Hahnemühle Il libro grigio (formato A5, antracite, 40 fogli)

The stitched binding lies completely flat when I sketch across the gutter, which makes the 120 gsm pages feel far more premium than the price suggests. I've filled half the book already and the anthracite tone gives my pencil work a moody depth that plain white just can't match.

I was worried the gray paper would feel dull, but the anthracite color actually makes my pencil sketches pop in a really unique way. The stitched binding lays completely flat, which is a lifesaver when I'm working on a detailed drawing across the gutter. Definitely my new go-to for tonal studies.

The 120gsm paper handles pencil and light ink without any bleed-through, and the gray tone makes white highlights pop nicely. The A5 size fits perfectly in my bag for sketching on lunch breaks.