Green Ink Comparison: New, Old And Really Old

[ToasterPastry]

In preparation for a forthcoming review on Waterman's Tropic Green ink, I have completed a scan of various green ink swabs, both new and old. Inks like Mont Blanc's British Racing Green, Reform Green, and Parker Penman Emerald are recent inks which are no longer manufactured. Vintage inks are also shown with the approximate date of production. Many of these inks, like the Skrip Emerald Green have evaporated in the bottle, leaving a more saturated fluid. Other inks, such as the Parker Washable and Permanent Green have changed their dye properties over time. Some of the blue dyes have changed, or the yellow dyes have faded.

 

Complete reviews prepared by me:

Skrip Washable Emerald Green

Reform Green

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/Green_ink_scans-2.jpg

[dcpritch]

Those are great samples, and very helpful. I'm surprised how many are in the tone of blue-green, and wonder if that is a result of a change in dye properties or if that bluish green was a popular tone of green ink "back in the day". I currently have an Estie J inked with Skrip Emerald Green (looks exactly like your swab above) and am using that ink for Christmas letters - a beautiful shade of green, in my opinion.

 

Thanks a ton for your work on these - now if only the vintage inks readily available. And, I'm looking forward to your review of Waterman Tropic Green - I especially like the tone of v. 3 shown above!

[geoduc]

Thanks, ToasterPastry. Very interesting to see these inks together. Now I understand why the color of Penman Emerald is highly regarded, and Tropic Green version 3 looks quite nice. The blue-greens don't do much for me, but that's just personal taste.

 

I look forward to your review.