Civil War Soldier's Pocket Diary or Journal

Description

From The Gilded Leaf: Fine Bookbinding & Restoration in Maryville, Tennessee:
After 20 years in the trade (since 1994) and the creation of countless period bindings from many centuries and styles, we're trying our hand at the reenactor's market. We've made a small batch of these Soldier's Pocket Diaries, facsimiles of a common accoutrement for the Civil War soldier, both Union and Confederate.  They were sold annually, and included a variety of postage and time tables, almanacs, religious encouragements, and space for recording both receipts and daily events. Many included an inner pocket. The unique flap closure was found only on these diaries and the occasional pocket Bible, and represents an uncommon 19th century binding style.  Our reproductions run 176 pages and include all the printed material above, a space for every day of the year, and an extra 16 page blank section at the rear. They measure 6″ by 3 1/4″ and fit neatly in a pack or tunic pocket.
Contents, all re-set from Civil War originals:
Title Page
Contents
Important Addresses
Rates of Postage
Distances from New-York to some of the most important places in North America
Interest Table
Interest Per Day
Penalty for Usury state by state (as per the original, both northern and southern states
General Cash Accounts
Cash Accounts by Month (with one page per month)
Extracts from The Soldier's Armor of Strength, specially adapted to the present calamitous times of Civil War, by Pilgrim John: Rules of Conduct
A Soldier's Morning Meditation, Prayer, Hymn, etc.
A Soldier's Evening Meditation.....
Counsel to Soldiers (on health, wounds, care of feet, etc.)
Daily Diary (3 days per page, headed as "January 1, January 2, January 3, etc.)
Memoranda (6 pages)
Blank leaves at rear
Are these Diaries on the side of the Union or against the War of Northern Aggression?
Though now being made in East Tennessee (which was a messy mix of both northern and southern sympathizers), these reproductions are very slightly more Union in their contents. To wit: The listed postal rates are Northern, the South having started their own service in 1861. To be fair, there was some crossover of printed material. The included “Penalties for Usury”, for example, lists interest laws from Alabama to Wisconsin.  If a hue and cry is raised over this, future editions may change, but at this point, we are not offering C.S. and U.S. versions of the diary.
The 1864 Version vs. Undated
We have not seen an original undated version of this type of journal. Much like the modern day planner, they were sold annually, with the year on both the title page and the cover. Though both our diary versions reproduce the original format offering space for January 1, January 2, etc., we don’t yet know whether you, the reenactor, would rather have a “generic” version or a year specific (and thus campaign specific) version, so we’re offering both. The 1864 version has "1864" stamped in gold instead of the ornamental` "Diary" and  features a single page calendar for the year, a list of Sundays, eclipses, and Feb. 29th (it was a leap year.) The undated version omits the above, including instead  a table of contents and space for important addresses. Please specify which you’d like when you order.  And let us know if there is strong interest in diaries for other years.
Construction
Aside from a computer and electric lights, a 19th century binder could walk into our shop and feel right at home. The process of folding, sewing, making the covers, etc. are accomplished with eight fingers, two thumbs, and very old tools. The one change we’ve purposely made is to the method of sewing. Even back then, tradesmen cut corners to increase profits, and, for something you hope to carry in your pack or pocket for years, that seemed like a bad idea. Originally sewn on very light cords laid into notches cut in the textblock, we opted for the much stronger (but slightly later) method of sewing on strips of cloth called tapes. The paper is a 60# cream white, and the vellum finish is an excellent match for the machine-made paper of the day. The edges are sprinkled and colored, and hand-marbled paper is used for the endsheets and the inner pocket, which was used to hold receipts, pay stubs, etc. (We're using several styles of hand marbled paper, depending on availability.) They are bound in vegetable-tanned morocco leather and, like the originals, are available in several colors, though black and then dark brown were most common. They're finished with a simple border, tooled in blind as the originals.
Our Opinion and Some Pertinent Testimonials:
These are the the finest reproduction pocket diaries available anywhere. Though we've not yet fully tested them, they'll transport well in any standard time machine (Models XB2000 or newer) and will pass the most rigorous inspection, whether by expert witnesses from the 1860's or by our own TTB (Time Transit Bureau).
From a less fictional purchaser. His praise seems a bit over the top, but we're okay with that:
"The pocket diary you made for me is absolutely stunning. The detail is to the T of what was made in 1865 and your attention to detail is amazing. It is such a wonderful item. No one and I mean No one except for you makes these pocket diaries. In the past I have searched high and low and found nothing. Once in a blue moon I would search on ebay to see if anything would ever pop up like this by searching "civil war diary" and finally my effort paid off when I found your auction."
Prices:
Standard Undated Civil War Soldier’s Pocket Diary (with "Diary" stamped in gold on flap):
5 in black, dark brown, or saddle tan. Please tell us which color you’d like.
1864 Civil War Soldier’s Pocket Diary (with "1864 stamped in gold on flap):
5 in black, dark brown, or saddle tan. Please tell us which color you’d like.
Customized:
Your initials can be substituted for "Diary" at no charge. We can also add names, regiments, etc. Depending on the number of lines, this will add -
Two Budget Versions at and Postpaid
We're well aware our standard version is expensive, and haven't figured out how to charge less. With that in mind, we've come up with two budget versions you'll find in our other listings. They've sacrificed some important features (rear pocket, sewing, etc.) but have retained much of the look and feel of the original.
Additional Items for Reenactors
: We are also offering a Ladies' Domestic Journal (circa 1860), a replica of Codex A & B from the Lewis & Clark expedition, and additional journals for the Renaissance Fair enthusiast under our "Knights, Dragons, and Elves" line.