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By Paul Biba

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Now this is a different sort of cover altogether.  It is simply beautiful and you will want to show it off to everyone.  You see at the left just one of the works from Oberon Design.  I say works because that is what they are – not just covers but a work of art. “In 1992 Brendan [Smith] created a new company, Oberon Design, based Don at the Faireon the concept of leather book covers, expanding again in the late 1990′s to include a pewter casting shop that produces a line of jewelry, bookmarks, barrettes and the Oberon journal buttons. Brendan remains the lead designer at Oberon with expertise in both leatherwork & pewter casting, and is responsible for the creation and implementation of the Oberon pewter line.”

The cover you see above is just one of many designs for the Kindle 2.  There are 18 available in a variety of colors.  Of course, I asked them to send me a purple one.  Now take a look at this:

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The design extends over the whole cover!  Not all the covers are like this, by the way, some have a design only on the front.  The leather is thick, but supple, and feels nice in the hand.  You can see the pewter button on the right, and it closes with an elastic loop you see on the left.  Oberon thoughtfully includes an extra elastic loop. Getting the loop off the button can be a bit fiddly, however, I would not recommend this closure to anyone who has arthritis or other problems manipulating their fingers.

Let’s do a close up of the front of the case and the button so you an get some idea of the detail work:

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Here is my Kindle in the cover.  It is held securely by four loops. (Oberon also has a velcro version of the case available.)  I have placed cards in the various pockets.  The back pockets run the full length of the case.  The black strip on the left is a piece of felt that acts as a protector for the screen.

 

The bottom line is that this case is simply gorgeous and I can guarantee that you will have trouble trying to choose which design to pick.  Given the workmanship and the originality of the case, I think the price of $75 is quite reasonable.  Each case is made to order so there might be a slight delivery delay.  Their website, by the way, is very nicely done and lets you look at magnified versions of a lot of their products. Oberon also makes journals, handbags, portfolios, belts and buckles, checkbooks, wallets and a lot of other stuff.  I am glad I had occasion to do this review because a couple of their products are going to wind up with my wife and daughter for Christmas.

 
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