Longtime reader Stephanie Valdez shares a photo and an ode to the re-issued Volant.
After many long years, I found something that I had been searching
for. It was just a Moleskine notebook, but a small one- the size of a
credit card. It had detachable pages. It was durable and light. I
took one everywhere I went.
I found them in Florence in 2000, and didn’t truly become addicted
until I was living in Barcelona in 2003. In Barcelona I often
traveled very light to deter theft, carrying a tiny concealable bag
with my wallet, ipod, a pencil, and the notebook. I captured so many
moments on the small pages.
The notebook was in the Volant series and for years I begged suppliers
everywhere to help me find one. A kind shopkeeper in Barcelona did
ask when she went to Milan and confirmed that they were discontinued.
I never saw them in the US and had little hope.
Until today. . .
I was walking down the street in Park Slope when something caught my
eye: Moleskines in new colors. And then my eye wandered to a small
basket. It was full of extra-small Volant notebooks. I couldn’t
believe my eyes. What a miracle.
Visit her blog, "A spot of tea"
I have about two dozen of the original (black) Volants on my bookshelf. When I bought them, I actually thought they were made in Italy!