Many 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” (ASE). Over the next few years, more than 120 million books representing over 1,200 titles were printed and distributed to overseas troops during the World War II. The books were printed in an odd horizontal format with bright, primary-colored covers.

The “1943” Field Notes memo books mimic the ASE’s horizontal orientation, but the short-edge binding also works great for a vertical notebook. So it’s up to you, there’s 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, this “Two-Way” edition is the right tool for your investigation.