Hightide Attache Letterpress Printed Memo Pad A6 [81.4gsm]

Crafted by hand, the Attache memo pad is a limited run of paper pads designed by Hightide and printed entirely by one man on an antique printing press manufactured in 1872 (that's the early Meiji period!). Yoshiyuki Yamada took over his father's printing studio in 1972 after his father's retirement. The family's printing company was first founded in Fukuoka City in Japan and to this day, Yoshiyuki Yamada remains the only craftsman in the city printing in this way and is actively engaged in hundreds of workshops and lectures to spread the art of letterpress printing.

Yoshiyuki Yamada pictured in his printing studio, above

What's the paper like inside?
The paper used in these pads is known as 'OK Fools' - it's some of Japan's most superior paper for fountain pen use. At 81.4gsm, fountain pen ink glides on this beautiful paper without any feathering, bleeding or show-through. As with most high-end paper, the drying time is a little longer owing to the coating on the sheets (as opposed to standard writing paper which tends to absorb ink quickly and dry faster) but well worth the pay-off. Ink takes on a life of its own when used with superior paper types - you'll notice hues and colours that you hadn't picked up on before and the ink seems to look more lustrous and shiny. 

Hand-printed Grid Pattern
Each sheet has a soft grid pattern which has been blind-printed by hand using a metal gridded emboss and completely without the use of ink. If you hold the sheet up to the light, or against a lamp, you'll notice a subtle watermark for added authenticity. If you appreciate paper, this is the moment you'll realise that someone lovingly took the time to hand-print each sheet on an ancient letter-press, passed down through generations. It's one of those 'wow' moments that make you truly appreciate the art of writing and the type of paper you now posses in your hand. 

The gridded letter-press used to print the grid pattern in the Attache paper pads

So what is 'OK Fools' paper anyway?
In Japan, the term 'Fools Paper' has long been used to refer to high-end writing paper and 'OK Fools' was the first Fool's Cap paper produced in Japan by a company called Ohtori Paper. We've  all heard of British Fool's Cap paper which was in fact first imported into Japan in the late 1800s. A Japanese version was then produced at the Oji Ogura Factory where the name 'OK' comes from and it quickly gained popularity with fountain pen users and calligraphists. Unfortunately, 'OK Fools' paper is no longer made at Oji Ogura; these days it is produced entirely by Nippon Paper Industries who have chosen to keep the name 'OK Fools' for brand recognition. 

Specifications