Hello FPNers,

If you have read another of my ink topics, you will know that I am in short supply of ink in my locale. After receiving less than hopeful results, I think I am going to be making an order from Pendemonium in the near future. Before I do, however, I would like your thoughts about any good sepia inks. I already have the Waterman Havana Brown on the list (and yes I know that technically it is brown). I am looking for a sepia that is not too dark nor too washed out. I would also prefer some shading and variability in the color. Visconti's Sepia, on the computer, looks close to what I am looking for, but I would like to hear about your experiences with sepia inks. Also, I have never used Noodler's ink, and the bulletproof inks have me somewhat wary. I know they might have a good sepia color, but will the bulletproof ink stain a celluloid pen? I know they say it has a cellulose reactive dye in the bulletproof inks.

Thanks,

-Cody

Campo Marzio Sepia is nice. I am looking around for a sample of it - I'll post it if I find it. It looks to be true Sepia. Though I doubt (I think) whether it contains real squid ink.

Hmmm. . . . got me to thinking - I'll check and get back. Does anyone else know?

Here is a picture from their site (That's a whopping 100 mL's of ink folks)

and a link here

http://www.campomarziodesign.it

Let me add Visconti Brown/Sepia and Conway Stewart Brown to the mix.

Also Rohrer & Klingner Sepia.

R & K Sepia is what I consider very much a sepia color, as
it's less red than other brown.

Herbin Cacao de Bresil also is a grey-brown, so much so
that in an XXF Mottishaw-ized VP, the line tends to look grey.

Caran d'Ache Grand Canyon looks like sepia in a fine nib.

I have the Stipula Sepia. 2.3 oz bottle. Flows good, no complaints. Bought one bottle, wish I'd bought two.

Here are some scans (from my review of Diamine Saddle Brown) of sepia-named and other brown inks. I keep forgetting that I have a bottle of Stipula Sepia as well, which is a lovely colour. Pendemonium's site has a good scan of Stipula Sepia.

Diamine Saddle Brown


Visconti Sepia


Omas Sepia


Conway Stewart Brown


Rohrer & Klingner Sepia


Caran d'Ache Grand Canyon


Waterman Havana Brown

Great scan, girlieg33k! Thank you for posting it.

Thank you all for your suggestions thus far. The Omas Sepia looks very nice. The R & K looks very dark (not a bad attribute).I will have to look up the Stipula sepia. Also, that Campo Marzio sepia looks like it would be worth having for the sheer amount. Anyone know about its color?

-Cody

Is this ink calligraphy ink? I found it on the Campo Marzio website under that section. (By the way, there website was interesting. I had to chase the little English bubble all around the page.)

-Cody

When I purchased the bottle they assured me it was good in fountain pens. I used for a long time with no problems at all. I think FP Hospital used to sell it as well. While they have a number of interesting FP's on their site as well as the calligraphy sets that are listed.

I purchased the ink in their store in Rome they were very helpful. I am still looking for the sample page I put down when I first got the ink,

I own Campo Marzio Roma Sepia and Rohrer & Klingner Sepia. I would call the CMR "washed out" and probably not what you're looking for; the R&K looks very much like Girlieg33k's scan.


If you're searching for large bottles of ink, Swisher Pens is selling 4oz (120ml) bottles of Visconti for $15.00. www.swisherpens.com

Thanks for the review and to girlieg33k for the scans. I use Havana Brown and like the results very much, is a very elegant, truly antique looking ink.

Great scans! R&K Sepia looks fabulous -- you can practically taste the cuttlefish! Any word on the water resistance of this ink?

I just bought a plastic traveller bottle (with the faux-bakelite cap, nice period touch) of Visconti Sepia. I'm happy to sell it on if you're interested. I think it's the best of the current sepia browns, but it's still a touch saturated for me. too rich, a little too much borwn undertone. I love the neutral brown of my vintage Parker Quink.

I have the Omas Sepia and like it a lot. It's the only ink that's been in my Omas 360 Vision in Bronze and it's a very well-behaved ink, smooth-writing, and a lovely shade, imo.

My humble quest for a sepia ink began with a single ink in mind: Waterman Havana Brown. I have now fallen head first into the wonderful world of non-black inks. Instead of ordering one ink, I now have orders at both Swisher and Pendemonium. The inks I have on order are:

J. Herbin Lie de The
Rohrer & Klingner Sepia
Waterman Havana Brown
Noodler's:
Baystate Blue w/ eyedropper
Violet Vote (Iraqui Indigo) w/ eyedropper
Dragon's Napalm
Squeteague
Zhivago

I could not help getting carried away. I am especially looking forward to the Dragon's Napalm, and perhaps will do a review of it. Also, I will keep you updated on my sepia quest.

-Cody

I just wanted to let you all know that my recent ink order yielded a sepia ink in just the right color. The Rohrer & Klingner Sepia is a wonderful color, and I do not think it looks as dark in person as it does in scans. It really is "a good sepia ink."

-Cody

I use both Havana Brown, & Omas Sepia.
I was looking for a sepia to use on descriptive labels in an antique button display..noting provenance of a dug snake shaped buckle.
Besides the two above you might want to try Diamine Goldenbrown..less red/pink, but decidedly old script look to it.
Omas after the Diamine GB imho.
p2p
Hello FPNers,
If you have read another of my ink topics, you will know that I am in short supply of ink in my locale. After receiving less than hopeful results, I think I am going to be making an order from Pendemonium in the near future. Before I do, however, I would like your thoughts about any good sepia inks. I already have the Waterman Havana
-Cody

What about Noodler's Red-Black? I know it's considered a rather enigmatic/mercurial ink among many inkees here, but it comes off as a darkish red/brown (seemingly close to swabs of Waterman Havana posted here?) at times. I don't own any sepia inks and wonder if the Noodler's Red-Black, which I DO own, comes close? I'd hate to find myself becoming sepia-quixotic...