Apica Notebook CD-11 lined ivory (A5)

The Apica CD-11 is a slim A5 notebook from Japanese manufacture that has served as a reliable everyday writing companion for decades. The ivory-coloured softcover binding, made from thick card stock, sits pleasantly textured and firm in the hand — structured enough to provide grip without feeling stiff. Inside: 28 sheets of acid-free paper at 81.4 g/m², sewn binding and fountain pen friendly.

Features

• Fountain pen friendly paper, 81.4 g/m²: The smooth, lightly satin finish allows nibs — from fine to medium — to glide evenly. Fine lines remain sharp without feathering. Gel pens also perform cleanly and with control on this paper.
• Acid-free: The paper does not yellow and remains stable long-term — essential for notes, drafts or sketches that you want to preserve.
• 7 mm ruling, 25 lines per page: The upper margin remains free for date, page number or subject. The line height is comfortable enough for handwriting of all sizes — neither too tight nor too generous.
• Sewn binding: The notebooks lie perfectly flat without having to press them down. No paper comes loose, no spine breaks — even if the notebook travels in your bag every day.
• Ivory-coloured card cover: The warm, muted white tone of the cover looks calm and timeless. The card is firm enough to serve as a writing pad when writing by hand.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens with fine to medium nibs: The paper takes aqueous ink well without feathering. For very wet nibs or highly saturated inks, a sheet as a hand underlay is recommended to avoid ink transfer.
• Inks with shading or shimmer: The paper shows shading and colour gradients distinctly — not as pronounced as on very smooth coated paper, but clear enough to reveal ink character.
• As a topic or project notebook: At 56 pages, the CD-11 is deliberately kept slim — ideal for a single topic, travel period or ongoing project. It fills up completely before disappearing into a drawer.
• In an A5 cover or planner: The standard format fits into common A5 sleeves, travel journal systems and ring binder inserts without modification.
• Pencil: On the smooth paper, pencil writes softly and glides well — eraser leaves barely any residue.

For Paper Enthusiasts

The CD-11 is manufactured in Japan and has used the same 81.4 g/m² paper for years — a weight that reduces show-through on the reverse to light ghosting only, but produces no complete bleed-through. Both sides of a sheet are usable, which is not a given at this weight. The lines are printed in a discreet grey that draws attention to your handwriting without disappearing. Apica has been manufacturing in Japan since 1916 — the CD notebook is one of the longest-lasting products in the company's range.

Technical Specifications