1860s. The composition notebook made its debut in France and Germany. The marble pattern was inspired by printing techniques found in early China and Japan.

What's the difference between a composition notebook and a notebook?

So, basically, a notebook in AE might be unlined, in which case you could scribble or jot down quick notations or even little drawings all over the place, anywhere you wanted, whereas a "composition book" is -- or a least was at one time -- theoretically designed to help younger learners keep their pencil or pen print ...

Why do composition notebooks exist?

They're used in books and movies to signal that secrets, mysteries and revelations lie within the pages. It's the rebellious teenage cousin of the Moleskine. They're not meant for briefcases—they're meant for the scribblings of artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat.