Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia Review

[Wwillco]

This is my first shot at an ink review, so if yall have any questions, or any input, please hit me with it.

 

Noodler's Manijiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia

 

I don't see this ink as a daily user, but it is very interesting, and I want to see how it ages on paper. I have a sheet taped to an upstairs window to catch some sun, will see what happens when it fades out a bit. I'll be keeping it in at least one pen for a while to see if it grows on me some more. It might be interesting to use for a journal if it ages the way it seems it will.

 

About 20 minutes after putting the ink to paper, the ink darkens considerably, going from the odd purple color some have noted to more of a sepia, as advertised.

 

The colors also change as specified on the jetpens website (no affiliation). Several coats of bleach do indeed change the color of the ink, and it is entirely visible. It is very bulletproof.

 

My scanner unfortunately does not give the color the credit it deserves; it is much richer than what you see here. I just hope that someone else's much more expensive one can capture the true color. Rather than the purplish tint you see there, it really is more sepia, and is very much what comes in mind when one thinks of old ships logs.

[Melnicki]

looks to me like it might be one of those bulletproofs that "spreads", ie, does not keep a sharp crisp line like non-bulletproof inks do. Would you say that's true? Of course that sort of behavior depends on the pen, the hand, and the paper (and the weather)...

 

The color looks real nice to me. Comparison to Cacao du Bresil, anyone?

Edited March 5, 2009 by Melnicki

[Wwillco]

Here's some pics of the bottle- it is well done just as most Noodler's ink bottles are, and looks quite good on the shelf.

 

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww149/wwillco26/bottlepic1.jpg

 

Edited March 5, 2009 by Wwillco

[Wwillco]

Here's a snapshot of the review; it is a good bit closer to the real color.

 

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww149/wwillco26/noodlerspic.jpg

Edited March 5, 2009 by Wwillco

[QM2]

Wow, if the colour on the monitor is accurate, then I really-really like it and want to get some!

[Wwillco]

looks to me like it might be one of those bulletproofs that "spreads", ie, does not keep a sharp crisp line like non-bulletproof inks do. Would you say that's true? Of course that sort of behavior depends on the pen, the hand, and the paper (and the weather)...

 

The color looks real nice to me. Comparison to Cacao du Bresil, anyone?

 

It doesn't "spread" any more than I'm used to, truthfully- but, as you can see, my handwriting isn't up to the level of... well anything. The ink does spread a bit more than what you'd see in lets say PR Copper burst, or an Ebony Blue or Green, but not much more.

[Randal6393]

Bought a bottle of the Whaleman's Sepia and feel the ink leans more to the red than Sepia should. It is a pretty reddish-brown ink and will look great on a cream or ivory paper. Handles much as any good Noodler's ink.

[QM2]

Ah, well! It is still a very pretty brown. But my quest for a non-red Sepia continues.

[Melnicki]

Ah, well! It is still a very pretty brown. But my quest for a non-red Sepia continues.

 

QM2, I don't mean to bring up the anguish of HH batch variation, but how would you say it varies based on the Highlands Heather that you have seen?

[QM2]

Ah, well! It is still a very pretty brown. But my quest for a non-red Sepia continues.

 

QM2, I don't mean to bring up the anguish of HH batch variation, but how would you say it varies based on the Highlands Heather that you have seen?

 

Just to clarify -- I don't own the Whaleman's Sepia and have never seen it in person; my comments were based on Wwillco's update of his original post.

 

My understanding regarding Highland Heather, is that it was not so much batch variation, as a conscious reformulation of the ink.

 

 

[xmattxyzx]

Also, how does this compare to the Galileo Manuscript Brown?

 

Thanks for the review!

[magnus919]

I don't see this ink as a daily user, but it is very interesting, and I want to see how it ages on paper.

 

So it's been over seven years now. Still have any of those old pages hanging around? My fascination with this ink is growing, but I've not had it long enough to get a sense for what it looks like when it's well-set and aged sufficiently.

[Uncial]

Stick it in a big fat vintage gusher and it will dry like gloss paint. You might have to wait a few hours before you close the book. It has its issues but I love this ink.

[inkfade]

I am very interested in this ink, mostly because of its history. Plus I have a F-C pocket 66 in solid ice and when eyedroppered with this ink would remind me of a squid.

[alexander_k]

Thanks for the review. There are so many nice inks today that I wish I had twenty hands (the pens I've got already, more than double to my eternal shame).