Winter 2025 Quarterly Edition -- Field Notes

WWII History in Your Back Pocket

In 1943, the U.S. government partnered with American publishers to solve a logistics problem: troops overseas needed something to read. The Armed Services Editions program printed over 120 million paperbacks in an unusual horizontal format, compact enough to fit in a uniform pocket. Bright primary covers. Simple binding. Built for function over form.

Field Notes borrowed that blueprint. The 1943 Edition flips their standard binding from three staples on the long side to two staples on the short side. Same 5.5" x 3.5" footprint, different orientation entirely.

Actually, it's two orientations. One cover reads horizontal, flip it over and the other reads vertical. Interview notes or panoramic sketches. Your call.

What's Inside

The cover stock is Westrock Tango 12pt, coated on one side for durability. Body pages use 60# Domtar Cougar Natural, the same paper that sold out the "Vintage" Edition last winter. The graph grid prints in an "Aged Newsprint" tone at 3/16" spacing.

Each 3 pack includes one red, one yellow, and one blue book. Primary colors. No explanation needed.

• 5.5" x 3.5" memo book format
• 2 staples on short side (two way orientation)
• 60# Domtar Cougar Natural body
• 3/16" graph grid, Aged Newsprint color
• 3 pack of memo notebooks