Have you received your pack of the “M × L × B × D” Edition? Here are some pictures of the two 3-packs that I purchased from the Field Notes website. FYI, unlike most of my previous Field Notes posts, this will be mostly photo-centric, with just a few observations and notes from me. You can find more details on this edition at the links listed near the bottom of this post.

I've been using one for daily notes and I like it a lot. At first, I thought the DDC “Totally Turquoise” graph grid inside could be too contrast-y for my writing, but since I've begun to use thicker pen tips with Field Notes (0.5 mm and higher), this has not been an issue. Other observations:

The turquoise foil on the cover is just gorgeous. I'm a fan of foil-stamped editions. :) By the way, product description calls this “Babe the Blue Ox” foil, but the specs printed on the back cover say “Totally Turquoise”.
As in other DDC issues, the front inside cover has a DDC pattern all over it, but this time it’s a diagonal pattern (loop of the text “DDC × MONDO × LANDLAND × BURLESQUE”). A very dynamic detail that I like a lot. You can also find this pattern on the inside of the belly band, printed in matching turquoise foil. Swoon.
The cover paper is French Paper Construction 100# in “Recycled White”. We saw this previously in Day Game.
The DDC-branded editions usually use Accent Opaque 50# for the body paper, and this “M × L × B × D” edition is no exception, specifically in “Absolutely Alabaster”. The DDC Pop-Up edition and the Dead Print edition also list this exact same color.
The edition size is 11,500 3-packs. That seems like a lot for a special edition. For comparison, Resolution (the latest quarterly edition) was 35,000 packs.
Has a DDC-branded edition (item no. “DDC-054”) ever been sold through the Field Notes website before? It’s interesting because my memory says no.
My order of 3-packs from FN came with a free pencil: their new red Valentine’s Day pencil. It was a nice surprise, as I was under the impression that it would be included with orders placed during the following Valentine’s Day week. Yay!

Turquoise foil on the inside of belly band.

The “Open All Night Sign Neon Red” on the inside cover is not showing up properly in this photo, but it really is fluorescent. The far right book with “U.S. Post Office” is my favorite.

“M × L × B × D” Edition product links, if you’re interested. Some may be sold out:

What are your thoughts on this edition? Any interesting details you noticed or would like to share? I hear it's nicknamed the “alphabet soup” edition. 😄 And that if you order from Burlesque, you get a mini print..? How many 3-packs did you end up getting and are you happy with the ones you received? Each vendor had a limit of 2 packs per household, so I just got 2, and I'm satisfied the variety I got. There was a set of duplicates but that made my decision on which to use first easier. 😊

COAL × DDC edition of Field Notes is a special collaboration between Draplin Design Co., based in Portland, Oregon, and Coal Headwear, based in Seattle, Washington. In case you missed it, Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Co. is the co-founder of Field Notes. I actually had no clue about this edition until it was mentioned in Pen Addict episode #111. As soon as I heard about it, I ran to my computer and placed an order. I believe the 3-packs sold out very quickly, in less than a week for sure. At the time of writing though, the 3-packs are still available as part of the COAL × DDC × USA Kit, which also includes a matching cap and an iron-on patch.

The notebooks were printed in January 2014 but they weren’t released for sale until mid-June, just in time for Fourth of July. Quite fitting for such patriotic colors!

Things to note

Under the Specifications on the back inside cover, you’ll find colors that are used in the printing, and the colors are often named according to the theme of the edition. This edition is no exception. Names such as Wenatchee White and Yakima Yellow are references to places in Washington and clearly a nod to Coal Headwear, based in Seattle.

If you’re familiar with only the COLORS seasonal editions of Field Notes, you’d be interested in knowing that this limited edition is not printed by Service Graphics, Inc. in Illinois, which is the company that have been printing most of COLORS editions. COAL × DDC notebooks are printed by Stevens Integrated Solutions, in Portland, Oregon, the same people who printed the DDC Standard Issue in Sorta Jade.

And there’s an interesting spec on the back about scoring, that the cover was “painstakingly scored on 30" Rollem TR30 scoring machine.” I don’t think any information on scoring is usually included in other Field Notes, at least not in COLORS editions. Perhaps this is just a DDC edition thing because I noticed that, again, the DDC Factory Issue in Sorta Jade has the same bit of information on scoring.

Quick graph grid comparison: Original, Red Blooded, Coal × DDC, and Raven’s Wing (top to bottom)

Last thing I should note, and it’s unfortunately a negative one, is the innards. This edition uses Accent Opaque paper for both cover (100#C) and innards (50#T), and while I have no problem with the cover, the paper inside just doesn’t feel as smooth as the usual Finch Paper Opaque Smooth. I’m almost done using one notebook and overall, it has not been a pleasant writing experience. Maybe it’ll be adequate for quick lists or notes but for longer writing, I’m not sure if I’ll use another one. For reference, I use Pentel Energel 0.35mm; I only use gel pens with Field Notes.

Other than the paper quality, I’d say this edition is great. It certainly feels nice in your hands (I’m so glad the cover is matte!) with plenty of details to be impressed with.

Some fun (for me) details:

Item number: FN-01
Price: $11.95 per 3-pack
Edition size: 5,000 printed in January 2014
Cover: Accent Opaque 100#C in “Wenatchee White” printed with COAL × DDC × USA “Ballard Blue”, “Rainier Red” and “Yakima Yellow”
Inside cover: printed with the same “Rainier Red” so that the text is white
Cover: scored on 30" Rollem TR30 scoring machine
Graph grid inside: COAL × DDC × USA “Puget Sound Gray” ink
Paper inside: Accent Opaque 50#T smooth text in “Stevens Pass Whiteout”
Belly band: yellow with red text
Printed by: Stevens Integrated Solutions in Portland, OR.
Practical Applications are the same as the ones in Original kraft notebooks. (edit: FALSE!)
Also part of COAL × DDC × USA Kit, which includes a denim cap and an iron-on patch featuring the matching “USA” logo. Only 500 hand numbered kits made.
Staples color: silver

My favorite "Practical Applications":

#15. Trends Not To Follow
#16. Couches to Crash On
#19. Stitch Counts
#26. Midday Coffee Orders
#27. Gumby-isms

That yellow is very similar to the yellow in County Fair!

Quick red comparison: County Fair, Coal × DDC, and Red Blooded (top to bottom)

Things to note

Some fun (for me) details:

My favorite "Practical Applications":

WELCOME

COPYRIGHT

Field Notes by Theme

Field Notes Item Numbers

LEGIT “PRESS”

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