The object I decided to post today is a Filofax 1999 Personal Planner.
The planner measures a little less than 7 ½ inches in height (~19cm), about 5 inches wide (~13cm), and 1inch thick (~2.5cm). The color of the planner is a dark navy color, and it is made out of leather, giving it a smooth but textured feel. The inside of the front cover has eight slots for cards, credit cards, IDs, etc., and beneath the slots, there is a long pouch that can be used to store paper money. The inside of the front cover has the words “FILOFAX PERSONAL PICCADILLY REAL LEATHER” engraved in it. In the back cover of the planner, there is another pouch with a zipper attachment that can be used to store coins. The planner contains two rulers (one clear and the other black) and six sections/ dividers. These sections include: diary, notes, projects, information, financial, and an address section. The paper for every section except the ‘project’ section is labeled “Personal Filofax c 1999” (however, each section has a different reference number labeled to it). The ‘project’ section is labeled “BAROG BE- 1102.” The planner also contains a map of all the countries and capital cities and a map of the standard time zones for each country. Finally, the planner has a plastic pouch that hold six cards. The first few pages of the planner as well as the map attached to the back looks aged and a bit worn, but none of the paper inside shows wear
Before this post, I had no idea where this planner came from, when it was made, where it was made, and what the name of the brand even was. I came across it one day when I was bored and I was searching through a drawer of old items that my mom had kept throughout the years. The drawer contained old ID cards, credit cards, some jewelry, a nice handkerchief, and among other items, it contained this planner. Never used, never written in, the only signs of age came from some dust accumulated in the covers of the planner, as well as the worn look of the first page.
I love notebooks, planners, sketchbooks, paper, journals, diaries, and anything else that offers a clean slate for ideas, thoughts, doodles, and drawings. At home I have 26 journals/ diaries/ notebooks in all shapes and forms. The first one dates back to 1996 and the journals follow me through till present. I finish anywhere from one to three journals per year. The penmanship in that first journal is horrible and the content is actually really funny. I think I write that my brother is being a “pane in the but”? I keep all my journals in a special shelf made out of cardboard that has doodles all over it, deep in my closet at home.
Paper just draws me in, and there is something about fresh notebooks or journals that just make me want to grab a pen and fill it with words or pictures. So when I saw that this really nice leather sophisticated planner was unused, I asked my mom why it wasn’t touched. She told me she just never had any need for it and that I could keep it if I wanted to. Over break my mom saw how well I was using it and told me she was glad; she hadn’t wanted to see it go to waste.
In order to find more information about the product, I tried a Google search on the brand name. There were a lot of similar planners on the website, but there were none from 1999, which is when this one seems to have been made. The brand name of the planner is called FILOFAX and they make organizers, planners, diary refills, paper/ essentials, pens, bags/ briefcases, leather accessories, folders/ folios, and more. The merchandise is available worldwide from the United Kingdom, to Taiwan, to the United Arab Emirates. It seems the website was created in the year 2001 and the registered office is the Royal London House in England. The products seem to be made in Britain, Scotland, and Asia. The products are mostly made of leather and the price range for these products includes $29.99 to $2,300+ (the most expensive planner is made out of alligator skin).
According to the English Dictionary (http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/filofax), the term Filofax means “a type of loose-leaf ring binder with sets of different-coloured paper, used as a portable personal filing system, including appointments, addresses, etc.”
I actually finally did find the same exact planner that I have. I found it on ebay and I found pictures of the same planner on flickr. The title for the ebay website is “Filofax Personal Organiser: Piccadilly, black leather.” The pictures on ebay match my planner exactly and the price in US dollars is about $103.13. And here I thought the planner was worth only twenty bucks.
I love my planner very much. It contains all my different cards, IDs, and it is full of written schedules, lists, post-its, and drawings. I just know that if I ever lose it… 😦
The Materials of History, Thought, and Art 
The amount of information you were able to find from examining this planner is interesting. It looks so nice and compact and dutiful, and I’m glad you decided to put it to use. I’m wondering, however, do the dates match up!?
Yes its very useful and I just checked the date! The one on ebay dates back to 1986!! while mine is 1999!
First, as Ann said, I am really curious about if the dates match between the Ebay seller copy and yours. If the bid is not finished, perhaps ask the owner when he remembers purchasing it. Also, whether the date matches when someone in your family purchased the item. I personally know memory and printed dates could not match up, but such info could shed light on a personal history of the object.
Second, I love the descriptions in your post, between the actual object and prying the internet for more details about it. I can perfectly visualize the object and almost feel it in my hands.
Third, I want one. You just introduced me to the most brilliant notebook ever. I am sorely tempted to purchase something of the sort, or at least look up options online. It’s got everything!
I know the one on ebay is older it dates back to 1986! Which is really cool, and I’m really not sure when the organizer was purchased…. I’ll have to ask, haha
And I love it!! Its very durable it looks nice, its compact and holds everything I really need :)) I’ve had it for quite a while too haha.
When I think of Filofax I think of those Rolodexes that you can keep all of your contact information in (what interesting words!) Although these objects are not too dated, it seems technology have made them near-obsolete. However, there seems to be a nice feeling associated with being able to HOLD all of your information in your hand instead of having it buzz around you in a stream of internet and wifi, formed as pixels on command. There is something more permanent to putting it in a book… like any goals you write in there, any future plans, contact information, etc. will be and must be fulfilled and remembered. I like your attachment to blank books and hope this one is treating you well!
Funny story, I lost my i-touch yesterday (I found it today at the library) but I didn’t realize how dependent I was on technology before that! Because I would use my I touch to check emails, to check the date, the weather, etc. its crazy! But yea I love having my organizer physically with me where I can flip through the pages and actually write down my schedule and things I need to do. That is something I don’t think I’ll be able to do electronically. I like having everything physically there haha.