The Story of Smythson Featherweight Paper & Bindings
Smythson floppy books and diaries contain 'Featherweight' paper, copyrighted in 1916 by Frank Smythson, who had a vision to create the world's first practical, lightweight, portable diary.
Since then, many have tried to imitate the Smythson style and quality but none have succeeded. As early as 1942, Smythson went as far as the House of Lords to defend itself against counterfeiting.
Weight & Opacity
Featherweight paper is half the thickness and weight (50 grams per square metre) of normal paper, so a great many pages can be contained in a very slim, light book.
Normally such thin paper is not appropriate for use with a fountain pen, but Featherweight paper is rigorously tested to ensure it can hold the ink.
Watermark & Authenticity
Instantly recognisable by its unmistakable blue colour, our Featherweight paper is watermarked with a distinctive globe and feather design.
Only visible when the page is held up to the light, the watermark appears at least once on each page and ensures the book is not an imitation.
Floppy Binding
Smythson books containing Featherweight paper have a distinctive strong and hard-wearing 'floppy leather' binding that is virtually unchanged since the 1890s. Called the 'Panama Hat' of books, the Featherweight Panama, bound in cross-grain leather, can be rolled up and squashed and will improve with age.
For all the above reasons, Smythson Featherweight books are internationally popular with many distinguished writers, journalists, travellers and explorers. Used by 'the great and the good' over many generations, they have been called a 'secret social passport'.