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Magpie InkA catalogue of ink, nib and paper
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The Catalogue

Every entry so far

Practical questions about pens, ink, paper and journals, each answered near the top of the page and listed newest first.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.