Moleskine notebooks are currently pretty popular among the GTD, lifehacker, and savvy hipster crowds. I must admit, I can see the appeal. There’s something about a beautifully-bound stack of paper that calls out to you in ways a spiral notebook never can.

Despite the implications of the brand’s name, their products are not made of cotton moleskin, but of a vinyl, leather-like oilcloth. The sketchbook has a hard, cardboard cover. Other Moleskines, like the ruled notebook, have soft covers.

Inside are 80 pages of pretty thick, smooth, acid-free, slightly yellowed paper, perfect for thick ink, pencil, tempera, and maybe even some pastel or crayon.

The first page has an “In case of loss” form for contact information and a reward for return. The back inside cover has a pocket for notes or the included Moleskine history and catalog.

The oilcloth cover would emboss wonderfully, and the back has the brandname on it. As I currently don’t have an embossing machine, mine has a sticker on it, because, you know, I’m cool like that.

The back cover secures an elastic band meant to wrap around the book to keep it closed when not in use. There’s also a bookmark tassel worked into the top of the spine for marking your current page.

According to the included information, Moleskine books are manufactured in China and designed/assembled in Italy. According the the website, the sketchbook’s paper is Italian.

The included pamphlet has contact information for customer service, who are, from what I understand, ready and willing to send you a replacement should you find any defect in your book.

http://www.moleskineus.com/sketchpocket.html