A nice look at the history of the ubiquitous marbled composition book. I haven’t actually used one in years, but I love them nonetheless! Reading this made me want to buy one!
“Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat sketched in marble composition books, and Italian architect Ettore Sottsass used the covers to make furniture. Marble notebooks also furnish Eddie Vedder with working space for Pearl Jam lyrics.
Since no copyright applies to these books, a slew of brands make them: Roaring Spring, Top Flight, Swinton, Norcom, iScholar—the list goes on. And what differentiates these brands? Nothing, and that’s the beauty of it: the marble composition book, a simple, understandable product that costs a few bucks and delivers what it promises. “Teachers, students and parents alike love the product for its slim profile and stitched binding that prevents paper from tearing out,” said Amy Botkin, brand manager for ACCO Brands, owner of Mead, which has made marble notebooks for 42 years now. “It remains one of our top sellers.” “
Read more at Why Is the Basic Marble Notebook Made by So Many Brands Still So Popular? | Adweek
Nearly $6 for a Mead brand composition notebook today?! Other brands are $2.50 regular price, going as low as 2/$1 during the back to school sales. And that’s for basic black; even the fancy ones I see go for less than $5.