Apica Notebook CD-11 lined light blue (A5)

The Apica CD-11 is a slim A5 notebook in light blue with thread binding – a Japanese school notebook tradition that has been cherished by fountain pen enthusiasts for decades. The acid-free paper at 81.4 g/m² is smooth and closed enough to write cleanly with fine to medium nibs, without feathering or bleed-through. The textured cardboard cover provides pleasant grip in the hand, but folds back completely – the notebook lies absolutely flat on the desk when open.

Features

• Fountain pen-friendly paper, 81.4 g/m²: The smooth, closed surface guides nibs with minimal resistance. Fine and medium nibs write dry and sharp-edged; shading inks look solid, though more restrained than on highly absorbent paper. Gel pens and oil-based ballpoint refills also glide very smoothly.
• Thread binding with completely flat opening: The thread binding keeps all pages permanently secure; the soft softcover cardboard can be folded back completely, so the notebook lies as flat as a single sheet of paper on your desk. No need to hold it open.
• 25 lines with 7 mm spacing, blank header line: Each page offers an unlined line at the top for date, subject or page number – creating clear visual structure without printed grid. The 7 mm ruling gives even larger handwriting plenty of room.
• Acid-free paper: Without acid content in the paper, pages and ink won't yellow over time – notes remain legible and colour-true for years.
• Light blue softcover cardboard: The thick, slightly textured cardboard in calm light blue makes the notebook instantly recognisable in a stack or in your bag. The surface feels dry and grippy, not glossy.

Use & Tips

• Daily notes and meeting notes: With 56 pages, the CD-11 is ideal as a subject notebook or weekly notes pad – manageable enough to put away after filling, without stacks of half-empty notebooks.
• Fountain pens with fine to medium nibs: EF and F nibs deliver particularly sharp lines on the smooth paper. M nibs work well; very wet stub nibs may feather slightly on long strokes – placing paper under your writing hand prevents this reliably.
• Writing on both sides: The paper is opaque enough for two-sided use. Slight show-through (ghosting) is present, but doesn't interfere with writing. Those using very wet inks or markers should test with one page first.
• As an insert in A5 covers or planner systems: The slim profile of the notebook (just 28 leaves) makes it ideal as an insert in A5 leather covers or ring binder systems, without adding bulk.
• Prefer fast-drying inks: The paper dries ink quickly; those who write left-handed or flip pages fast benefit from inks with short drying times.

For Fountain Pen Enthusiasts

The CD-11 uses Apica's standard CD paper at 81.4 g/m² – a slightly higher weight than the smaller CD-5/CD-7 notebooks (70 g/m²), which gives the paper more body and opacity. The surface is satiny-smooth without a pronounced coating: inks dry quickly, shading is visible, sheen appears subtle. Fountain pen enthusiasts using intense sheen inks will achieve more effect on more porous papers; for daily use with classic iron gall or pigment inks, the CD-11 is a solid, reliable choice. The thread binding opens completely flat – a clear advantage over glued bindings where inner page edges disappear into the spine.

Technical Specifications