FAQ

 

Q. What kind of books are these?

A. These are limp (softcover) leather books with exposed stitching.


Q. Can you make me a sketchbook in a particular colour?

A. Yes! Choose from 26 colours in the Harmatan Fine range. Please indicate a second choice in case your first is unavailable.


Q. Will these sketchbooks lie flat on a table?

A. Yes, they’re flexible but strong and the pages lie flat.


Q. Will they take inclusions?

A. Yes, the binding allows for some extra inclusions, such as photographs, ticket stubs, etc. The paper will take glue.


Q. What kind of paper is in these sketchbooks?

A. 130gsm cartridge paper, suitable for dry medium artwork as well as writing with fountain pens, ballpoints or pencils. But you could have any special paper you might need, for example pastel, watercolour, tracing, graph.


  1. Q.Can you refill my sketchbook?

A. Yes, and I can also make a folder for your old pages.

Artists Sketchbooks: longstitch/linkstitch leather binding in the Medieval German style

Hardback Journals: flatback with French joints, cloth covers and leather spine

Pocket Sketchbooks and Miniature Journals: pamphlet stitch limp leather bindings

Q. Do I have to take special care of them?

A. No, they’re robustly constructed following traditional methods, using archival materials. They’ll withstand daily use; you can carry them in a bag without concern for their care.


  1. Q.What sizes and formats are available?

  2. A.A5 portrait, A6 landscape/portrait, all have unlined white pages.


  1. Q.Can I have something special printed in the book?

A. Certainly. You could have the first page printed with your contact details, or with a dedication to you gift recipient, or even your house and family name for use as a guestbook.


  1. Q.How are they made?

A. Following traditional methods, entirely by hand from start to finish. The paper is folded and torn to size and collated into several signatures, sewn onto tapes, backed with mull, with decorative headbands and endpapers atached.


The boards of the case are cut and sanded by hand and then covered in leather and cloth.


The mull, tapes and the endpapers of the bookblock are glued to the case, then the book dries in a press for at least 48 hours.