The Watermark's Handbound Books

To order the Watermark's Handbound Books, please call the store at 1-800-962-5311!

We are proud to feature the nation's largest selection of the Watermark's beautiful books just inside our front door. 1973 was the beginning of the long and special relationship between The Watermark and The Elliott Bay Book Company. Since then the Watermark has made monthly trips to our store to restock the shelves with the best of their books, paying close attention to what our customers prefer. The Watermark is always developing new books and the first place they appear on the market is at Elliott Bay. The result is great prices, huge selection, and outstanding quality for customers seeking blank books of all kinds.

There are many sizes to choose from:
Blank - 5x7, 7x8, 7x10, 8x8, 9x7.
Lined - 6x9, 3x6.
Guest Book - 9x7.
Photo Albums - 8x8, 10x10, 13x13.

Each size is available in a variety of styles:
Organic textured papers.
Printed, Japanese papers.
Regular (96 pages).
Thick (192 pages).

Each book is made one at a time.

The Watermark's classic BLANK JOURNALS are our bestsellers. These journals make the perfect gift for all occasions and are especially prized by regular journal keepers for their user friendliness. The unlined style comes in 5 x 7 inches with 96 pages ($18), 7 x 8 inches with 96 pages ($22), and 7 x 10 inches, with 96 pages ($24). The Lined Journals are available in the 6 x 9 inches size with 96 pages ($28). The paper used inside all these books is a warm white, recycled, acid neutral, with deckled edges. It is suitable for pencil, pen and ink, pastels, and even watercolor. It is an extremely good, versatile paper. The LEATHER BOOKS are bound with the finest quality English calf, and are hand sewn so that they open flat. These are a great value for serious journal-keepers and people who appreciate finely made books. They are available in black, brown and mahogany. The 7 x 8 inch ($110) size contains 256 pages with elegant endsheets of textured or printed papers. This book is rounded at the spine, a process done by hand to make it open especially flat and last longer. The 5 x 7 inch size ($66), contains 192 pages and also has endsheets. The SHIPS LOGS have 96 printed pages and gold lettering, measuring 6 x 9 inches, for $32. PHOTO ALBUMS come in 2 sizes, 10x10 for $42 and 8x8 for $38, with archival charcoal gray pages with stubs at the spine to accommodate the added photos. The paper sets off the photos and is light enough to write on. When filled with family photos these books swiftly become heirlooms. These albums are a pleasure to work with and will give no one an excuse to have photos floating randomly about in that old shoe box! GUEST BOOKS are 9 x 7 inches in a horizontal format with wide lines and 96 pages ($32). The TRAVEL JOURNALS are designed to compactly fit in your pocket or purse. They are lined, measuring 3 x 6 inches, with 72 pages, at $17. Many folks take these along to record names and addresses of people they meet while traveling as well as their reflections of the journey.

HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE A GOOD BLANK BOOK? The proliferation of well made blank books and journals has brought many new styles to the market. This has given thoughtful people who regularly use journals new choices. Good materials are critical. Does the paper feel right? Is it appropriate in terms of acid content? Acid neutral is best for permanence. Is the board for the cover heavy enough; is it stable and unwarped? Is the cover material durable and appropriate for the use of the book? Quality craftsmanship is another key element in a fine book. Is that book sewn by hand so that is will open flat? Has attention been paid to the turning of corners, lining up the endsheets before gluing, and keeping the glued surfaces smooth, flat, and clean? The Watermark has been making quality handbound books since 1973. Each book they produce is an effort to achieve a standard of excellence in both the combination of materials and the level of craftsmanship that puts the books together. Come by and see the quality craftsmanship for yourself. You will be impressed!