Top 5 Fountain Pen Inks Dark Academia, Writing With Shadows!
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- We have chosen fountain pens for Dark Academia; now let's choose some ink for them! Let's delve once again into the dark Gothic halls of old libraries, museums, and discover a world of esoteric knowledge. Join me while I choose 5 perfect inks for Dark Academia and tell you everything you need to know!
Thank you to Brendan Schmidt for sending the Wearingeul Anubis Ink. Thanks for the inspiration.
Join this channel to get access to perks and help to keep the lights on:
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Diamine Oxblood: www.amazon.com/dp/B00CFM2518?...
Anubis ink by Wearingeul: www.atlasstationers.com/produ...
Montblanc Midnight Blue:www.amazon.com/dp/B00FJ62E3G?...
J Herbin Perle Noire: www.amazon.com/dp/B002MP1X4I?...
Anderellium Cuttlefish Brown: www.atlasstationers.com/produ...
Title: Air on the G String (from Orchestral Suite no. 3, BWV 1068)
Artist: United States Air Force Band
Length: 03:03
Source/Artist website: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
License: Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Gymnopedie No 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Wardrobe Notes: Corduroy Suit by Cordings of Piccadilly, Boots by Alden Indy 405s, Fair Isle Sweater vest by Thomas Farthing, University Stripe and Blue Oxford shirts, both by J Press, Watch by Rolex GMT Master II, Frames by Ray Ban Wayfarers, jeans by Levi's.
In Studio: Shirt and Tie by Barbour, Gilet by Schöffel - Jak na to + styl
The Anubis will go on my wish list. But your poetic description of each one makes them all noteworthy.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words. I try to keep it interesting.
A top five list from Hemingway Jones that does not contain seven items? How is that possible?!
haha! Too funny! Honestly, it was so long that I took some of it out. It would have been near 30 minutes! But... Part 2!
@@HemingwayJones That's the beauty of the thing. There's too many beautiful things to make absolute lists
So true!
Thank you for keeping the Dark Academia spirit going on YT! Also: the Herbin pen rest?? 🤯🤯 I had no idea!
Thanks so much My Friend! Happy to share that interesting fact. Best suited for older smaller pens. Thank you!
I love this so much! Keep delving into different themes! I'd love to see Light Academia, Rococo, Regency and Cottage-Core!
Great suggestions and thanks so much! We are going to explore a lot of this! Thanks for being here with us. Thank you!
I like the shading found in Leonardo’s journals and Diamine Raw Sienna or KWZ Cappuccino shades so well.
Very good suggestion! Thanks for watching.
These Dark Academia videos are some of your best. Beautiful inks! Nice tie in this one, too 🙂
Thank you very much! Barbour Tartan never fails!
Awesome selection of Inks. Very well thought out, I'll be adding a couple of these to my writing arsenal of inks. Great Job on the Video!!
Thank you very much! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Top notch production. Thank you.
Thank you! I’m working on a follow up for this one.
Brown inks are some of my favorites!!!! I love the Anderillium but my favorite is Herbin Lie de Thé. Great video!!! ❤
Thank you very much for the kind words and for watching! I’ve never owned that J Herbin ink, but I have always loved the name. Plus, anything Tea! I have an Earl Gray. I forget right now, who by. Thanks!
I just ordered a sample of Lie de Thé. Eager to try it!
Wonderful! Really superb work. The amount of time you spent here really shows as this is very well done and a pleasure to watch!
Thank you very much. This is very motivational for me. I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent choices, HJ! As always a great and expressive video. I love the dark academia content!
Thank you so much!
This was so good. Informative as well as entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much.
Everything about this video was beautiful. Well done!
Thank you very much! I appreciate it greatly.
Very informative and well done . Thank you.
Thank you for watching!
Oxblood is an amazing ink. One of my favourites.
Love it!
This is such a nice video! I hadn't heard of the Cuttlefish Brown ink, but it looks intriguing. I would be interested in another video similar to this one.
Thank you! I am sure I will do more. Part 2? Thanks.
Love this video!
Thank you!! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Every video is better than its predecessor, Hemingway. Your poetic nature --- and fantastic, unguided freehand sketches -- add so much depth and flavor to the thematic content. The b-roll is amazing, too, with its artistry and academic associations. The historical references, sketches of Anubis, ravens, cuttlefish, etc. make this a seven-course feast for the eyes and mind. Outstanding. (now fix that collar on your vest!)
Thanks so much! I am so glad you enjoyed it. I wear it down. That’s my thing.
💯
Nicely done! I enjoy your videos and you seem a bit brighter these days.
My favorite inks would include Ox Blood, Iroshizuku aso-gao, iroshizuku sui-gyoku, and Private Reserve Purple Mojo. I use one of these 90% of the time. I think the dark purple that is so bold on the page would be a good addition to your list.
Thank you! I appreciate that. I am sure there are tides in my mood and circumstances with these things. I recorded this back in early October. Thanks! I appreciate it.
Great video! I’ll have to add those inks to my collection. I like the black one. Enjoy learning more about Dark Academia.
Thank you so much!
Wonderful video, HJ! Always enjoy your way of presenting ❤️
Thank you so much and thanks so much for watching. I appreciate it very much.
What a awesome video!!! I absolutely enjoy your footage from libraries and museums and the subject of Dark Academia and ink make it that much more fun!!! Diamine Oxblood is my favorite of these 5!!!!
Thanks so much, Chris! Thanks for watching.
once again I add new stuff to the shopping list after watching your video 🙃
Thanks!
Wonderful! Fantastic descriptions of gorgeous inks. Your script on this one was next level. Very evocative! I’m inspired to re-ink a few old favorites in the spirit of this video. I’ll start with J Herbin Gris Nuage which seems to have the requisite qualities.
Thanks so much for the kind and motivational words. I am so glad it resonated with you.
I immediately recognized the zen garden outside the MFA Boston! Such a wonderful little gem of a garden. I was instantly jealous of you journaling in such beautiful places.
I discovered your videos today! Thank you for introducing me to the rabbit hole of "Dark Academia"!
Yes, good spot on the MFA! I love it there. We are now members. It's our place to go when it's messy out. You will see a lot of B Roll from there.
And Welcome to the Channel! I am so glad that you discovered this Channel. Dark Academia is a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy it. I have done at least 3 other videos on the subject; maybe more.
I hope that you will check out some of my other videos. Stay inspired and all the best.
I’m a student at MassArt! @@HemingwayJones
Nice! You are right there! @@kathleens1708
I think the Woburn Public Library was the perfect backdrop to this video. I agree with manny of your choices, though for brown, I prefer Sailor Tea Time Fika. Thanks for the video and keep up the great work!
Thanks So Much! I love when my local friends chime in. That is a great chocie.
This was nice seeing a video showcasing ink.
Glad you enjoyed it! more to come!
Very dark academia indeed! This video was so professional i felt like i was watching a documentary on a British Broadcasting Channel! My mom just happened to be watching and she expressed concern over my fountain pen hobby and ulterior motives. 😅😅😅. She litterally recoiled with a gasp and, "Oh my Lord," during the oxblood segment. 😂😂😂
Wow! Thank you so much for the kind words on my video. This means the world to me. I try to make them better all the time. I'm sorry about your Mom catching that bit out of context. I hope she enjoyed it regardless.
I hope you find more inspiration here. There are at least 3 other videos on Dark Academia. Thanks for being here.
@@HemingwayJones i honestly read this to my mom, she said she accepts your apology. I explained to her that the videos were an aesthetic, halloween kind of vibe. she said that was very nice of you to mention being sorry about catching the video at that moment. PS. Taccia Benitsuchi, i hope you try it out, its a tea stain ink with that rosey red orange pekoe color in it when it shades. Have a great day, Sir.
Thanks for letting me know and for the ink tip. Wish you both all the best. Stop by again soon. I think your Mom needs a pen this holiday season.
Excellent video!
Thank you!
Cool inks. Maybe I'll get some of those someday. But the topic of walnut and other DIY inks would also be great to hear about.
Thanks. Excellent suggestion. I have a bunch of recipes on them, but have never tried. I’m messy though. That’s my problem.
Just got a Huge 4.5 oz. bottle of Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama or (Whaleman's Sepia) from Goulet Pens. I adore it! Supposedly Nathan reverse engineered it from some of his old family that used to be whalers ages and ages ago from the logbooks on the ships. Been getting into brown inks more lately. great video as always Hemingway!
Thanks very much! I appreciate the kind words and I am so glad you enjoyed this one. The Whaleman's Sepia sounds awesome! From what we both know of Nathan, that is probably true! I'll have to seek it out. Thanks!
Great video HJ; I was looking forward to it. Great choice of inks. That Anubis ink is definitely gothic-looking for sure! My recent personal favorite for Dark Academia is Robert Oster's Deep Purple. As always, loved the B-roll.
Thank you so much, Kurt! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Hello HJ. Another winner of a video. Great content, great ink choices. If my opinion counted, I would choice Pelikan Olivine for the sixth ink. This to me is a dark green ink that works well in the night. Your tie was icing on the cake. Take good care my friend.
Thank you very much. Your opinions count a lot here. Thank you and all the best.
That Cuttlefish Brown caught my eye I must say. Want to try something else than Waterman Absolute Brown 🙂
Thanks! I quite like it. I have it in my Diabolo right now.
Great list! 🎉
Thank you!
Thanks!
Fantastic video HJ. Always a quality product for the pen people. Keep up the fantastic work.
Thanks very much! Happy to have you here.
@@HemingwayJones Iam glad to be here, thank you once more for the work you put into this.
My pleasure.
Excellent work (and a real pleasure to see the Lamy 2k making a few appearances!)
Thank you very much! You will see it on this Channel from time to time.
I like this approach to pens and inks. For me the feeling using fountain-pens is more important than hard facts. So a story telling angle to it makes totally sense to me.
Thank you! You get this Channel. Thanks for that!
Nice video. I totally agree the inks are conducive to different writing moods. I really like a bunch of Noodler’s inks: Hawthorne’s Scarlet, Heart of Darkness, Lexington Gray, Red-Black, and of course Blue-Black.
Thanks so much! I should embrace Noodler's more. They are the local team here in Massachusetts. Thanks!
Very nice selection of inks. I love brown inks (Graf von Faber Castell "Cognac Brown", Montblanc "Toffee Brown" and others) so I most probably will need Anderillium "Cuttlefish Brown" too (as if I don't have far to many inks yet...). Thanks for the nice presentation of the inks and the great library views. Part 2 of Dark Academia Inks will be appreciated... 😎
Toffee Brown is a nice one! Part 2 is coming. Thanks so much for being here.
Another great video, one ink I love is Oxblood!!
Thank you! That is a great one!
Ahhhh! Just what I needed this afternoon. So glad that Diamine Oxblood made the cut. Another winner for me....... Noodler's Zhivago. Even the name suggests Dark Academia. While I have a number of brown variants, I may have to find Cuttlefish brown. Great selections! Many thanks.
Thanks Duffy! I appreciate the kind words.
I finally ordered Cuttlefish Brown ink and love it. It is such a nice colour. Anderillium Inks has amazing customer service as well. I'll order from them again, perhaps a different colour ink next time.
Wonderful! I love that ink. I am glad you are having a great experience with them. All the best and thanks for watching.
I’ve recently fallen in love with J. Herbin Cacao du Brésil, and it very much has a Dark Academia feel with it’s cool sepia tone. I love using it in my vintage Eagle Caplox eyedropper fountain pen with gold flex nib and it’s stunning on Midori MD Cotton paper. Lush!!!
Based on your suggestions, I ordered a sample of Oxblood. I also found Writer's Blood so I ordered a sample of it to compare to Oxblood. There seems to be just a shade or two of difference. I have a couple of pens filled with these inks so I am writing with them now. Thanks for this video. I appreciate learning about Oxblood ink especially. 😊
Thanks very much for watching! Writers and Ox are very similar bloods! I do enjoy them both.
I loved the section on brown inks and their history - you have a fantastic way with words and it was very interesting to hear about the cuttlefish/walnut being used for ink. Also, as an alternative to Oxblood, Diamine also produces an ink called Writer's Blood. It is basically Oxblood with more purple applied.... but that name!!
Thanks very much! You are very kind. I am so glad you enjoyed it. I like Writer’s Blood too! I use it sometimes as well. It has an awesome name. Thanks so much for watching.
Love this angle on inks! I have two out of five: Midnight Blue and Perle Noire! My favorites!
Thank you for the kind words!
Among my favorites of all your videos.
Wow! Thank you! It was super fun to make.
Well that was an awesome review of three great inks. I have never used the the J. Herbie Pearle Noir. I must get some of the that. I also love the bottle with the pen rest. This video was a nice addition to the Dark Academia theme that the channel has going on. Nice work HJ.
Herbin
Thanks My Friend! I appreciate it.
Well done. Great verbal descriptions. Excellent eye contact with good vocal use and encouragement to participate. I'll be back😊
Thank you very much. You are very welcome here.
Amazing video! This man knows how to tell a story.
Thank you very much! I am glad you enjoyed it.
Do you have any recommendations for fast-drying inks for left handers that won't smear or require writing like you have hooks for hands? Any particular nibs that give good writing and don't gouge the ink-softened paper and fill the crack with paper fibers for left handers?
That brown was amazing. I also like that midnight blue. I recently received a midnight blue from TWSBI that’s been a real favorite, since its arrival. There is something about a blue ink that dark.
thanks!
"Black has authority"
Cut to: HJ wearing brown 😄
Was this another of your little jokes? 😉
Not this time, just focused on the ink and not me. I have very few black items, by the way. I do love earth tones! Thanks so much for watching.
@@HemingwayJones Whereas almost all my clothes ARE black 😄
I have some coats and a suit. I think about black 501s sometimes, but haven’t pulled the trigger.
Fascinating information! I also love your elegant descriptions and the musical accomplishments - predominantly Beethoven! NEW subscriber!
Thank you very much and welcome! I am so glad you are enjoying the Channel.
A lovely video with such a descriptive and poetic narration. For part 2 may I suggest Diamine's Oxford Blue. It's a deep dark blue, reflecting the University's colours, which originally came from Harrow school. It possesses a little red sheen in concentration but always has superb shading, even with a fine nib. Thanks again for all your videos.
Thank you so much for the kind words. They mean a lot. Thank you. Oxford Blue is excellent. There will be a part 2!
I have the oxblood and midnight blue. Actually the midnight blue was the first fountain pen Ink I got when I got my mont blanc rouge et noir. They didn't have black and suggested this as an alternative. Really happy with it.
I am so glad! That sounds like a happy accident. Black is great, but blue black gives an interesting mix. Thanks for watching this video.
Fun video HJ. Poetic delivery and I live the library b-roll. Cool tie too by the way.
Many of the inks are new to me,but I picked up a briefcase of inks in Japan. Love the Meiji-no-iro (Meiji era colors) series.
Next video: perfect notebooks for dark academics.
That is an excellent idea. Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words. Also for noticing the tie. Thanks so much.
I have long preferred Private Reserve Black Cherry to Diamine Oxblood. Mine (who knows what more recent formulations do) ages very similarly to blood itself.
Greetings, I give your 5 choices 2👍👍 up I just recently discovered your fountain ✍CZcams channel really appreciate all the helpful information you share thanks! The Montblanc midnight blue is a favorite going out a purchase a bottle.😄
Welcome aboard and thank you so much! I am so glad that you found my Channel! I hope that you enjoy this and find some inspiration here. Keep in touch and all the best.
I usually use EF and F nibs. This video made me aware of the Montblanc Midnight Blue ink. How is the flow and drying time of this ink? I would also like to mention that I usually write on very inexpensive paper.
I need to check out J. Herbin Pearle Noire. 350 years goes back to the days of Isaac Newton and rebellion in science, Thomas Paine and just good ol' rebellion, Goethe - that's quite a span of time for a commercial contribution to prose.
That company is old! Venerable is a good word for it! Thanks!
Which Ink would you recommend for a dark mathematician/logician?
Mr. Jones wearing Alden Indy's, the boots of Professor Jones? Very appropriate
Nicely spotted! They are so comfortable. I have wide feet and they come in wide, so they are perfect. Nicely done.
Beautiful Inks! All of them are truly amazing. What is that CutelFish ink again, it's really nice, might have to add to my to-get list.
Thank you so much! I am so glad you liked it.
My picks would be De Atramentis Johann Sebastian Bach and Charles Dickens, Rohrer & Klingner Sepia, Diamine Classic Green and Oxford Blue
Love it. Great suggestions.
Could you give more info about Anders Illum. Where is it available? Thanks, great video.
Thanks so much! I bought this from Atlas Stationers. Great people there
I’m trying to find a blood red ink with some decent waterproof and permanence for journaling? Any suggestions?
don’t use oxblood but do love Montblanc St Exupéry which is similar; thanks for this HJ:)
Thanks so much! I'll have to seek that one out.
But what paper are you using? New to your channel 😊I notice that some of these inks don’t look so great on certain paper. Thank you. Love your videos!
Interesting video as always! Was that an Omas Ogiva you were using with the MB Midnight Blue? Was thinking of getting one, (and funnily enough that ink too!). If so, what are your thoughts on the pen? Would be very interested to hear your impressions
It was, indeed. I like that pen. It has a lovely nib. The materials feel very nice and the price point is good as well. I am planning on doing a full review in the New Year. Thanks for noticing. If you have anymore questions about it, please fire away. Thanks!
@@HemingwayJones look forward to the review! Just one question - what nib width did you go for?
It’s a medium. Thanks!
@@HemingwayJones thanks!
p.s. would you consider doing a piece on permanent inks that could be substituted for your favorite inks? example, oxblood so one could use it with water-based media???
Sure. That would be fun sometime.
@@HemingwayJones
thanks!
Beautiful inks! Excellent choices of colors! My only suggestion would be adding in water-resistance. Dark Academia would be interested in permanence, no?
It’s a great suggestion and I may add that to Part 2. Thanks very much. Thanks for watching.
I would add Robert Oster River of Fire, especially because of the significance of writing with green ink!
Excellent suggestion! Thanks!
I love writing with green inks, the darker the better. What is the significance of writing with green ink? I believe Bilbo Baggins wrote with green ink.
Uncle Henry in A Good Year. Richard Moore, the head of MI6, wrote in green ink. Green Ink Letters to the newspapers in the UK. Lots of associations.
@@HemingwayJones Thanks. Something more to look into.
Thank you for the wonderful video! Which notebook did you use for the ink test?
Thank you very much for watching! That is a Rhodia Touch. It’s like water color paper.
I liked this notebook, I think it is suitable for the dark academy style.
Can you suggest a good white ink? I’m having a problem getting a good one.
Sadly, I don’t know of one. I know there are some for dip pens, but usually fountain pen ink is too watery to hold the white color. I do believe that there are a few though.
My favourite black: Iroshizuku Take-Sumi. A black that is bright an dark almost like a pool of black liquid. Another blue-black I love Iroshizuku Shin-Kai. My number one choice you mentioned: Montblanc Midnight Blue it is the blackest of blue-blacks.
hey HJ, enjoyed this video! Also, nice vest!
Hey, thanks! I appreciate that. This may also be the first time I have worn a tie.
@@HemingwayJones very "dark academic" looking!
Nice choices! From my own collection of inks, for similar purposes, I might go with SWS Obsidian Dragon, Diamine Red Dragon (I like that it's less purple than Oxblood), Stipula Calamo Sepia (for the driest writers I own, or eternal reverse writing in my Wing Sung 14k 601A), Iroshizuku Asa-gao (I like my blue slightly brighter than a blue'black shade), and Iroshisuku Take-sume -- bamboo charcoal! Additionally, for deeper black, Platinum or Graf von Faber-Castell Carbon As always, thanks for a fine review, Hemmingway.
Hi Rob, thanks so much for watching and for offering some excellent choices of your own. You know that I will be doing a Part 2 sometime in Spring. You always add so much to the comments. Thanks for being here.
Absolutely *Fantastic!!!* I really like how you used a brush to show the flow of the inks - and great to see color! Of course, I am a fan of Writer's Blood over Oxblood! 🤪
Oh no! Oxblood over Writer’s Blood every time! 😊
@@francoisdutoit6491 really?! Well, thanks to YOUR call out, I’ll try Oxblood. 🤷♀️
Writer's blood is really good, but it's also incredibly wet. I don't think I would put it in a Benu or a Pelikan. OTOH, it works wonderfully in a Platinum -- and many other pens. One of my favorites.
Thanks so much! I use Writer’s sometimes. I do adore my Oxblood.
What papers do you use?
I think I prefer Diamine's Writer's Blood to the Oxblood. Both belong on the list, but the Writer's Blood has a touch of brown to it. Like old blood rather than fresh.
That is a great ink as well.
OOOH! Just found out about BPC Interstellar Bronze! Think it could be "dark academic!"
Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words.
This video just may be the perfect combination of ink trivia and history! I do have one complaint: all the sudden I have FIVE new inks that I want to purchase, LOL!
Hello Amy! Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed this! That is the problem with these; they do inspire more purchases. Thanks!
Hemingway Jones,
Would you please make a video about which fountain pens you think the characters of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History would use and make sure you don’t forget to talk about Julian’s Love of Montblanc in it.
That sounds fun! Thanks. I have mentioned that book and the MB in it a few times in the Dark Academic pen videos. I made some book recommendations too, somewhere. I love that book so much. So immersive and interesting. Thanks so much for watching.
Just because of the name: Faust by Wearingeul!
That's a good one and I have that one too. Thanks!
Love your videos. What paper do you use for your sample?
Thank you! Mostly Clairefontaine Puprite or Rhodia Toucj.
@@HemingwayJones Thank you so much!
Thanks for this list and review. I really enjoyed it :D Have you tried Diamine Writer's Blood and Ancient Copper? They alaso give a Dark Academia Vibe 🧐
Yes! Love them both! They could be in future episodes.
An addition should be a traditional green ink from ship log books.
That sounds very cool. Thank you.
@2:09 what is that beautiful red and purple ink?
Wearingeul's Dracula. It's actually quite nice.
An other perfect ink: deAtramentis black / Copper (schwarz Kupfer). Thanks for the videos. Greetings from Germany.
Greetings to you, My Friend. Thank you for watching and for the excellent suggestion.
Really intrigued by the Cuttlefish Brown. Unfortunately it isn't available in Europe. Could you recommend some alternatives, please.
Hello! So sorry that it’s not available there. How about Noodler’s Whaleman or Yama-guri by Iroshizuku?
Thanks a lot for your tip, Hemingway. No Noodler's here, but Iroshizuku. That's good news. However, I now have to live with the knowledge, that Melville-themed ink does exist and I can't have it ;-)
Oh no! So sorry! I should probably pick up a bottle myself. Noodler’s is from Massachusetts. @@johnschmitt4341
These keep getting better and better. Wonderful, truly poetic narration spots. Deserves a longer response. Perhaps.... Now, where and what is the proper place and medium? A brief aside: things seemed simpler when I had one pen and one ink. *sigh*
Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words.
I would add one of the Platinum Classic Black (that is, Iron Gall) inks. My favorite is Classic Citrus Black, but Classic Sepia Black is probably more classically sepia.
I love the idea of Iron Gall. I am sure there will be a part 2. Thanks so much!
Could you mention the pens you used in this video in the description?
I think there are too many. Is there a specific one you could time stamp? I used an Esterbrook Raven in the Library scenes. I remember that much. I did 2 videos on Dark Academic Pens.
Nice choice of inks. Another ink that evokes an old manuscript is Montblanc Stevenson Brown (even though they didn't name it "sepia", for some reason. I would also consider a nice grey ink with some shading, like Pilot Iroshizuku Kiri-same, very poetic and atmospheric.
Thanks very much. I will check this out. All the best and thanks for watching.
love this aesthetic but wouldn’t do anything scholarly without an archival/permanent ink! how about noodlers black swan in english roses?
That is a lovely lovely shade. Thanks so much for watching.
What was the black pen used in the beginning, not the Lamy 2000, it was stealth looking
Esterbrook Estie Raven.
@@HemingwayJones I found your review of the pen, thanks!
Solid list. I’d make some changes though. Instead of cuttlefish brown I’ll put there Herbin Lie de The. While it’s true that sepia color is named after cuttlefish ink sacs (or, sepias), the most common pigment for brownish pigments back then were vegetable sources, among them, tea leaves were the most commonly used, along with nut skins. I think Lie the Thé matches those tones better. And even though I love Perle Noir, that deep, heavy dark tone on manuscripts, came from iron galls, and I can’t think of a better modern pen friendly IG saturated black than Rohrer & Klingner nut ink - ebony black (and the brand itself Rohrer und Klingner and the art on their bottles reminds me of Gutenberg)
I have a list coming in March that will knock your socks off.
Brown is timeless. My all time favorite was S.T. Dupont Sienna. They do not make it anymore but the closest I ever got is Herbin's Cafe des Iles. Actually they are so close I have a hard time telling which is which. Nevertheless there is a different kind of sweetness on KWZ Honey. A nice alternative I found, because I wanted to find an ink made in the US, is Birmingham Amber Ale. I mixed it with a few drops of Monteverde Fireopal to get it to that color and it worked very well. After months, that mixture did not go bad or sour so it is possible to get done.
Cafe des lies sounds lovely. I never tire of J Herbin. Thanks so much.
The little snippet of the first Prelude from Bach's WTC I that you use between inks would be much more compelling if played on the instrument for which it was written. The MFA has a fine collection of harpsichords. Go see them.
I have a dear friend who is a professional harpsichordist who would probably agree with you. I take it that you do not like Yo-Yo Ma. Regardless of all this, I am at the mercy of the CZcams free music library and anything else I can scrounge that is clearly in the public domain; very few performances. Thanks for watching.