DESIGNPHIL Traveler's Notebook - Regular Size Camel Leather Journal 15193006 | Perfect for Travel, Diary Writing & Sketching

For the price I was initially reluctant given I can find these in San Francisco for double the price and could guarantee authenticity but I was very pleased with my purchase. I received an authentic Midori Traveler's Notebook in camel. I noticed straight from the box/shipping warehouse that it came from, the immediate leather was very light in color and slightly scuffed from transport but the texture of the leather indicated this was because the leather was dry. I quickly remedied this with rub-down with a leather moisturizer (use an unscented body or hand lotion if this isn't available) and the color deepened into its camel caramel shade once the lotion had fully absorbed and dried into the material and the scuffs were gone.The charm with a Midori Traveler's Notebook is when you get it it's pretty plain and straight-forward but with its simplicity comes a myriad of customization and no two Midori Traveler's Notebooks age the same way based on care and daily use. Over time the leather will soften, the color may darken or lighten with use if camel or brown and will develop a natural glossy patina through daily handling and use. My brown is my oldest and has become a glossy shine with few character-growing scuffs from rough handling as my travel journal. My black Midori is is younger by several months but in the short time I've had it, it has slowly taken on its own patina from more daily use as a schedule planner for work and is less prone to visual scratches like my brown. I'm sure the camel will take on its own patina in time, a slow process that will be a pleasure to observe over the years.I love the camel shade and I know the camel tends to be more sensitive to scuffing which may be a plus for those who want a notebook cover to reflect an Indiana Jones-like level of daily use quickly. If this is a determent then I recommend the Traveler's Notebook in either black or brown. Brown is darker in shade than camel and is less prone to getting scuffed about but will still age in time. The black I've had for a while as my daily planner for work and it shows scuffs and scratches the least of all the Midori colors but as a result won't share the aging characteristics that lovers of brown and camel may prefer. You have to be pretty rough with the black to make it look like it's been around the world.Just note if you order either black or brown then you will get either the updated "Traveler's Notebook/Traveler's Company, Japan/Made in Thailand" stamping like the camel or the outdated "Midori/Made in Thailand" stamping on the back. Same product, the stamping was changed in early 2016 the same year of the camel color became part of the main line. Don't fret. Like, seriously, don't fret...it's the same notebook product. I've noticed folks freaking out that they got a fake for the brown or black when ordering from Amazon when really they got the updated stamping from 2016 onwards or the older stock from pre-2016. I own both versions in different colors and the leather has been consistent. Just do a quick google image lookup on branding and you'll know which you have but know you won't get the camel with the outdated Midori stamping. :)