Everyone who has seen these notebooks/journals, picks one up and runs their hand down the cover to see if it is "real"! It is. The book is bound with black linen on the spine and cherry or walnut veneer on the cover, grain long. It is filled with rich, blank cream paper. A round elastic is "nooked" into the cover, keeping the book closed. There is a paper storage envelope attached to the back cover. This notebook is one to treasure or give as a beautiful gift.