Ink Review: DeAtramentis Karl Marx Red

[DrDebG]

Recently, I purchased a DeAtramentis “Mystery Ink” along with a bunch of samples from Vanness Pens. Every now and again, retailers such as Vanness will sell, at a reduced price, a bottle of ink with only a small ink stain on the label. I thought it would be nice to give myself a little surprise. When the package arrived, the bottle came in plain brown box. When I opened it, I knew it was a DeAtramentis ink, but I didn’t know which color because the label was completely covered by dried ink. I opened the lid and saw that it was a bright red color. I scraped a little of the dried ink away from the label and it read “K--- Marx”. I searched the DeAtramentis website and found “Karl Marx Red”.
 

 

 

The ink is a moderately saturated bright red with no sheen or shimmer, and little shading.

Scan:

 

 

Photo (taken in natural light)




 

 Paper: Ivory Letterbox journal paper (a very absorbant paper)
Pen: Lamy Studio with fine nib
 

 

Paper: White Rhodia Dot Pad

 

Paper: Off white Cosmo Air Light
Pen: Lamy Safari 1.1 stub
 

 

Paper: Off white Tomoe River 52 GSM
Pen: Lamy Safari 1.1 stub

 

 

 

Paper: Fabriano 1264 Mix Media Notebook
 

The ink is close in color to Sailor Irori, but not quite as orange. It is lighter and less pink than Pelikan Star Ruby. KM Red also is not as saturated as either ink, and is less wet than Irori, but not as dry as Star Ruby.

Overall, the ink is well behaved, as I would expect from a DeAtramentis ink. It is moderate in terms of wetness and works well with both my wet Lamy Studio with 14k fine nib and my very dry Lamy Safari with 1.1 stub nib. I am very pleased with my purchase - particularly since it was discounted. 

Note: I purchased this bottle of ink myself and all opinions are mine.

 

 

 

 

[amberleadavis]

Thank you for sharing!

[LizEF]

Great review, @DrDebG!   Good images, and the comparison is very helpful.  Thanks for taking the time and sharing it with us!

[yazeh]

Great review @DrDebG 

You manage to show off the subtlety of the ink. 🙏

 

[InesF]

Thank you @DrDebG for this review!

This red is a lovely one and I'm surprised it doesn't feather on absorbent paper. That's a rare combination with red inks in general.

[chromantic]

Seeing your sample cards, I ordered a bottle of Star Ruby. Thanks?

[axialix]

Sweet review and nice comparisons to other inks. I really like your neat cursive handwriting too. Very well done!

[inkstainedruth]

That looks like a nice color.  I have De Atramentis Dante Alighieri (Ruby Red), and now I'm wondering how Karl Marx (which is listed on the De Atramentis website just as "Red" ink) compares color-wise to Ruby Red -- or if it's closer to "Poppy Red".

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[miwishi63]

Great review. The comparison to other inks is very helpful. I'm still trying to find a red ink I like enough for daily use.