Search the Community

Hello everyone, My name is Rob Edelstein and I'm presently working on a book about the history of ink. I was astonished to find that there is little up-to-date information on the topic and, being a fountain pen lover and a writer I thought I'd combine the two. And after Brian Goulet was kind enough to point me in the direction of this group and this forum, I figured I'd reach out. What I'm wondering is: Does anybody have some great old or new facts/fascinating historical anecdotes that would help to tell the tale of ink's rich history? I'm talking about things such as: the tale of Thomas Sterry Hunt, who invented the green ink in U.S. currency, the story behind the ink in the Fisher Space Pen, the story of how "red ink" and "black ink" came to be used as terms for success or failure, the ink in Torah scrolls, comic artist writer Mark Gruenwald's desire that, upon his sadly premature death, his cremated ashes be mixed in with the print run ink of one of his comic books...things of that nature. Anything fascinating regarding the history of ink would be helpful and fascinating to me--tattoos, anything involving forgeries, disappearing ink, squid ink, the strangely unknowable origins of ink, you name it. I'd greatly appreciate anything that comes to mind, either listed here or sent to my email--or both! I'm presently well into the book proposal on the topic, with my agent speaking to interested parties and waiting for me to get off my behind and give him something. I just want to make sure to get the best stuff in there. Thanks very much to anyone taking the time to read this. --Rob Edelstein (redel@comcast.net)

Inks: Their Compostion and Manufacture, from 1904. Interesting reading. https://archive.org/details/inkstheircomposi00mitcrich

De Atramentis Ink History the Middele ages Dear FPN Friend this is the second part of Ink history this time it is about the middel ages, hte First part Ink History Antiquity can be found here https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/263795-ink-history;-the-antiquity-and-first-centuries-ad/ The original German text was taken from the Die Tintenmanufaktur. This is the infomation website of De Atramentis. The passionate owner of De Atramentis Dr Franz Josef Jansen did a lot of research on Ink History and is working on a book o Ink History. Dr Jansen was so kind to allow me to translate his original German texts for FPN... I will put in some links at the bottom of this article. http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Ink%20hisory%20middle/D_A%20Franz%20Josef_zps9csglupx.jpg Ink History Middle Ages When researching the literature on the manufacturing of Inks, one name must definitely be mentioned here. Theophilus Presbyter and his work the “Schedula Diversum Artium”(List of various arts) Theophilus was Benidict Monk,who probably lived in the 12 Century, described various recipes for the production of inks. http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Ink%20hisory%20middle/Theophilus%20Presbyter%201874%20-%20Schedula%20diversarum%20artium%20des%20Moumlnches_zps4fvjxf3f.jpg In chapter 45 of his first book " De Incausto” (of Inks) he writes: Mix an extract of bark of Bramble/Briar wood with Wine and concentrate this solution. Mixed with Atramentum (lat. A very black substance) and use this liquid for writing. What exactly the Atramentum was, vitriol or coal, cannot be retrieved from the text. Further in the book he mentions recipes for the production of Gold, Silver, Brass and Copper inks. The finely grinded metals should be partially mixed with glue, ox bile and salt but also Arabic gum and finally should be stirred with vinegar or Wine and Water In one of his writings advice for the production of coloured inks can be found. These inks were made of White Lead, Carmine or Verdigris (Copper Acetate) which should be mixed with Arabic Gum, wine or plant sap Hardly anything can be found on the production / use of Iron Gall inks in this age. Worth mentioning is only a short note, by Albert Magnus (1193-1280 a German Benedict monk) http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Ink%20hisory%20middle/Magnus%20en%20Mineranilus_zpsllrp0c5i.jpg Who in his work de mineralibus et rebus metallicis (of metallic mineral and things) mentions Atramentum Viride. Some name this Atramentum Viride Vitriol, and was used for making ink: (Atramentum Viride = Melanterite, an Iron sulfate analogue to copper sulfate) That Iron Gall inks already were in common use is proved by a prescript from the 15th century. This “recipe” describes not only the ingredients used, but also the amounts these ingredients and deducts to the chemical compound of Iron Gall inks German bibliographer and librarian Friedrich Adolf Ebert (1791-1843) in his books Handschriftkunde (Art of Handwriting) of the Altenzeller Codex (1412 AD) mentions the following recipe (In old German) http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Ink%20hisory%20middle/Friedrich%20Adolf%20Ebert_zpswhvjwzjy.jpg Gallustinte - Nimm Galläpfel und zerreibe sie klein zu Pulver, tue darüber Regenwasser oder dünnes Bier und tue Vitriol hinein, soviel wie nach deiner Schätzung ausreicht und erlaube ihm einige Tage zu stehen und seih es gut durch ein Tuch, und es wird gute Tinte sein.Und wenn du schreiben willst, tue ein wenig Gummi arabicum hinein, und erwärm es ein wenig über dem Feuer, dass die Tinte nur warm werde, und es wird gute und unzerstörbare Tinte sein, worauf du auch immer schreiben mögest. (Altenzeller Codex 1412) Iron Gall Ink- Take Oak Apple and grind this to powder, poor Rain water or thin beer (a middle age equivalent for the undrinkable water) and add Vitriol (metal sulfate), as much as you think is needed (sic). Leave it to rest for a few days and sift it trough cloth and you will get a Incausto Bonus a good Ink. And When you want to write add somre Arabic Gum, heat over fire, that the ink gets warm and it will be an indestructible ink for whatever you want to write on (sic) A rich source for Ink recipes is the Manuscript Liber Illuministarum (1500 AD) which can be found in the library of the Monastry of Tegernsee (Bavaria Germany) http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Ink%20hisory%20middle/Monastry%20tegernsee%20FPN_zpsvb82dmii.jpg First a recommendation followed by the Augustinian Monks of Munich is given: Integra sit galle, media sit uncia gummi vitrioli quarta. Apponas octo falerni. Thus, the recipe calls for: nut gall (one full ounce), gum arabic (extracted from several species of acacia and soluble in water, half an ounce); iron vitriol (one quarter of an ounce), and eight ounces of Falernian wine, celebrated since the time of the ancient Romans. I will try to translate the recipes as well as possible…. Which is quite hard. I am Dutch and this is German fom the Middle ages. My advice do not drink these mixes! Recipe zu ainer maß iij lot galles, ij lot gumi, iij lot vitriel. Thue das galles und vitriel zusamen in ainen hafen, und sued ain weil, und den gumi daran, auch verber swartz darzue. You take a bit of Gall, you take Arabic Gum you take vitriol. Put the Galles and the Vitriol together in a pot. Let it boil for a while and ad Arabic gum and add a bit of Black A recipe for Iron Gall Ink says: Recipe viij lot galles, vj lot vitriel, iiij lot gummi, ij maß wein und ½ trincken essig. Und thue die materi allzu einander in ainen haffen, und lass warmen. Darnach thue i lot alann darzue. You take gall, you take vitriol, you take Arabic gum, a(certain amount of) Wine and vinegar. You all put this together and heat it up, then add Alum http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Ink%20hisory%20middle/Verdi%20and%20Gum_zpsjzhrhzww.jpg Following recipes for coloured inks can be found Wildn ain schön rub rick machen, so nym zynober als vil du wild, und reib in auf ainem reibstain mit wasser gar wol hierzu wurde noch "ahrklar" gemischt. Would you like to make an nice (Red Ink?????), so you take Cinnabar (see Picture) as much as you like grind it on a grinding stone with water and mix with egg white Für blaue Tinten plab tincken verwendet man den Farbstoff plab, für grüne Tinten grün dincken nahm man spangrün mit essich, weinstein und airtotter oder honig. For blue (Plab????) inks you use the pigment Plab, forgreen inks you take som Verdigris (Copper Acetate)and mix with vinegar, potassium bitartrate (wine crystals) and egg yolk or honey At the end the recipes for the production of gold and silver inks are given Wildu nach gultig gold und silber schreiben, reib es wol als zinober, und temperir es mit ahrklar..... und schreib damit, wann das wol truck hen wirt, so nymb ein guldein oder silbrein ringlen, und streich es senfft damit pis es glanntz wirtt... Would you like ot write with gold and silver…. Grind it like Cinnabar and warm it with egg white…. And write with it. When it dries you take a Gulden (coin) or silver coin and rub I gently till it shines Oder man soll sich aurum musicum aus der apoteca holen, mit Gummiwasser anreiben und mit rubica vermengen. Nach dem Schreiben und Trocknen der Schrift soll man mit einem Zahn plötten. Auch veingolt mit Gummi arabicum und Salz verrieben, soll als Tinte gedient haben. Or you get Aurum Musivum (Mosaic Gold=tin sulfate) from the pharmacist’s rub with Arabic Gum Rubica (Carmine??) After writing and drying the writings should be rubbed I with ??? Also gold powder mixed with Arabic Gum and salt were used for writing. Too Conclude, I hope you enjoyed this. The following articles will be De Atramentis Ink History 16th & 17th centuryDe Atramentis Ink History 18th & 19th centuryA translation of Maurice Jametel's les Encre de Chine.This 18th century book deals wiht ink production in ancient China. I will colorze the drawings from this book with some fountain pen inks. Thanks a lot to Dr Franz-Josef Jansen for the original German Articles. Regards Peter Vlutters Informatin Website where these articles where taken from http://www.die-tintenmanufaktur.de/seiten/home.htm The De Atramentis website for buying Inks http://www.de-atramentis.com/index.php?language=en&=&=&XTCsid=0e6582762c716fbee507eb4494968245

I've written before about the book I'm writing on the history of Ink. I've done lots of research and many interviews and I was interested in attending the Philadelphia Pen Show to continue the research. Might anyone have suggestions of exhibitors or attendees I could speak to? I'm looking for folks who might be willing to share information/stories about ink's history. Please let me know if anyone comes to mind...and feel free to mention if you might be attending. Thanks as always for the help.

De Atramentis (company) history. Dear FPN Friends, As some of you , who read my topic "A Declaration of Love to De Atramentis, may know, I am a great fan of De Atramentis. Ifell in love with De Atramentis when I bought their Document ink and I am so happy now that I can use my beloved Fountain Pens for official documents now . If you want to know more about why I love De Atramentis i suggest you read the topic mentioned above. On the website www.dietintenmanufaktur.de a lot of information on the history of inks is published. The research on this history was made by Dr. Franz Josef Jansen the owner of De Atramentis. There really is a lot of interesting ink history on the website dating back till before christianity... Very Very interesting but to bad, only in German If Dr. Jansen allows me I will translate these ink history articles in the near future. The following text was taken and adapted from the website www.dietintenmanufaktur.de The text was only in German but I tried to translate it as correctly as possible... HISTORIA DE ATRAMENTIS In the middles ages it were mainly monks who specialised themselves in the developement of inks. Above that ink recipes found in the archives of of pharmacists, dating back to the 16th century.These pharmacists occupied themselves, beside medications, with questions of nature and physics. In the year 1735 the German pharmacist Franz Esser of Monchen Glattbach (German town) produce several inks, some of them based on recipes in the book De Atramentis (a.d. 1660). Beside that he developed several new inks, which recipes he then carefully archived. Franz Esser's son Josef inheritated both the recipes and the love for inks. After the death of Franz Esser the book "De Atramentis" was inheritated generation after generation till this finally fell in the hands of Dr. Franz-Josef Janssen the owner of "Die Tintenmanufaktur aka De Atramentis" In 1991, after extensive laboratory research, the first hand made De Atramentis inks where produced and in 1995 a completely new line of inks, the Genuss-Tinten (Pleasure Inks or Joy Inks) where introduced. Today De Atramentis produces 200 (TWOHUNDRED!!!) inks in 55 (FIFTYFIVE!!!) colours. Sofar the text which you can find (in German) on the above mentioned website the text beneath is of my origin The ingenuity of Dr Franz Josef Jansen, combined with his unlimited creativity and love for inks results in thee appearance of various new inks most frequently. His latest idea: The inkline "Women Power 2014" (Calamity Jane, Jeanne D'Arc) Although I am not a great fan of scented inks, I must mention that a vast array of these are produced... AND... Since I am a bookworm and read a lot, I must soon buy the ink called Bookworm. This inks smells like old books :-) My lord! Since I am also love wine whisky and cognac I must also buy the inks made with Barolo or Cabernet Sauvignon.They MUST be a joy (as long as I do not drink them :-) Thank you very much for your Interest. Hopefully more ancient ink history will be translated here soon. Kindest regards Peter Vlutters

Hello everyone, I posted this message under the Pen History topic but figured I might as well double up and try here as well. My name is Rob Edelstein and I'm presently working on a book about the history of ink. I was astonished to find that there is little up-to-date information on the topic and, being a fountain pen lover and a writer I thought I'd combine the two. And after Brian Goulet was kind enough to point me in the direction of this group and this forum, I figured I'd reach out. What I'm wondering is: Does anybody have some great old or new facts/fascinating historical anecdotes that would help to tell the tale of ink's rich history? I'm talking about things such as: the tale of Thomas Sterry Hunt, who invented the green ink in U.S. currency, the story behind the ink in the Fisher Space Pen, the story of how "red ink" and "black ink" came to be used as terms for success or failure, the ink in Torah scrolls, comic artist writer Mark Gruenwald's desire that, upon his sadly premature death, his cremated ashes be mixed in with the print run ink of one of his comic books...things of that nature. Anything fascinating regarding the history of ink would be helpful and fascinating to me--tattoos, anything involving forgeries, disappearing ink, squid ink, the strangely unknowable origins of ink, you name it. I'd greatly appreciate anything that comes to mind, either listed here or sent to my email--or both! I'm presently well into the book proposal on the topic, with my agent speaking to interested parties and waiting for me to get off my behind and give him something. I just want to make sure to get the best stuff in there. Thanks very much to anyone taking the time to read this. --Rob Edelstein (redel@comcast.net)