[.ca] Book of Kells Evangelii (ISBN 1551563479)

Evoking Ancient Britain:
Paperblanks produces some very appealing blank books ... in general, their books work in well, break nicely and feel well-made. The Book of Kells series (there are four altogether) does not disappoint. The series takes its name from the Book of Kells, an amazing hand-painted manuscript of 680 pages that dates from the Middle Ages. The image used for this blank book, Evangeli, is from the Gospel According to Mark. It symbolises the four evangelists. The covers are heavy board, covered with the richly coloured image, which is embossed and intermittently gilded, so that it seems to sparkle. The book has 128 ecru pages (counting front and back separately), faintly lined, secured by an attractive coptic binding (chain stitched signatures and covers with an open spine) that echos the antiquity of the cover images. The smooth paper - acid free and archival quality - takes ink well, including that from fountain pens. On the interior of the back cover, as in many small moleskin books, there is a gussetted folder, which the publishers call a "memory pouch," for stashing odds and ends. At 7x9, this striking journal is small enough to carry with you in a day pack, yet not so small that it cramps your hand. An attractive addition to any journal-lover's collection.