Fountain pens · ink · paper · journals
Handwriting, kept like a collection
Magpies are said to collect what catches the eye. We collect the useful facts about what goes on the page: how a nib works, what makes ink last, why paper fails, and how to choose for yourself.
Latest entry: How to start a journal you will actually keep
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The swatch drawer
All entriesPlate 06
Swatch: Rook
How to start a journal you will actually keep
Set the bar low, pick a format and a time. Four page layouts, and where a worry list can help.
Plate 05
Swatch: Stratus
Can you take a fountain pen on a plane?
Allowed on board, yes. Why partly filled pens leak, and how to pack both the pen and any bottled ink.
Plate 04
Swatch: Oak gall
Which ink lasts? Permanent ink for signing and record-keeping
Dye, pigment and iron gall compared, what English law says about signing a will, and what archivists advise.
Plate 03
Swatch: Kingfisher
What paper stops fountain pen ink feathering and bleeding?
Weight is only half of it. What sizing does, what gsm really tells you, and a five-minute page test.
Plate 02
Swatch: Verdigris
How to clean a fountain pen without damaging it
Cool water, a tissue and patience. How often to do it, and what to do when a pen has dried solid.
Plate 01
Swatch: Sloe
How to choose your first fountain pen
Nib width and filling system decide how a pen behaves. Start there, and leave the barrel for later.
Swatch names and colours are drawn for this catalogue. They are not samples of any product, and we do not recommend particular pens or inks as tested.
Reading the label
Three families of ink
Most of what you need to know about a bottle comes from which family it belongs to. Read the full entry, including what the law and archivists say.
- Dye
- The everyday fountain pen ink. The colour is dissolved, so it flows freely and flushes out easily, but it can usually be washed off with water.
- Pigment
- Fine solid grains in liquid. The grains resist water and oil, and they ask for more regular pen cleaning.
- Iron gall
- The historic record-keeper's ink, which bonds to the page chemically. Its acid can damage old paper over time.
Writing samples
Same hand, four nibs
The letters on a nib describe the line it draws. Width decides how your writing looks and how the paper copes with it. How to choose a first pen starts here for a good reason.