Paperblanks Layla Midi Hardback Journal – Plain, 144 Pages

Capture your ideas, plans and memories in this Layla midi hardback journal from Paperblanks, with 144 plain pages of 120 gsm acid-free paper.

This design is inspired by an 18th-century binding that originally housed the Khamsa (the Five Treasures) by Persian poet Nizami. Consisting of five long narrative poems, the volume is a collection of medieval romances that draw on themes of unrequited love, complementing the rich complexity of this botanical cover.

The Story Behind the Design

This design pays tribute to an 18th-century binding that housed the Khamsa, a seminal work by Persian Sunni Muslim poet Nizami Ganjavi (c. 1141–1209). Featuring intricate floral detail, our Layla cover design beautifully mirrors the contents of the original volume.

Considered the greatest romantic poet in Persian literature and described as a “creator of poetic scenes,” Nizami brought a colloquial and otherworldly quality to the Persian epic. His best-known work, the Khamsa (also known in English as the Five Treasures), is a series of five long narrative poems. The first of these, Makhzan-ol-Asrâr, was influenced by Sanai Ghaznavi’s The Walled Garden of Truth, an early Sufi book of mystical poetry. The four other poems are medieval romances.

Nizami’s romance story of Layla and Majnun provided the namesake for Eric Clapton’s hit single “Layla,” from the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which was highly influenced by Nizami and his poetry of unrequited love.

We first introduced our Persian Poetry series in Spring 2024 with The Orchard, a cover reproducing a 17th-century binding of the Bustan by the poet and prose writer Saadi (1210–1291). The delicately adorned cover of this Layla journal, the second title in the series, reflects the beauty of the words held within the original 18th-century book.

• Original artwork: Persian binding of Nizami’s epic poem Khamsa
• Era: 18th century
• Region: Persia

Product Details

• Size: Midi – 120 × 180 × 18 mm
• Interior: Plain
• Pages: 144 (72 sheets)
• Paper: 120 gsm acid-free cream laid paper
• Cover: Hardback
• Closure: Elastic band
• Binding: Smyth sewn – lies flat and stays durable
• Edge printing: Yes
• Corners: Rounded
• Pouch: Memento pouch
• Design: Layla
• Series: Persian Poetry
• Satin ribbon marker
• 100% recycled binder boards
• Decorative printed cover paper
• Endpaper with credit and copyright information as well as historical background for the original artwork
• Threaded stitching and glue, as needed
• Acid-free paper
• Memento pouch
• Weight: 277 g
• Product code: PB9801-0 | ISBN: 9781439798010

About Paperblanks

Paperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts. Every book is made to last, with binder boards crafted from 100% recycled materials, and the back endpaper tells the fascinating story behind the cover design and credits its creators.