by Field Notes 'Many of our limited editions have explored interesting chapters in the history of American, printing, publishing and design and this one goes deep (and sideways) into just such a story. In 1943, the U.S. government and the American publishing industry collaborated to create what came to be known as the “Armed Services Editions.” Over the next few years, more than 120 million books representing over 1,200 titles were printed and distributed to overseas troops during the Second World War. The books were printed in an odd horizontal format with bright, primary-colored covers — and that was what caught our attention.' 'Our Winter 2025 release, the “1943” Edition was inspired by the Armed Service Editions, including three unique “Two-Way” Memo Books plus new release from Field Notes Brand Books, Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. We created the “1943” Memo Books to mimic the ASE’s horizontal orientation. While they’re our usual 5.5" x 3.5" Memo Book size, they’re the first with two staples on the short side instead of three on the long side. But while mocking up prototypes, we realized the short-edge binding also works great for a vertical notebook! So it’s up to you, there’s a horizontal cover on one side, and a vertical cover on the other. Whether you want to flip the top of your Field Notes open to take notes as you interview a witness, or spread the pages wide for a panoramic sketch of a crime scene, the 1943 “Two-Way” Edition is the right tool for your investigation. You’ll find bright red, yellow, and blue books in each 3-Pack. Covers are printed on sturdy Westrock Tango 12pt coated-one-side cover stock. The body of the book is 60# Domtar Cougar “Natural” (very popular in last winter‘s sold-out vintage Edition), with an “Aged Newsprint” 3/16" graph grid.' What are Field Notes? Field Notes 48-page memo books are printed and manufactured in the United States using traditional printing press and book binding techniques. Inspired by the promotional memo books distributed to American farmers by seed, tractor and other agricultural companies over the last 100 years! SPECIFICATIONS: Proudly printed by the good people of The Graphic Arts Studio, LLC, Barrington, Ill. Cover: West Rock Tango 12pt C1S “White,” with a thick, brute force, 4-color application of “1943 Magazine Press Primaries” soy-based Superior inks. Innards: Domtar Cougar 60#T “Natural,” with a 1-color application of “Aged Newsprint” soy-based Superior ink. Cover and innards printed on a Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102S six-color printing press. Bound with a Muller Martini 6-pocket saddle stitcher with cover feeder/scorer, with appreciation to Samuel Slocum, George W. McGill, and William J. Brown, the “Founding Fathers of the Staple.” Corners precisely rounded to a 3/8" (9.5mm) radius with a Challenge DCM double round-corner machine. Graph grid: 3/16" × 3/16" (4.7mm × 4.7mm). Memo book dimensions are 5-1/2" × 3-1/2" (140mm × 89mm). FIELD NOTES uses only the Futura typeface family (Paul Renner, 1927), in collaboration with Monotype. All FIELD NOTES memo books are printed and manufactured in the U.S.A.
