are a higher quality though. By the way there are eight (8) perforated pages from pages 241-249 which can be removed quite easily for any reason. The fact that there is some bleed through in the pages is similar to the Moleskine products and should not be a deal breaker here. This book has a sturdy cover and the book lays quite flat for immediate use. The spine and binding appear to be very well constructed and sturdy. I have found my need for sturdiness to be quite high as by the end of the use the notebook is filled with clippings, papers, etc. in addition to being written in. I guess it serves as a scrapbook as well for the months in use. Having it hold together is a major selling point to me. In the final analysis I am giving the edge here to the Leuchtturm for its more solid and robust feel in addition to the details listed above such as numbered pages, etc. which set it apart from Moleskine. I will be using this journal again. I really like it at five stars.