Diplomat inks just became available through Vanness Pens, so of course I grabbed samples of each. But this is not a small lineup of inks. 15 inks actually. I’ve broken the inks into groups of five so the colors can be compared to each other and to already familiar inks. The first group is Black,…
Scribo inks are fairly new to the fountain pen scene and have started to get some attention. While Scribo makes some amazing pens, I was a bit hesitant to try these inks. I mean, who really needs 90mL of one ink? I purchased samples of a few colors from Vanness, but only a few. The…
I’ve always been interested in the ink colors possible when using fountain pens – that was a huge draw of fountain pens for me. Being able to mix my own colors of ink (without the risk of creating an ink monster) has always been fascinating to me but I never could find a group of…
As we approach the solar solstice, sunset comes earlier every day. Since the sun is gone by 4:30 around here, it seems like a good time to bring out black pens. Not just any black pens, however. Black pens with black trim as well. Above (top to bottom): Strathmore 500 Series Multi Media paper sketchbook;…
When Papier Plume sent me the newest edition to their New Orleans Collection of ink, Iron Lace ($10 for 30ml bottle), (“a not-so-basic black”, it says on the bottle), they included a note that it was a “subversive black alternative”. Yes, please. Like all Papier Plume inks, the bottle is topped with the melted red…
Back in 2018, J. Herbin released a new line of inks and other stationery items under a Jacques Herbin branding. At the time, the line was exclusive to Le Bon Marche/ Boisnard (Paris), Itoya (Tokyo), and Milligram (Australia). Recently, it was brought to my attention that the inks are now being sold at a variety…
Cross Inks are one of the classic “staple inks” that are often recommended. Over the years, the “archival” attributes of the ink have often mistakenly been assumed to also be waterproof. “Archival” simply means that the inks have been formulated to resist fading over time and have a pH level that is neutral and acid-free.…
