Hand-Bound Leather Journal with Strap, Rustic Brown

Hand-Bound Leather Journal with Strap, Rustic Brown

Honest Craftsmanship for Your Notes

This journal from House of Warfare is made with an emphasis on authentic looks. The cover is a single piece of soft yet durable brown leather with a beautiful texture and patina. The front cover has an asymmetrical flap that protects the edges of the pages. The journal is closed by wrapping a long leather strap around it, which is simply tucked under itself at the end.

The binding is hand-stitched, and the stitches are intentionally visible on the spine, a typical feature of medieval and early modern codices. Inside, you'll find 100 sheets (200 pages) of high-quality, unlined cream-coloured paper. It's ideal for writing with a quill or pen, as well as for drawing with a pencil or charcoal.

For the Chronicler, Mage, and Adventurer

Whether you're at a LARP writing down spells and potion recipes, or at a historical event keeping a camp chronicle, this journal is perfect. It's a fantastic accessory for a mage, ranger, merchant, chronicler, or alchemist character. You can use it as your personal diary, sketchbook, herbarium, or book of shadows. Thanks to its compact size (approx. 6 x 4.5 inches), it fits comfortably in your bag, satchel, or behind your belt.

Bookbinding in History

Bindings with exposed stitching on the spine, like this one, are inspired by historical techniques. For example, the Coptic binding, used in Egypt since the early Middle Ages (around the 2nd century AD), was characterized by sewing the sections (of paper or parchment) to each other and directly to the covers, without covering the spine. This allowed the book to be opened completely flat, which was ideal for writing. This technique and its variations influenced European bookbinding for centuries.

Technical Specifications

How to Care for Your Leather Journal

Leather is a natural material that deserves care to last you as long as possible:

• Protect the journal from extreme moisture and rain. The leather could mildew or permanently warp.
• If it does get damp, let it air dry at room temperature. Never dry it on a heater or in direct sunlight!
• From time to time, you can treat the leather with a leather conditioner (e.g., one with a beeswax base) to keep it supple, prevent cracking, and maintain its patina.
• Try not to write on the paper with very wet ink or markers, as they might bleed through to the other side.