Adventures in Stationery

A single comment led me to an unexpected read. On my blog, readers can leave a link to their own website or blog along with their comments. While following one such link, I discovered a blog where the author regularly posted book reviews. Among the titles was Adventures in Stationery—a name that instantly caught my eye. Memories of childhood stationery came flooding back, and I became curious about how the story of these ordinary objects would unfold.

Just as its subtitle—“A Journey Through Your Pencil Case”—suggests, Adventures in Stationery offers a fascinating exploration of the everyday stationery items we use. Author James Ward, co-founder of the Stationery Club in London, shares the quirky stories and meanings behind familiar tools ranging from erasers to Post-it notes. The book challenges commonly held beliefs, often revealing that what we thought we knew isn’t quite true.

As a child, I used to call a stapler a “Hotchkiss.” I once heard it was named after its inventor, but the book debunks this claim. In fact, there is no such name in the history of stapler invention. The truth is that when staplers from the E.H. Hotchkiss company were imported into Japan, the brand name was transliterated into Japanese as “Hotchikisu,” and that term was later adopted in Korea. It was a moment that made me realize familiar information isn’t always factual.

I often hear that Moleskine notebooks lost quality after production moved to China. But when you look at the history of paper, you’ll find that China played a key role in its invention. The assumption that “Made in China” equals poor quality is often just a bias. This perspective prompted me to reflect on my own preconceptions.

The book also takes on the illusions surrounding famous brands. The Blackwing 602 pencil is highly regarded among stationery enthusiasts. However, the version sold today is essentially a different product from the original Blackwing 602. Stories like this reveal how brand fame and image can sometimes be exaggerated. Readers are reminded not to be easily swayed by marketing.

Reading this book made me look at the items on my desk in a new light. Tools like Scotch tape and Post-it notes are not just practical—they each carry a history. As I reflected on the role of stationery, I also found myself thinking about my own role as a civil servant.

Stationery quietly performs its function without demanding attention. Likewise, public servants go about their work dutifully in the background. Yet behind every civil servant is a parent, a child, or a partner with a life and story of their own. These personal stories, hidden behind seemingly ordinary roles, are what truly shape our society. The perspective offered by this book—through something as mundane as stationery—ultimately applies to people in our daily lives as well.

Adventures in Stationery invites readers to rediscover the wonders of familiar objects. While its detailed historical accounts may occasionally feel dense, anyone who loves stationery or appreciates its charm will find it thoroughly engaging. If you remember the excitement of opening a new notebook at the stationery shop, this book will resonate with you. It’s a special read that helps you see the everyday with fresh eyes. The tools on your desk will never look the same again.