Boxed set of 4 commonplace journals with plain pages, intended for seasonal use. 

Each book is 145 x 115mm

208 sides of plain ivory paper, 110 gsm. Suitable for fountain pen. 

The books are colour coded: Pink for Spring, Green for Summer, Gold for Autumn, Blue for Winter

Covers are country scenes  by CF Tunnicliffe. Tunnicliffe is perhaps best known for his paintings of birds, but his distinctive etchings, wood engravings and water colours made his name as a fine artist and member of the Royal Academy. He illustrated 5 Ladybird Books, and the pictures used here are from What to Look for in Spring, first published in 1961, What to Look for in Summer, first published in 1960, What to Look for in Autumn, first published in 1960 and What to Look for in Winter, first published in 1959.

SPRING - (Pink spine) Herring gull eggs, nesting coot and bream. 

SUMMER - (Green spine) Briar rose, elder and swallows, squirrel and jay. 

AUTUMN - (Gold spine) Wood pigeons and stoat, pigeons and pigs eating acorns

WINTER - (Dark blue spine) Misty pigeons and rooks in the hoar frost, fieldfares and redwings in holly tree. 

The 4 books are in a light weight paper covered slip case, and the design is Medieval FLowers, © Catherine Rowe, published by Museums & Galleries. 

Commonplace Books are a very purposeful way of using a journal, or giving one as a gift. They have been used since the Fifteenth Century, the idea being to record passages of text, poems, quotations, recipes, reading lists, drawings, sayings, family turns of phrase, calligraphy, aspirations  - any words of perceived wisdom or personal significance -  all making up a memoir of the author’s interests over a number of years. All sorts of famous people have kept Commonplace Books including John Milton, Napoleon Bonaparte, Lewis Carroll and Virginia Woolf.  A brief note about the history and use of Commonplace Books is enclosed with the book.