Many of the Field Notes limited editions have explored interesting chapters in the history of American, printing, publishing and design and this one goes deep (and sideways) into just such a story. In 1943, the U.S. government and the American publishing industry collaborated to create what came to be known as the Armed Services Editions. Over the next few years, more than 120 million books representing over 1,200 titles were printed and distributed to overseas troops during the Second World War. The books were printed in an odd horizontal format with bright, primary-colored covers and that is what inspired this Winter 2025 release.

The 1943 Memo Books mimic the ASEs horizontal orientation. While theyre the usual 5.5″ x 3.5″ Memo Book size, theyre the first with two staples on the short side instead of three on the long side. The short-edge binding also works great for a vertical notebook! So its up to you, theres a horizontal cover on one side, and a vertical cover on the other. Whether you want to flip the top of your Field Notes open to take notes as you interview a witness, or spread the pages wide for a panoramic sketch of a crime scene, the 1943 Two-Way Edition is the right tool for your investigation.

• Set of 3 pocket memo books
• One each red, blue, and yellow
• 48 pages
• Graph paper with an Aged Newsprint 3/16″ graph grid.
• Staple bound along the short side
• 3.5″ x 5.5″ | 89 x 139 mm
• Made in USA