Field Notes Spring Quarterly Editions So Far

Ready or not, the 2018 Spring Quarterly Edition of Field Notes will be upon us soon. Historically, Spring editions are announced some time in March, but last year Utility was revealed in late February. So, who knows? Maybe in a couple weeks?

Here are all the Spring editions so far, with edition size and links to my thoughts on them:

• 2009: Butcher Extra Blue (500 Packs)
• 2010: Packet of Sunshine (4,000 Packs)
• 2011: Dry Transfer (5,000 Packs)
• 2012: National Crop (7,500 Packs)
• 2013: America the Beautiful (15,000 Packs)
• 2014: Shelterwood (25,000 Packs)
• 2015: Two Rivers (40,000 Packs)
• 2016: Sweet Tooth (30,000 Packs)
• 2017: Utility (35,000 Packs)

In these pictures, you’re seeing all the ones I have. I have the Commemorative Reprint of Butcher Blue, but I decided not to include it. Also, Utility came out in both ruled and ledger, but just the ledger version is shown.

Field Notes sure have come a long way... Look at how much they were able to increase the edition size over the years! All are sold out at their website, except for the last one, Utility, but some of the older ones might be found at retailers. For example, by some miracle, Dry Transfer is still available at Walker Art as of this writing.

Which is your favorite Spring edition? I think each one is special in its own way, from clamshell box (National Crop), to hand-printed covers (Two Rivers), to perforated pages (Sweet Tooth)...  Quite a variety so far. But I think I’ll have to go with either National Crop or America the Beautiful. Shelterwood and Two Rivers are close seconds, though. I did not like the last two (Sweet Tooth and Utility), and after the recent controversy over the Abercrombie & Fitch collaboration, I really hope they bounce back with the upcoming Spring edition.

Do you have any predictions? Glow-in-the-dark was something Field Notes often said they wanted to incorporate but couldn’t. But recently, they made it possible with Haxley, so I’d love to see them do the same for their own Quarterly Edition soon. Field Notes is also  sponsoring the Morning News Tournament of Books again this year, so watch out for even more brand new Field Notes.

Field Notes Colors: Dry Transfer

When I first received the Dry Transfer “_________” Edition as part of my COLORS subscription, I didn’t really know what to think of it. The idea of customizing the cover was cool but I didn’t have any immediate use or ideas. It just seemed like a big commitment, too, using up the letters that came with the kit. (I may have commitment issues.)

But I got over it at some point and made two Field Notes of my own! Happy Notes and Three Staples. Yay?

Look at that shoddy kerning. Bah.

Fancy prep. I tried?

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Firsts

What’s unique about this edition is that the memo books came with “FIELD NOTES” logotype omitted from the front covers, so you can title them yourself with the dry transfer letters. The packaging is also unique, obviously, to accommodate various items necessary for rubbing down the letters, including a wooden stick. For the smaller, black text that wasn’t omitted, a glossier ink was used, so that it matched the look of the transferred letters. Such attention to detail is not surprising by this point for Field Notes (but still very much appreciated!). Other than the packaging and the customizability of the cover text, the Dry Transfer edition is pretty much the same as the “Original” kraft memo books. The “Practical Applications” inside are the same, too.

Interestingly, the books do not come bound by a belly band. I’m pretty sure the Packet of Sunshine edition was the first COLORS to not have a belly band. If someone luckier than me can confirm that, that’d be appreciated!

Dry Transfer (left) and Original Kraft (right). Fascinating!

Some fun (for me) details:

• Dry Transfer “_________” Edition (Spring 2011) is 10th in the COLORS series.
• Dry Transfer KIt is labeled FN-11, and the Application Template is labeled FN-11B.
• Edition size: 15,000 books printed in March 2011
• Cover paper: French Paper Dur-o-Tone 80#C in “Packing Brown Wrap”
• Text on cover: “Dachshund Nose” black soy-based Toyo ink
• Graph grid inside: “Double Knee Duck Canvas” light brown soy-based Toyo ink
• Paper inside: Finch Opaque Smooth 50#T “Bright White”
• Staples color: silver
• Film: Dry Transfer Edition Instructions featuring Mr. Bedell!

Title ideas

• DEAD TO ME (as suggested by Jim Coudal in this recap video)
• DUNZO
• SHIT LIST
• SHIT LIST 2
• YAHTZEE SCORES
• SIDE QUESTS
• DUNGEON MAPS
• HOPES N DREAMS
• DOUBTS N REGRETS
• CRESCENT FRESH
• RAMEN RANKINGS
• EBAY SIGHTINGS
• FOR SCIENCE

Har har.