ASTERALES ONYX MIDI LINED HARDCOVER JOURNAL

Connect with the ornate Dutch world of yesteryear with this opulent gold on black geometric design.

Reproducing an expensive goatskin leather book binding crafted in Amsterdam in 1835 by Friedrich W.J.C. Kolb, our Asterales series is a stately addition to the Paperblanks collection and one that celebrates the harmony between art and science.

The binding was originally designed to contain a Latin oration on the physiology of plants by the renowned Dutch botanist Willem Hendrik de Vriese (1806–1862). De Vriese was a member of the Royal Dutch Institute of Sciences, Literature and Fine Arts and, in his studies, named many species of plants in the Asterales order (Asterids). He practiced medicine in Rotterdam, where he also taught classes in botany at the medical school. The astral-sounding name of this plant species inspired our inky midnight black design, which seemed a fitting way to pay tribute to De Vriese and his lasting legacy in both science and art.

Science and art have long found a common ground in Dutch history, with artists from the Netherlands pioneering the form of still life, so there is little wonder why this significant binding can be found in the KB, National Library of the Netherlands. Founded in 1798, the library holds the intention to celebrate the written word and share Dutch creativity and innovation with the world.

• Midi format (130mm x 180mm)
• 6.67mm ruled lines
• 144 pages
• 120gsm acid-free sustainable forest paper
• High ink opacity
• 100% recycled binder boards
• Durable smyth-sewn binding
• Elastic band closure
• Ribbon marker
• Memento pouch