Stipula Calamo Sepia

September 1, 2006

I've had this bottle a week or so, just got around to dipping a pen and giving it a spin.

It is packaged in a very handsome, large box and oversized bottle. Though marked at 70ml, it towers over the 80ml Diamine ink right next to it.

Putting this into a pen with a Bexley medium nib.... and used on 32lb HP paper...

This ink is a true, old fashioned brown, reminiscint of true older sepia photo prints that have been sitting around for 50 years. This ink flows well, producing a true thick line with very slight shading. There is a very slight hint of underlying rust red to give it depth.

I'm a big fan of Havana Brown, but this is definately warmer, less dark brown. Where Havana brown has green undertones, Calamo Sepia has reddish undertones.

The Calamo ink also seems to feather just a bit less.

In all, if you like true, warm, old fashioned browns, I would give this one a try.

Enjoy!

-- jeff

September 3, 2006

I have a bottle of this and I really like the color. It seems to be pretty thick though and starts poorly in my pen, which has a fine nib. I'd probably use the ink more if I had a medium or broad nib.