When I stumbled across my Miquelrius notebook the other day, which I had not used since August 2005, I made a comment about it on Twitter, and it immediately got some response from folks who really like those notebooks. I figured that it would be a good idea to take a break from posting only about Levenger for a bit and get this note book reviewed. One person who chimed in on the topic was nrepose from the blog Unposted. He suggested we do alternating reviews on our sites. He would do his next post on a Levenger notebook, and I would do mine on the Miquelrius. Make sure to check out that link for his review because he did a great job.
I don’t really remember where I picked this up but I am about 90% certain it was from The Daily Planner who always carries a great selection of stationery and other cool office supplies.
Introduction to the Miquelrius Notebook with Leather Look Cover:
The version of the Miquelrius Notebook that I am reviewing is the 200 page graph ruled in blue that measures 6″ x 81/4″ . They also have 100 page versions of this as well as smaller 4″ x 6″ versions.
As you can see from the front and back cover pictures posted there is very little on it in terms of branding or design which I prefer. The simplicity of the design is a big plus for me. The cover of the Miquelrius notebook has a nice soft and durable feel to it. I have to say that the description of “Leather Look” that they use to describe the cover really doesn’t do it justice. I wouldn’t say that you pick it up and think it is some super high quality and expensive material but when I read “Leather Look” it just sounds cheap and flimsy That is certainly not the case. I am also a really big fan of the notebook being flexible and not having a stiff rigid cover as many cardboard backed notebooks do. I don’t frequently find myself sitting there wanting to bend my notebook but the flexibility of the cover makes it much easier to flip through the pages as compared to a regular hard cover notebook.
For the writing sample I decided to use multiple different pens and inks in hopes that I would hit a few that some of you reading this typically use. The paper in this notebook has a very smooth feel to it and all of the pens seem to be good candidates for this notebook. The only pens that I saw a slight issue with were the Bic Z4 and the Pilot Petit 1 which showed a little more bleedthrough than I would prefer. By no means was it terrible though they just happened to stand out when compared to the others.
The pens I used were as follows:
- Pilot Razor Point Extra Fine – Turquoise
- Paper Mate Liquid Flair – Black
- Uniball SignoDX .38 – Light Blue
- Pilot G2 Black – Black
- Pilot G2 Mini – Maroon
- Bic Z4 .7 mm – Red
- Uniball Signo Bit .18 mm – Red
- Uniball UBR-300 .5mm – Black
- Lamy Studio Extra Fine – Private Reserve Velvet Black
- Pilot Petit 1 – Blue Black
- Pelikan M205 Fine – Noodler’s Bulletproof Black
Each of these pens wrote really nicely on the Miquelrius Leather Look Graph Paper, and I am really glad I rediscovered this notebook. Now I just need to find an excuse to start using it again soon.
I really like these and keep wandering back to them for various uses. The paper is really nice.
Nice job. I really like that blue cover because I have never seen one before. Another wonderful post. Nr
Nice review. I have several of the spiral Miquelrius with harder plastic covers. They have the “leather look” ones in our on campus supply store now. I hadn’t bought one because I wasn’t sure how they would hold up. So I appreciate this review!
r.e.wolf – I agree about the paper, I was pleasantly surprised when I started writing in it again, surprisingly nice to write on.
nrepose – I prefer the blue and the black, I have a red one that I remember using at work until 3 different people asked me “why do you have a bible at your desk” 🙂
BethKnowles – glad it was helpful, does that make up for me posting that link to the Levenger sale stuff now? 😉
Nice review! Although seeing the Demonstrator test writing made me very jealous.
Almost!! Even though I did place a Levenger order over the weekend. I’m blaming it on you still 🙂
You should have told them that you were praying for them. 🙂
We need a review on that Pelikan M205 that you used! Would love to see a review done on one of my favourite pens.
I’m going to need to get a Miquelrius notebook to try; looks like it’d work great for me.
Augustine – I will be getting around to that soon, I promise! 🙂
How did I miss this post? I love my Miquelrius. I remember seeing your tweet but never commented here, how silly. I will post about my own Miquelrius soon… eventually… as soon as I ace this class…
Ooh! I love that notebook.
@Kim – Somehow I missed your comment, I’m sorry…but I guess you probably aced that class by now, huh? 🙂
@Does This Pen Write – They are pretty nice notebooks, they seem to hold up quite well too, I’ve had this one for a while.
It’s true, I have aced the class! I did post about my Miquelrius but not in the detail I wanted to.
http://www.prosaicparadise.com/?p=778
The first Miquelrius I got was this blue one. At B&N, discounted (b/c I worked there). They do lay flat once you get away from the first several pages, and the pages NEVER fall out. That book is several years old and holding up like a champ despite all the times I bent the spine back. Just had to get another blue one from amazon for twice the B&N price. Wish B&N would carry blue ones again.