It is a good question. Once you have handled both it becomes much easier to tell them apart but here are a few indicators. I have a number of original Pilots Notes and a few copies. As with most copies, the difference between originals and copies is in the wear and tear but also in the subtle details. Originals have crisp printing, while copies have text that appears slightly blurred. Copies typically have stainless steel staples, while originals have mild steel, typically slightly rusty staples. The pages in original copies tend to be yellow tinted while copies are bright white. Originals typically smell old and musty but copies smell new! These things matter if you are a collector of original items but if you just want the contents, the copies provide that at a much lower price. I hope this helps a little.