Montblanc x Fritz Schimpf 149 Italic Edge

January 22, 2023

January 22, 2023

~ After six full months the time has come to let my Montblanc x Fritz Schimpf 149 Italic Edge have a well-deserved rest.

More than 300 inks have been tested. They've demonstrated the superb writing capabilities of Italic Edge.

The ink testing project has been a learning experience. Writing with the same nib on the same paper

each week with different inks offered tactile and empirical evidence of subtle nuances in inks.

******

Many thanks to all of those who have enriched this thread with their helpful comments, photos, and questions:

@wedgefreak, @Carrau, @arcfide, @KAC, @Barry Gabay, @a student, @amberleadavis, @como,

@Fritz Schimpf, @Frank C, @TheDutchGuy, @JulieParadise, @poti67, @DrDebG, @bunnspecial,

@teeitup418holes, @Nick T, @axio, @masterguns, @mizgeorge, @Seney724, @Arcadian, @fireant,

@empliau, @anthanton, @TitoThePencilPimp, @Penguincollector, @JCC123

******

Inks, Fritz Schimpf Feinpost A4 paper, and the Italic Edge fountain pen itself were all purchased at regular rates.

Very special thanks to Mike at Vanness Pen Shop in Little Rock, Arkansas for dozens of ink shipments.

Most special thanks to Fritz Schimpf in Tübingen, Germany for developing and offering Italic Edge.

******

Above all, warmest appreciation to @NoType for the superb listing of inks tested in Italic Edge.

******

For those who have a copy of Italic Edge, may it continue to provide much writing and sketching pleasure.

For all others, may the inks tested inspire your own individual journeys of utilizing different inks for daily handwriting.

Tom K.

January 23, 2023

5 minutes ago, Tom Kellie said:

~ After six full months the time has come to let my Montblanc x Fritz Schimpf 149 Italic Edge have a well-deserved rest.

More than 300 inks have been tested. They've demonstrated the superb writing capabilities of Italic Edge.

The ink testing project has been a learning experience. Writing with the same nib on the same paper

each week with different inks offered tactile and empirical evidence of subtle nuances in inks.

******

Many thanks to all of those who have enriched this thread with their helpful comments, photos, and questions:

@wedgefreak, @Carrau, @arcfide, @KAC, @Barry Gabay, @a student, @amberleadavis, @como,

@Fritz Schimpf, @Frank C, @TheDutchGuy, @JulieParadise, @poti67, @DrDebG, @bunnspecial,

@teeitup418holes, @Nick T, @axio, @masterguns, @mizgeorge, @Seney724, @Arcadian, @fireant,

@empliau, @anthanton, @TitoThePencilPimp, @Penguincollector, @JCC123

******

Inks, Fritz Schimpf Feinpost A4 paper, and the Italic Edge fountain pen itself were all purchased at regular rates.

Very special thanks to Mike at Vanness Pen Shop in Little Rock, Arkansas for dozens of ink shipments.

Most special thanks to Fritz Schimpf in Tübingen, Germany for developing and offering Italic Edge.

******

Above all, warmest appreciation to @NoType for the superb listing of inks tested in Italic Edge.

******

For those who have a copy of Italic Edge, may it continue to provide much writing and sketching pleasure.

For all others, may the inks tested inspire your own individual journeys of utilizing different inks for daily handwriting.

Tom K.

Thank you @Tom K. I never would have imagined what you have accomplished for us would be possible. Your series of posts & photos about the Italic Edge are truly legendary!!

Hopefully both you and your Italic Edge will enjoy the very well deserved rest!! You've earned it!! BRAVO!!

January 23, 2023

Thank you so much for this entertaining and informative thread, @Tom Kellie, I hope your other pens are as fun as this one is.

January 23, 2023

January 23, 2023

Here is the 22 January ‘23, and final, update of fifteen additional inks generously tested by Tom Kellie (as appear in above posts).

Inks for Italic Edge 100

Recommended: Dry and | or Light Colours

Tested:

BIRMINGHAM PEN

[Carrau reports six **, below, looked and behaved well]

Aluminium Oxide **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(blue|teal grey) darker than usual,

nearly black

Armadillo

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

good shading

Barley

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

light colour; softly glowing; shades well in this nib

Blast Furnace

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

once again, a BIRMINGHAM PEN ink which is

especially well-behaved in this nib

Brushwood

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

good shading

Carnation

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

charming pale ink

Cooked Spinach

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

high quality inks such as this from BIRMINGHAM

PEN provide lasting visual pleasure

Copperhead

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

pale shading evokes handwriting from past eras

Cordovan

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

good shading

Cornflower **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(med blue, H20 resist) slightly darker;

fine behaviour

Eroded Bronze **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(slate blue) improved saturation

makes it usable

Frostbite

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Guppy

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Hemlock Cone

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Juniper

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

dark hue and good shading

Kyanite

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

colour inspired by bladed crystals of

metamorphic kyanite

Lichen Watermark **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(murky green) now med saturation

Pennsylvania Fieldstone

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

writing with a high quality nib on high quality

paper with a high quality ink, is exhilarating

Periwinkle

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

even pale-hued inks such as this perform in

this nib, helping express life’s subtle moments

Pincushion Moss **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(green, H20 resist) deeper green than

usual

Pitted Nickel

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

outstanding colour and performance

Rotten Seaweed

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

superior shading and ease of handling seem to be

consistent traits of BIRMINGHAM PEN inks

Sterling Silver

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

wet or dry, BIRMINGHAM PEN inks provide

attractive colour in addition to being

well-behaved

Stormwater Runoff

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

where do the artisans at BIRMINGHAM PEN

find the inspiration for such fine inks as this?

Tattered Jute **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(sepia, H20 resist) perfect in this pen

Terracotta

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

pale ink; good shading

Towboat

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

sensational in this nib

BOOKBINDER SNAKE INK

Everglades Ratsnake ^^

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

CARAN D’ACHE

Chromatics Cosmic Black

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Chromatics Delicate Green

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Chromatics Divine Pink

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Chromatics Electric Orange

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

classic colour; vibrant ink

Chromatics Hypnotic Turquoise

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Chromatics line of inks has consistently shown superb

performance

Chromatics Idyllic Blue

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

superb ink flow; lovely colour

Chromatics Infinite Grey

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Chromatics Infra Red

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Chromatics Magnetic Blue

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Chromatics Organic Brown

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

clear, crisp strokes and lines; smooth ink flow;

no issues of any sort

Chromatics Ultra Violet

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

finest performance in this nib

Chromatics Vibrant Green

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

reliable; exceptionally smooth; well-behaved

COLORVERSE

TexMex

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

high saturation

Quahog

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale, distinctive colour

DE ATRAMENTIS

Kir Royal

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

(scented) this complex formulation of
natural ingredients and pigments performs well

DIAMINE

Ancient Copper ***

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

performs well

{02 Oct ‘22} {pp. 12-13}

Aqua Blue

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

Blue Black Archival Registrar’s Ink

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

another exceptional ink for producing crisp, clear

strokes from this nib

Blue Velvet

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

China Blue

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

a go-to, do-anything ink also performs

very well in this nib

Damson

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

well-behaved; lays down crisp lines

Deep Magenta

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

well behaved

Delamere Green

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

high saturation; well lubricated

Earl Grey **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

darker grey; more saturated than usual

Eau de Nil

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

elegant, lovely hue

Eclipse **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(very dark purple) black when wet

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

richly dark hue displays well in this nib

Golden Brown

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Graphite

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Green Umber

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

deep forest green evokes the Redwoods

Havasu Turquoise

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

ravishing colour is very impressive in this nib

Honey Burst

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

lively; fully lives up to its name

Imperial Purple

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

Kensington Blue

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

elegant colour

Majestic Blue

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

bold and very well-behaved — well-suited for

large writing tasks

Maroon

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Midnight

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 18}

outstanding ink allows for bold statements in this nib

Onyx Black

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Oxblood

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

DIAMINE inks offer distinctive hues plus

excellent performance

Presidential Blue

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

Prussian Blue

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

less lubricated, dryer ink, such as this, works better

than more lubricated, wet ink,, in this nib

Pumpkin

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Quartz Black

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

dark tone, but the nib still exhibits pleasant shading

Red Dragon

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

a full-bodied ink that writes well in this nib

Safari

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

admirably suited to this nib

Salamander

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

a subtle ink that flows nicely in this nib

Sargasso Sea

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

not at all dry, yet pleasant to use, with a lovely

spectrum all its own

Silver Fox

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

well behaved; excellent shading

Teal

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Tropical Green

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

colour evokes intense green of chlorophyll

in jungle foliage

Tyrian Purple

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

dry ink exceptionally well suited for this nib

FERRIS WHEEL PRESS

Fleur-de-nuit

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale, pastel ink performs well in this nib

FRITZ SCHIMPF

Fritzrot * ^

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

{22 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

(red) wet; good saturation; good

shading

Gelassenheit

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

an ideal ink for this pen

Gewitterwolke

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

ample ink flow

Morgenröte

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

Niebla

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(misty violet) exceptionally well-behaved

and smooth, an ideal ink for this nib

Sirimiri

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

well-lubricated, yet easy to manage in this nib

Sundowner *

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(orange) wet; good saturation; good

shading

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Zwischenlicht ^ ** ^^^

{23 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

{22 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

dryness is good match for this nib; good shading

GRAF VON FABER-CASTELL

Carbon Black

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

profoundly dark colour tone

Cobalt Blue

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

premium colour and performance

Cognac Brown

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

performs well; pleasant shading

Garnet Red

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Gulf Blue

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

soft, relatively pale; shows well in this nib,

with ample room for colour

Hazelnut Brown

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

outstanding performance in daily writing

India Red

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

full, rich hue

Midnight Blue

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

a thoroughbred among inks — one of the

finest from GRAF VON FABER-CASTELL

Moss Green

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

strikingly well-behaved in this nib

Olive Green

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

lovely hue, good shading; delightful

Royal Blue

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

shrugging off the chill to flow smoothly,

nib and ink lay down a classic colour

Stone Grey

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

raw, uncompromising colour (suitable for

serious writing tasks requiring visual gravity)

Turquoise

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

shades, performs gracefully, and has a

classic look

Violet Blue

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

for those who appreciate a paler hue

Viper Green

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

good shading

J HERBIN

Ambre de Birmanie

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Bleu des Profondours

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Bleu Myosotis

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

optimal ink flow and no skipping

Bleu Nuit

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

a favourite for years, performing

with panache in this nib

Café des Iles

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

Éclat de Saphir

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Larmes de Cassis

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

light-toned ink shows well in this nib

Lie de Thé

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

reliable inks from J HERBIN perform well

well in this nib

Rose Cyclamen

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Rouge Caroubier

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

warm charm

Rouge Opéra

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

deep colour enhanced by this pen’s broad strokes

Rouille d’Ancre

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

anchor rust pastel colour shows well in this nib

Terre de Feu

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

high saturation; not dry, but performs

well in this nib

Vert Empire

{21 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

fairly dry ink suits this nib; adequate ink flow

Vert Réséda

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

colour inspired by mignonette (Reseda) foliage

Violette Pensée

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

fully saturated colour with perceptible shading;

free-flowing in this nib

JACQUES HERBIN

Rouge d’Orient

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

stellar performance; suitable for daily use

JUSTWRITE + MONTBLANC (amberleadavis’ personal

blend)

Blackstone Red + Red Fox (Petit Prince) ^^

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

redder than Red Fox; nib crud evident

KWZ INK

Grapefruit

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

high saturation

Honey

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

distinctive colour tones show very well

in this nib

[Carrau reports both **, below, looked and

performed outstandingly]

Iron Gall Blue-Black **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

high saturation; no shading in dip test

Iron Gall Green #3 **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(green-black) similar colour to the tree

Norway spruce; high saturation; no

shading in dip test

Maroon

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Thief’s Red

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

KYOTO INKS

Kyo No Oto Aonibi **

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(slate blue) beautiful shading; slight

skipping; performs best in this pen

Kyo No Oto Adzuki-iro

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

living up to its name, a subdued colour

which works well in this nib

Kyo No Oto Ginkaisyoku

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Kyo No Oto Hisoku

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

well suited to this nib

Kyo No Oto Imayou-iro

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Kyo No Oto Kokeiro

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

evocative of the incomparably sublime

Moss Temple

Kyo No Oto Moegiiro

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

rich colour; excellent shading; top-level

performance

Kyo No Oto Nureba-iro

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Kyo No Oto Ochiguri-iro

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Kyo No Oto Ruri-iro

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Kyo No Oto Ryokuyuiro

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Kyo No Oto Sakuranezumi

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

Kyo No Oto Yamabukiiro

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

shaded gold colour evokes nostalgia for

seasons long past; flows very well

Kyo-Iro Flaming Red of Fushimi

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

dry and trouble-free

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Kyo-Iro Soft Snow of Ohara

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

Kyo-Iro Stone Road of Gion

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

L’ ARTISAN PASTELLIER

Bleu Méditerranée

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Gris de Payne

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

ideal control, feedback, smoothness:

bravura performance in this nib

Heure Dorée

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

very well-behaved ink expresses well,

the photographer’s “golden hour”

Omi Osun

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

the superb inks made in Albi, FRA by

L’ ARTISAN PASTELLIER are well-suited

to this nib

Sepia

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

soft pastel hue works well in this nib

Teodora

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Yalumba

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

dry; strikingly well-behaved; a pleasure to use

L’ ARTISAN PASTELLIER CALLIFOLIO

Anahuac

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

deep, warm tones show well in this nib

Andrinople

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

dark, rich-toned ink

Atlantique

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Aurora

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Baikal

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Bleu Azur

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Bonne Espérance

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

exceptional performance in this nib; near-ideal

behaviour

Bordeaux

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

lush ink oozes colour through this nib

Bosohore

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

this premium dry ink works well in the nib

Botany Bay

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Bourgogne

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

another example of a sophisticated ink

working well in this nib

Byzance

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

truly outstanding performance in this nib

Cannelle

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Cinnamon in hue, shading in style,

full of warm character in this nib

Cassis

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Equinoxe(5)

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

impeccable performance with subtle

shading and remarkable crispness

Equinoxe(6)

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

Grenat ^^^

{18 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

both nib and ink perform well despite

below-freezing indoor temperatures

Inti

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

deep, warm golden flame hue

Itzamna

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 18}

warm colour; subtle shading

Noir

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

as with its brethren listed here, easy to handle

and shades well

Oconto

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

admittedly Oconto is an old favourite,

largely due to its steady, reliable

character

Ohlanga

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

never troublesome; smooth in this nib,

with the essential quality of clarity

Olifants

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Olivastre

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

rich colour flows with ease from this nib

Pacifique

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Ultramarine

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

deep hue with rich colour

Violet

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

MONTBLANC

Blue (Around the World in 80 Days)

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Blue (Homage to Napoleon I)

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

had the sterling quality of this ink in this nib

been known, it would’ve resulted in the

purchase of three bottles

Burgundy Red

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

especially pleasing in this nib

Chinese Blue (The Blues Palette)

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

soothing colour evokes fine blue porcelain

Cool Grey

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

understated, calm colour

Corn Poppy Red

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

this was one of the most frequently used inks

on my writing desk in East Asia

Egyptian Blue (The Blues Palette)

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

shades well in this nib

Emerald

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Encre du Desert (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Greek Blue (Homer)

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

a dream ink for both colour and overall performance

Green (Homage to the Brothers Grimm)

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

dark tone; shades well; full richness of hue

on display

JFK Navy Blue (John F. Kennedy)

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

well-behaved — typical of MONTBLANC inks

large writing tasks

Jazz Blue (Great Characters Miles Davis) ^^^

{14 Sep ‘22} {p. 09}

dry, not very saturated ink, shades well

in this nib

Lapis Lazuli (The Blues Palette)

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

classic, rich blue shows well in this nib

Meisterstück Glacier

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

stellar performer

Midnight Blue

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

Mint Green (Homage to Victoria & Albert)

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

well-lubricated, light-toned ink, yet works well

in this nib

Modena Red

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

overall writing sensation is calm, smooth,

steady

Montblanc for BMW

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

lovely, bright, cheerful blue; smooth flow

Orange (Montblanc x Naruto)

{05 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

offers nothing less than ideal overall

performance in this nib

Permanent Grey (Meisterstück 90 Years)

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

pale colour with good shading

Petrol Blue (Colour of the Year 2019)

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

another example of a sophisticated ink

working well in this nib

Pink Ink

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

the precursor to Pop Pink, Pink Ink has

a delightfully attractive, intense hue

Purple (Great Characters Enzo Ferrari)

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

deep, rich, resonant purple

Purple (Great Characters Jimi Hendrix)

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

vibrant hue; good shading; smooth-flowing;

pleasing clarity from this nib

Red (The Legend of the Zodiacs, The Rabbit)

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

Red (The Legend of the Zodiacs, The Tiger)

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

with this nib, a deep, warm colour such as this

evokes a subtle sense of passion

Red Fox (Petit Prince)

{15 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Rosso Antico (Homage to Hadrian)

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Royal Blue

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

there is no more well-behaved ink in this nib

Royal Blue — effortless to use

Scarlet Red (Homage to Arthur Conan Doyle)

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

rich, deep hue well-suited to this nib

Season’s Greetings #

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

(scented) good shading

Toffee Brown **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(usually reddish brown) more

saturated; more red when wet | more

chocolate when dry; modest shading on

Rhodia

Ultramarine (The Blues Palette) ^^^

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

wet; very dark; good shading; sheen present

(amount is paper dependent - gold on Tomoe

River)

Ultra Black

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

crisp, very well-behaved, and smooth-flowing,

helping produce exact strokes in this nib

Velvet Red (William Shakespeare)

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

as good as it gets in this nib —

stellar writing performance

ORGANICS STUDIO

Cobalt Blue

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

colour suitable for work and home

Copper Turquoise

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

the nib displays well, rich colours such as this

Hunter Green (James Joyce)

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

dark tones recall dense forest undergrowth

Maebel’s Scarlet

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

writing with ORGANICS STUDIO inks is a
pleasant consequence of testing ink

performance in the Italic Edge 100

Manganese Blue|Black

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

when daylight diminishes to be replaced by
night’s dark cover, Manganese Blue|Black shines

Nitrogen Royal Blue

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

this saturated ink is exceptionally well-behaved
in this very broad nib

Rogalian

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

from a burning pyre of colour, this ink checks
all the boxes for a first-class, premium ink

Twilight Blue (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

deep-hued; handles well with a smooth flow

P W AKKERMAN

Bezuidenwoudgroen

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

not only lovely shading, but also superb

performance on Fritz Schimpf Feinpost paper

China Town Red

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

very well suited to the nib

Delfts Blauw **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Tom Kellie reports this ink is the quintessential
light yet saturated blue, and as such deserves

a revisit to show its colour

Garuda Rood

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Groenmarkt Smaragd

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Hofkwartier Groen

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

here is shading of an especially striking
variety — botanical colouration in ink

Hofvijver Grijs

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Hopjesbruin

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

good shading; smooth, easy-to-write-with ink

[Iron Gall] Ijzer-Galnoten Blauw|Zwart

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

especially pleasing shade of blue

KoninginneNach-Blauw

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

subtly nuanced with lovely shading

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

glides with extraordinary smoothness across
the paper [Feinpost]

Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indigo

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Mauritshuis Magenta

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

Oranje Boven

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

vivid saturation

Parkpop Purper

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Passage Blauw

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

wondrous beauty on paper

Residentie Blauw

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

eminently suitable to this nib

Royal Akkermanblauw uitwasbaar

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

[washable] quintessentially premium ink works well

in this nib

Shocking Blue ^^^

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

little shading; slight sheen; ink may be too wet for this

nib

Zuiderpark Blauw-Groen

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

throughout the months of Italic Edge 100 ink tests,

P W AKKERMAN inks consistently have stood out

PARKER

Quink Blue Black

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

(“permanent” or stain-capable, not waterproof)

Quink Washable Blue

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

classic ink with exceptional performance in this nib

Penman Sapphire ^^^

{18 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

great sheen; some shading (usually not seen)

on Rhodia; slightly too wet for this nib

PELIKAN

Fount India Black

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

(“document proof”) bold, clear, unmistakably black

PELIKAN EDELSTEIN

Adventurine

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Apatite

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

PELIKAN‘S 2022 Gemstone Ink of the Year

flows smoothly from this nib

Aquamarine

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}
Garnet

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

Jade

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

distinctive, soothing colour behaves well

on Feinpost and in this nib

Mandarin

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

once again, another PELIKAN EDELSTEIN ink

demonstrates superior performance in this nib

Olivine ^^^

{04 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

more shading than seen with

P W AKKERMAN Shocking Blue

Onyx

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

bold and vivid ink displays well in this nib

Smoky Quartz

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

fairly dry ink is admirably suited to this nib

Star Ruby

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Tanzanite

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Topaz

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

dry ink with richly saturated hue performs well in this

nib

PELIKAN 4001

[Iron Gall] Blue-Black **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Tom Kellie reports this ink is an ideal match
for this nib, as it’s notably dry

{26 Nov ‘22} {p. 17}

Brilliant Black

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

controlled performance in this nib distinguishes

PELIKAN 4001 inks

Brilliant Brown

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

well behaved, smooth flow, no skipping

Brilliant Red

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

fairly dry ink is admirably suited to this nib

Dark Green

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

paper-friendly, nib-friendly, user-friendly

Königsblau [Royal Blue]

{21 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

fairly dry ink suits this nib; adequate ink flow

Turquoise

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Violet

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

dry, easy to use, facilitates crisp writing

from this nib

PILOT IROSHIZUKU

Ajisai **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(light blue) colour similar to but more

saturated than the flowers the Cape

Jasmine (Plumbago) and the Cornflower

Ama-iro

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

highly recommended for both ease of use

and shading in this nib

Asa-gao

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Chiku-rin

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Fuyu-gaki

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Fuyu-syogun

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Hotaru-bi

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Ina-ho

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

distinctive colour and shading

Kiri-same

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

(light grey) shades well in this nib

Kon-peki

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

serene blue shows well in this nib

Kosumosu

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

soft colour that is still easy to read and

well-behaved

Ku-jaku

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Momiji

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Murasaki-shikibu

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Shin-kai

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Shin-ryoku

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

rich saturation

Sui-gyoku

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

typically of Iroshizuku, another stellar

performer; very well-behaved

Syo-ro

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

typically of IROSHIZUKU, well suited to this nib’s

ability to display rich colour

Tsuki-yo

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Tsuyu-kusa

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

Yama-budo

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

free-flowing; well-lubricated; saturated colour

PILOT NAMIKI

Blue

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

flows smoothly; a nice match with this

broad nib

PLATINUM

Cassis Black

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

well-behaved

Pigment Ink Brun Sepia

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

[pigmented] lush tones evoke wonderful years

past and presen

ROBERT OSTER

African Gold

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

striking colour, beautiful shading

Australian Opal Mauve

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

performs in this pen

Australian Opal Pink

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

very light-toned ink performs in this pen

Australis Oak

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

as ever, the skill invested in ROBERT OSTER inks

is manifest in the chromatic wonder of this ink

Australis Tea

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

well-behaved

Blood Moon

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

very nice flow

Caffe Crema

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Cities of America Oklahoma City

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Direct Sun

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Dragon’s Night

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

very dark ink still shades in this nib

Fire Engine Red

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

had the stellar performance of this ink

been known, two bottles would’ve been

been ordered

Green Green

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

intense green hue

Grey Seas **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(blue-leaning grey) well behaved;

beautiful shading

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

superb hue and performance

Lemon Grass

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Midnight Sapphire **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(grey-leaning blue) well behaved;

lovely shading similar to PELIKAN 4001

Blue-Black

Muddy Bucket

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

shades very well

Muddy Sand

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

sensational, and well-matched for this nib

Purple Rock **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(grey purple) much more saturated |

darker; less grey than usual; less

shading than usual

Rubine

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

beautiful and practical, continuing this tradition

of ROBERT OSTER inks

Soda Pop Blue

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

saturated, well lubricated, intensely coloured;

Soda Pop Blue makes a strong impression

Tangerine

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

a citrus hue with visual | chromatic Vitamin C
for the close of the year

Terracotta

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

an ideal ink for this pen

Tokyo Blue Denim

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Vanness Blue River

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

bright-toned and cheerful

Velvet Crush

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

an ideal match with this nib

Vine Leaf

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}
ROHRER & KLINGNER

Alt-Bordeaux

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

like the wine, colour is rich, deep,

soothing

Alt-Goldgrün

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

flows in gentle lines without skipping

or other unwelcome issues

Blu mare

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Deep Pine forest

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

dokumentus light blue

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

(H20 resist) remarkably smooth, steady flow

Fernambuk (Pernambuco)

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Helianthus

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

even as light-toned an ink as this shows well

in this nib

Kastanienbraun

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

dark, calm, bold-but-not-obtrusive colour

Königsblau

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

ROHRER & KLINGNER inks have been outstanding

performers in this nib

Leipziger Schwarz

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

very dark ink provides intense contrast in this nib

Morinda

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

as rich a red as one might wish; smooth; well-behaved

[Iron Gall] Salix

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

delightful and problem-free in this nib

[Iron Gall] Scabiosa

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

soft-looking, very well-behaved; suitable for daily use

Sepia

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Solferino

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

lovely eglantine violet colour; effortless ink flow

Smaragdgrün

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

pleasant shading, attractive colour, and smooth flow;

Smaragdgrün is delightful

Verdigris

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

exceptional; exceptionally easy to write with

Verdura

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

vibrant colour displayed to best advantage

in this nib

SAILOR

[Pigmented] Nano Kiwa-guro

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

(“shiny” black, H20 resist) dark tone

Manyo Ink Kakitsubata

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

love, love, love! Kakitsubata ink inspires

passion due to its superb performance

Manyo Ink Kuzu

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Manyo Ink Nadeshiko **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(light blue) colour similar to but more

saturated than the flowers the Cape

Jasmine (Plumbago) and the Cornflower;

(similar to PILOT Iroshizuku Ajisai)

Manyo Ink Ume

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Nagasawa Kobe Ink Maiko-West Pearl Blue

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale ink shades well in this nib

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

renders a certain antiquarian charm,

recalling writing’s long heritage

[Pigmented] Seiboku Blue-Black

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

(blue black, H20 resist) just about as good

as it gets; top performance in all respects

Shikiori Ink Potsu-Potsu

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 18}

superlative ink eases both writing and sketching

Shikiori Ink Yonaga

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

dark ink’s subtle tones show well in the nib

Yurameku Ink Itezora

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale ink that shades well in the nib

Yurameku Ink Kyokkou

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

light tone performs well in the nib
SCRIBE

Indigo ^^^

{25 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

good shading; sheen present (amount is

paper dependent)

SUPER5

Delhi | Orange ^^

{13 Sep ‘22} {p. 09}

TACCIA SUNAO-IRO

Jeans Ink Clear Navy

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

the ink for producing shapely, crisp strokes

from this nib; dry; effortless performance

TACCIA THE JEANS COLLECTION

Classic Blue Jeans

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

shading accentuates the soft, pale tone

of traditional blue

Light Washed Jeans

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

pale inks such as this display well in this nib,

as the wide nib face lays down ample colour

TACCIA UKIYO-E

Hiroshige-Asahanada

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

soft, pale-hued ink

Hiroshige-Ruri

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

the ink for producing shapely, crisp strokes

from this nib; dry; effortless performance

3•OYSTERS

Aqua Green

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

well-balanced; another 3•OYSTERS ink

exceptionally well-suited for this nib

Blue

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Bukhansan

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Chilli Red

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

performs well in this nib

Mustard

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

the well-crafted inks by 3•OYSTERS

all work well in this nib

Seal Brown

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

discovering the lovely 3•OYSTERS inks is
another pleasant consequence of testing ink

performance in the Italic Edge 100

WALDMANN

Blue

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

good shading

WATERMAN

Serenity Blue **

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

very wet

——————

Tested by:

* @como (on Feinpost or Brause Calligraphy)

** @Carrau (on Rhodia or Staples TruRed)

^ @Fritz Schimpf(Sebastian Stolz) (on Feinpost)
^^ @amberleadavis

^^^ @bunnspecial (on Feinpost, Rhodia, or Tomoe River)

*** @masterguns (on Tomoe River, or cheap graph)

# @fireant

all others @Tom Kellie (on Feinpost)

January 23, 2023

@Tom KelliePlease allow me to add to others’ deep and abiding gratitude to you for this incredible ink test thread (to which @amberleadavis, @bunnspecial, @Carrau, @como, @fireant, @masterguns, and @Fritz Schimpf have also provided ink tests, to say nothing of all others who have contributed, all of whom you have generously named above). It has been my undiluted pleasure to record these tests, the list improved by requests from @JCC123.

January 23, 2023

Thanks @NoType and especially @Tom Kellie for taking the time to do this for the community. I'm sure it was appreciated by all!

January 24, 2023

Tom, 300 ink samples ... and 300 cleanings of the pen!!! That's a great achievement. Have a great year 2023.

Zdenek

February 7, 2023

Dear Tom K -

Thank you, dear friend, for your timeless work. You, above all others, have demonstrated the incredible value of the Italic Edge.

I confess that I still do not own one of these amazing pens. But, I know that when I do obtain one that it will be a superior pen - truly a grail pen for me.

Best of luck with all of your endeavors!

Thank you again!

March 17, 2023

~ A few inks arrived which deserved to be tested in Italic Edge.

The nuances and refined understanding gained from testing inks in Italic Edge has been helpful in recent writing and sketching.

Thank you to all who have visited this thread.

I hope that you've been enjoying your treasured fountain pens as much as I've been enjoying Italic Edge.

Tom K.

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

March 18, 2023

Here is the 17 March ‘23 update of three additional inks generously tested by Tom Kellie (as appear in above posts).

(Happy St Patrick’s Day)

Inks for Italic Edge 100

Recommended: Dry and | or Light Colours

Tested:

BIRMINGHAM PEN

[Carrau reports six **, below, looked and behaved well]

Aluminium Oxide **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(blue|teal grey) darker than usual,

nearly black

Armadillo

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

good shading

Barley

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

light colour; softly glowing; shades well in this nib

Blast Furnace

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

once again, a BIRMINGHAM PEN ink which is

especially well-behaved in this nib

Brushwood

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

good shading

Carnation

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

charming pale ink

Cooked Spinach

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

high quality inks such as this from BIRMINGHAM

PEN provide lasting visual pleasure

Copperhead

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

pale shading evokes handwriting from past eras

Cordovan

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

good shading

Cornflower **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(med blue, H20 resist) slightly darker;

fine behaviour

Eroded Bronze **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(slate blue) improved saturation

makes it usable

Frostbite

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Guppy

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Hemlock Cone

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Juniper

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

dark hue and good shading

Kyanite

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

colour inspired by bladed crystals of

metamorphic kyanite

Lichen Watermark **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(murky green) now med saturation

Pennsylvania Fieldstone

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

writing with a high quality nib on high quality

paper with a high quality ink, is exhilarating

Periwinkle

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

even pale-hued inks such as this perform in

this nib, helping express life’s subtle moments

Pincushion Moss **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(green, H20 resist) deeper green than

usual

Pitted Nickel

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

outstanding colour and performance

Rotten Seaweed

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

superior shading and ease of handling seem to be

consistent traits of BIRMINGHAM PEN inks

Sterling Silver

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

wet or dry, BIRMINGHAM PEN inks provide

attractive colour in addition to being

well-behaved

Stormwater Runoff

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

where do the artisans at BIRMINGHAM PEN

find the inspiration for such fine inks as this?

Tattered Jute **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(sepia, H20 resist) perfect in this pen

Terracotta

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

pale ink; good shading

Towboat

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

sensational in this nib

BOOKBINDER SNAKE INK

Everglades Ratsnake ^^

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

CARAN D’ACHE

Chromatics Cosmic Black

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Chromatics Delicate Green

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Chromatics Divine Pink

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Chromatics Electric Orange

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

classic colour; vibrant ink

Chromatics Hypnotic Turquoise

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Chromatics line of inks has consistently shown superb

performance

Chromatics Idyllic Blue

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

superb ink flow; lovely colour

Chromatics Infinite Grey

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Chromatics Infra Red

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Chromatics Magnetic Blue

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Chromatics Organic Brown

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

clear, crisp strokes and lines; smooth ink flow;

no issues of any sort

Chromatics Ultra Violet

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

finest performance in this nib

Chromatics Vibrant Green

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

reliable; exceptionally smooth; well-behaved

COLORVERSE

Sea of Tranquility

{17 Mar ‘23} {p. 20}

attractive shading; rich colour

TexMex

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

high saturation

Quahog

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale, distinctive colour

DE ATRAMENTIS

Kir Royal

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

(scented) this complex formulation of
natural ingredients and pigments performs well

DIAMINE

Ancient Copper ***

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

performs well

{02 Oct ‘22} {pp. 12-13}

Aqua Blue

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

Blue Black Archival Registrar’s Ink

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

another exceptional ink for producing crisp, clear

strokes from this nib

Blue Velvet

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

China Blue

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

a go-to, do-anything ink also performs

very well in this nib

Damson

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

well-behaved; lays down crisp lines

Deep Magenta

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

well behaved

Delamere Green

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

high saturation; well lubricated

Earl Grey **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

darker grey; more saturated than usual

Eau de Nil

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

elegant, lovely hue

Eclipse **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(very dark purple) black when wet

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

richly dark hue displays well in this nib

Golden Brown

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Graphite

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Green Umber

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

deep forest green evokes the Redwoods

Havasu Turquoise

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

ravishing colour is very impressive in this nib

Honey Burst

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

lively; fully lives up to its name

Imperial Purple

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

Kensington Blue

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

elegant colour

Majestic Blue

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

bold and very well-behaved — well-suited for

large writing tasks

Maroon

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Midnight

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 18}

outstanding ink allows for bold statements in this nib

Onyx Black

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Oxblood

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

DIAMINE inks offer distinctive hues plus

excellent performance

Presidential Blue

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

Prussian Blue

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

less lubricated, dryer ink, such as this, works better

than more lubricated, wet ink,, in this nib

Pumpkin

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Quartz Black

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

dark tone, but the nib still exhibits pleasant shading

Red Dragon

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

a full-bodied ink that writes well in this nib

Safari

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

admirably suited to this nib

Salamander

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

a subtle ink that flows nicely in this nib

Sargasso Sea

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

not at all dry, yet pleasant to use, with a lovely

spectrum all its own

Silver Fox

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

well behaved; excellent shading

Teal

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Tropical Green

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

colour evokes intense green of chlorophyll

in jungle foliage

Tyrian Purple

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

dry ink exceptionally well suited for this nib

FERRIS WHEEL PRESS

Fleur-de-nuit

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale, pastel ink performs well in this nib

FRITZ SCHIMPF

Fritzrot * ^

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

{22 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

(red) wet; good saturation; good

shading

Gelassenheit

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

an ideal ink for this pen

Gewitterwolke

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

ample ink flow

Morgenröte

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

Niebla

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(misty violet) exceptionally well-behaved

and smooth, an ideal ink for this nib

Sirimiri

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

well-lubricated, yet easy to manage in this nib

Sundowner *

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(orange) wet; good saturation; good

shading

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Zwischenlicht ^ ** ^^^

{23 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

{22 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

dryness is good match for this nib; good shading

GRAF VON FABER-CASTELL

Carbon Black

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

profoundly dark colour tone

Cobalt Blue

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

premium colour and performance

Cognac Brown

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

performs well; pleasant shading

Garnet Red

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Gulf Blue

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

soft, relatively pale; shows well in this nib,

with ample room for colour

Hazelnut Brown

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

outstanding performance in daily writing

India Red

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

full, rich hue

Midnight Blue

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

a thoroughbred among inks — one of the

finest from GRAF VON FABER-CASTELL

Moss Green

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

strikingly well-behaved in this nib

Olive Green

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

lovely hue, good shading; delightful

Royal Blue

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

shrugging off the chill to flow smoothly,

nib and ink lay down a classic colour

Stone Grey

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

raw, uncompromising colour (suitable for

serious writing tasks requiring visual gravity)

Turquoise

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

shades, performs gracefully, and has a

classic look

Violet Blue

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

for those who appreciate a paler hue

Viper Green

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

good shading

J HERBIN

Ambre de Birmanie

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Bleu des Profondours

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Bleu Myosotis

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

optimal ink flow and no skipping

Bleu Nuit

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

a favourite for years, performing

with panache in this nib

Café des Iles

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

Éclat de Saphir

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Larmes de Cassis

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

light-toned ink shows well in this nib

Lie de Thé

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

reliable inks from J HERBIN perform well

well in this nib

Rose Cyclamen

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Rouge Caroubier

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

warm charm

Rouge Opéra

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

deep colour enhanced by this pen’s broad strokes

Rouille d’Ancre

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

anchor rust pastel colour shows well in this nib

Terre de Feu

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

high saturation; not dry, but performs

well in this nib

Vert Empire

{21 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

fairly dry ink suits this nib; adequate ink flow

Vert Réséda

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

colour inspired by mignonette (Reseda) foliage

Violette Pensée

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

fully saturated colour with perceptible shading;

free-flowing in this nib

JACQUES HERBIN

Rouge d’Orient

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

stellar performance; suitable for daily use

JUSTWRITE + MONTBLANC (amberleadavis’ personal

blend)

Blackstone Red + Red Fox (Petit Prince) ^^

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

redder than Red Fox; nib crud evident

KWZ INK

Grapefruit

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

high saturation

Honey

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

distinctive colour tones show very well

in this nib

[Carrau reports both **, below, looked and

performed outstandingly]

Iron Gall Blue-Black **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

high saturation; no shading in dip test

Iron Gall Green #3 **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(green-black) similar colour to the tree

Norway spruce; high saturation; no

shading in dip test

Maroon

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Thief’s Red

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

KYOTO INKS

Kyo No Oto Aonibi **

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(slate blue) beautiful shading; slight

skipping; performs best in this pen

Kyo No Oto Adzuki-iro

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

living up to its name, a subdued colour

which works well in this nib

Kyo No Oto Ginkaisyoku

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Kyo No Oto Hisoku

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

well suited to this nib

Kyo No Oto Imayou-iro

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Kyo No Oto Kokeiro

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

evocative of the incomparably sublime

Moss Temple

Kyo No Oto Moegiiro

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

rich colour; excellent shading; top-level

performance

Kyo No Oto Nureba-iro

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Kyo No Oto Ochiguri-iro

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Kyo No Oto Ruri-iro

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Kyo No Oto Ryokuyuiro

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Kyo No Oto Sakuranezumi

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

Kyo No Oto Seiheki

{17 Mar ‘23} {p. 20}

Kyo No Oto Yamabukiiro

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

shaded gold colour evokes nostalgia for

seasons long past; flows very well

Kyo No Oto Yushiiro

{17 Mar ‘23} {p. 20}

Kyo-Iro Flaming Red of Fushimi

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

dry and trouble-free

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Kyo-Iro Soft Snow of Ohara

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

Kyo-Iro Stone Road of Gion

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

L’ ARTISAN PASTELLIER

Bleu Méditerranée

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Gris de Payne

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

ideal control, feedback, smoothness:

bravura performance in this nib

Heure Dorée

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

very well-behaved ink expresses well,

the photographer’s “golden hour”

Omi Osun

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

the superb inks made in Albi, FRA by

L’ ARTISAN PASTELLIER are well-suited

to this nib

Sepia

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

soft pastel hue works well in this nib

Teodora

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Yalumba

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

dry; strikingly well-behaved; a pleasure to use

L’ ARTISAN PASTELLIER CALLIFOLIO

Anahuac

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

deep, warm tones show well in this nib

Andrinople

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

dark, rich-toned ink

Atlantique

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Aurora

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Baikal

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Bleu Azur

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Bonne Espérance

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

exceptional performance in this nib; near-ideal

behaviour

Bordeaux

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

lush ink oozes colour through this nib

Bosohore

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

this premium dry ink works well in the nib

Botany Bay

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Bourgogne

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

another example of a sophisticated ink

working well in this nib

Byzance

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

truly outstanding performance in this nib

Cannelle

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Cinnamon in hue, shading in style,

full of warm character in this nib

Cassis

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Equinoxe(5)

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

impeccable performance with subtle

shading and remarkable crispness

Equinoxe(6)

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

Grenat ^^^

{18 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

both nib and ink perform well despite

below-freezing indoor temperatures

Inti

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

deep, warm golden flame hue

Itzamna

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 18}

warm colour; subtle shading

Noir

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

as with its brethren listed here, easy to handle

and shades well

Oconto

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

admittedly Oconto is an old favourite,

largely due to its steady, reliable

character

Ohlanga

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

never troublesome; smooth in this nib,

with the essential quality of clarity

Olifants

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Olivastre

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

rich colour flows with ease from this nib

Pacifique

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Ultramarine

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

deep hue with rich colour

Violet

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

MONTBLANC

Blue (Around the World in 80 Days)

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Blue (Homage to Napoleon I)

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

had the sterling quality of this ink in this nib

been known, it would’ve resulted in the

purchase of three bottles

Burgundy Red

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

especially pleasing in this nib

Chinese Blue (The Blues Palette)

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

soothing colour evokes fine blue porcelain

Cool Grey

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

understated, calm colour

Corn Poppy Red

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

this was one of the most frequently used inks

on my writing desk in East Asia

Egyptian Blue (The Blues Palette)

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

shades well in this nib

Emerald

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Encre du Desert (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Greek Blue (Homer)

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

a dream ink for both colour and overall performance

Green (Homage to the Brothers Grimm)

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

dark tone; shades well; full richness of hue

on display

JFK Navy Blue (John F. Kennedy)

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

well-behaved — typical of MONTBLANC inks

large writing tasks

Jazz Blue (Great Characters Miles Davis) ^^^

{14 Sep ‘22} {p. 09}

dry, not very saturated ink, shades well

in this nib

Lapis Lazuli (The Blues Palette)

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

classic, rich blue shows well in this nib

Meisterstück Glacier

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

stellar performer

Midnight Blue

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

Mint Green (Homage to Victoria & Albert)

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

well-lubricated, light-toned ink, yet works well

in this nib

Modena Red

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

overall writing sensation is calm, smooth,

steady

Montblanc for BMW

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

lovely, bright, cheerful blue; smooth flow

Orange (Montblanc x Naruto)

{05 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

offers nothing less than ideal overall

performance in this nib

Permanent Grey (Meisterstück 90 Years)

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

pale colour with good shading

Petrol Blue (Colour of the Year 2019)

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

another example of a sophisticated ink

working well in this nib

Pink Ink

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

the precursor to Pop Pink, Pink Ink has

a delightfully attractive, intense hue

Purple (Great Characters Enzo Ferrari)

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

deep, rich, resonant purple

Purple (Great Characters Jimi Hendrix)

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

vibrant hue; good shading; smooth-flowing;

pleasing clarity from this nib

Red (The Legend of the Zodiacs, The Rabbit)

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

Red (The Legend of the Zodiacs, The Tiger)

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

with this nib, a deep, warm colour such as this

evokes a subtle sense of passion

Red Fox (Petit Prince)

{15 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Rosso Antico (Homage to Hadrian)

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Royal Blue

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

there is no more well-behaved ink in this nib

Royal Blue — effortless to use

Scarlet Red (Homage to Arthur Conan Doyle)

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

rich, deep hue well-suited to this nib

Season’s Greetings #

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

(scented) good shading

Toffee Brown **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(usually reddish brown) more

saturated; more red when wet | more

chocolate when dry; modest shading on

Rhodia

Ultramarine (The Blues Palette) ^^^

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

wet; very dark; good shading; sheen present

(amount is paper dependent - gold on Tomoe

River)

Ultra Black

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

crisp, very well-behaved, and smooth-flowing,

helping produce exact strokes in this nib

Velvet Red (William Shakespeare)

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

as good as it gets in this nib —

stellar writing performance

ORGANICS STUDIO

Cobalt Blue

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

colour suitable for work and home

Copper Turquoise

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

the nib displays well, rich colours such as this

Hunter Green (James Joyce)

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

dark tones recall dense forest undergrowth

Maebel’s Scarlet

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

writing with ORGANICS STUDIO inks is a
pleasant consequence of testing ink

performance in the Italic Edge 100

Manganese Blue|Black

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

when daylight diminishes to be replaced by
night’s dark cover, Manganese Blue|Black shines

Nitrogen Royal Blue

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

this saturated ink is exceptionally well-behaved
in this very broad nib

Rogalian

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

from a burning pyre of colour, this ink checks
all the boxes for a first-class, premium ink

Twilight Blue (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

deep-hued; handles well with a smooth flow

P W AKKERMAN

Bezuidenwoudgroen

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

not only lovely shading, but also superb

performance on Fritz Schimpf Feinpost paper

China Town Red

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

very well suited to the nib

Delfts Blauw **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Tom Kellie reports this ink is the quintessential
light yet saturated blue, and as such deserves

a revisit to show its colour

Garuda Rood

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Groenmarkt Smaragd

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Hofkwartier Groen

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

here is shading of an especially striking
variety — botanical colouration in ink

Hofvijver Grijs

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Hopjesbruin

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

good shading; smooth, easy-to-write-with ink

[Iron Gall] Ijzer-Galnoten Blauw|Zwart

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

especially pleasing shade of blue

KoninginneNach-Blauw

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

subtly nuanced with lovely shading

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

glides with extraordinary smoothness across
the paper [Feinpost]

Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indigo

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Mauritshuis Magenta

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

Oranje Boven

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

vivid saturation

Parkpop Purper

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Passage Blauw

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

wondrous beauty on paper

Residentie Blauw

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

eminently suitable to this nib

Royal Akkermanblauw uitwasbaar

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

[washable] quintessentially premium ink works well

in this nib

Shocking Blue ^^^

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

little shading; slight sheen; ink may be too wet for this

nib

Zuiderpark Blauw-Groen

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

throughout the months of Italic Edge 100 ink tests,

P W AKKERMAN inks consistently have stood out

PARKER

Quink Blue Black

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

(“permanent” or stain-capable, not waterproof)

Quink Washable Blue

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

classic ink with exceptional performance in this nib

Penman Sapphire ^^^

{18 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

great sheen; some shading (usually not seen)

on Rhodia; slightly too wet for this nib

PELIKAN

Fount India Black

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

(“document proof”) bold, clear, unmistakably black

PELIKAN EDELSTEIN

Adventurine

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Apatite

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

PELIKAN‘S 2022 Gemstone Ink of the Year

flows smoothly from this nib

Aquamarine

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}
Garnet

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

Jade

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

distinctive, soothing colour behaves well

on Feinpost and in this nib

Mandarin

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

once again, another PELIKAN EDELSTEIN ink

demonstrates superior performance in this nib

Olivine ^^^

{04 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

more shading than seen with

P W AKKERMAN Shocking Blue

Onyx

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

bold and vivid ink displays well in this nib

Smoky Quartz

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

fairly dry ink is admirably suited to this nib

Star Ruby

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Tanzanite

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Topaz

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

dry ink with richly saturated hue performs well in this

nib

PELIKAN 4001

[Iron Gall] Blue-Black **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Tom Kellie reports this ink is an ideal match
for this nib, as it’s notably dry

{26 Nov ‘22} {p. 17}

Brilliant Black

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

controlled performance in this nib distinguishes

PELIKAN 4001 inks

Brilliant Brown

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

well behaved, smooth flow, no skipping

Brilliant Red

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

fairly dry ink is admirably suited to this nib

Dark Green

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

paper-friendly, nib-friendly, user-friendly

Königsblau [Royal Blue]

{21 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

fairly dry ink suits this nib; adequate ink flow

Turquoise

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

Violet

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

dry, easy to use, facilitates crisp writing

from this nib

PILOT IROSHIZUKU

Ajisai **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(light blue) colour similar to but more

saturated than the flowers the Cape

Jasmine (Plumbago) and the Cornflower

Ama-iro

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

highly recommended for both ease of use

and shading in this nib

Asa-gao

{04 Nov ‘22} {p. 15}

Chiku-rin

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

Fuyu-gaki

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Fuyu-syogun

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

Hotaru-bi

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Ina-ho

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

distinctive colour and shading

Kiri-same

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

(light grey) shades well in this nib

Kon-peki

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

serene blue shows well in this nib

Kosumosu

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

soft colour that is still easy to read and

well-behaved

Ku-jaku

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Momiji

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Murasaki-shikibu

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Shin-kai

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Shin-ryoku

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

rich saturation

Sui-gyoku

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

typically of Iroshizuku, another stellar

performer; very well-behaved

Syo-ro

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

typically of IROSHIZUKU, well suited to this nib’s

ability to display rich colour

Tsuki-yo

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

Tsuyu-kusa

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

Yama-budo

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

free-flowing; well-lubricated; saturated colour

PILOT NAMIKI

Blue

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

flows smoothly; a nice match with this

broad nib

PLATINUM

Cassis Black

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

well-behaved

Pigment Ink Brun Sepia

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

[pigmented] lush tones evoke wonderful years

past and presen

ROBERT OSTER

African Gold

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

striking colour, beautiful shading

Australian Opal Mauve

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

performs in this pen

Australian Opal Pink

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

very light-toned ink performs in this pen

Australis Oak

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

as ever, the skill invested in ROBERT OSTER inks

is manifest in the chromatic wonder of this ink

Australis Tea

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

well-behaved

Blood Moon

{10 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

very nice flow

Caffe Crema

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

Cities of America Oklahoma City

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Direct Sun

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Dragon’s Night

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

very dark ink still shades in this nib

Fire Engine Red

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

had the stellar performance of this ink

been known, two bottles would’ve been

been ordered

Green Green

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

intense green hue

Grey Seas **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(blue-leaning grey) well behaved;

beautiful shading

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

superb hue and performance

Lemon Grass

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Midnight Sapphire **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(grey-leaning blue) well behaved;

lovely shading similar to PELIKAN 4001

Blue-Black

Muddy Bucket

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

shades very well

Muddy Sand

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

sensational, and well-matched for this nib

Purple Rock **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(grey purple) much more saturated |

darker; less grey than usual; less

shading than usual

Rubine

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

beautiful and practical, continuing this tradition

of ROBERT OSTER inks

Soda Pop Blue

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

saturated, well lubricated, intensely coloured;

Soda Pop Blue makes a strong impression

Tangerine

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

a citrus hue with visual | chromatic Vitamin C
for the close of the year

Terracotta

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

an ideal ink for this pen

Tokyo Blue Denim

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Vanness Blue River

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

bright-toned and cheerful

Velvet Crush

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

an ideal match with this nib

Vine Leaf

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}
ROHRER & KLINGNER

Alt-Bordeaux

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

like the wine, colour is rich, deep,

soothing

Alt-Goldgrün

{24 Jul ‘22} {p. 02}

flows in gentle lines without skipping

or other unwelcome issues

Blu mare

{29 Sep ‘22} {p. 12}

Deep Pine forest

{24 Sep ‘22} {p. 11}

dokumentus light blue

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

(H20 resist) remarkably smooth, steady flow

Fernambuk (Pernambuco)

{08 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

Helianthus

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

even as light-toned an ink as this shows well

in this nib

Kastanienbraun

{13 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

dark, calm, bold-but-not-obtrusive colour

Königsblau

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

ROHRER & KLINGNER inks have been outstanding

performers in this nib

Leipziger Schwarz

{17 Sep ‘22} {p. 10}

very dark ink provides intense contrast in this nib

Morinda

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

as rich a red as one might wish; smooth; well-behaved

[Iron Gall] Salix

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

delightful and problem-free in this nib

[Iron Gall] Scabiosa

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

soft-looking, very well-behaved; suitable for daily use

Sepia

{22 Oct ‘22} {p. 14}

Solferino

{19 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

lovely eglantine violet colour; effortless ink flow

Smaragdgrün

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

pleasant shading, attractive colour, and smooth flow;

Smaragdgrün is delightful

Verdigris

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

exceptional; exceptionally easy to write with

Verdura

{30 Jul ‘22} {p. 05}

vibrant colour displayed to best advantage

in this nib

SAILOR

[Pigmented] Nano Kiwa-guro

{28 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

(“shiny” black, H20 resist) dark tone

Manyo Ink Kakitsubata

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

love, love, love! Kakitsubata ink inspires

passion due to its superb performance

Manyo Ink Kuzu

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Manyo Ink Nadeshiko **

{25 Jul ‘22} {p. 03}

(light blue) colour similar to but more

saturated than the flowers the Cape

Jasmine (Plumbago) and the Cornflower;

(similar to PILOT Iroshizuku Ajisai)

Manyo Ink Ume

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

Nagasawa Kobe Ink Maiko-West Pearl Blue

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale ink shades well in this nib

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

renders a certain antiquarian charm,

recalling writing’s long heritage

[Pigmented] Seiboku Blue-Black

{12 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

(blue black, H20 resist) just about as good

as it gets; top performance in all respects

Shikiori Ink Potsu-Potsu

{06 Jan ‘23} {p. 18}

superlative ink eases both writing and sketching

Shikiori Ink Yonaga

{10 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

dark ink’s subtle tones show well in the nib

Yurameku Ink Itezora

{03 Sep ‘22} {p. 08}

pale ink that shades well in the nib

Yurameku Ink Kyokkou

{20 Aug ‘22} {p. 06}

light tone performs well in the nib
SCRIBE

Indigo ^^^

{25 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

good shading; sheen present (amount is

paper dependent)

SUPER5

Delhi | Orange ^^

{13 Sep ‘22} {p. 09}

TACCIA SUNAO-IRO

Jeans Ink Clear Navy

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

the ink for producing shapely, crisp strokes

from this nib; dry; effortless performance

TACCIA THE JEANS COLLECTION

Classic Blue Jeans

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

shading accentuates the soft, pale tone

of traditional blue

Light Washed Jeans

{22 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

pale inks such as this display well in this nib,

as the wide nib face lays down ample colour

TACCIA UKIYO-E

Hiroshige-Asahanada

{14 Jan ‘23} {p. 19}

soft, pale-hued ink

Hiroshige-Ruri

{27 Jul ‘22} {p. 04}

the ink for producing shapely, crisp strokes

from this nib; dry; effortless performance

3•OYSTERS

Aqua Green

{03 Dec ‘22} {p. 17}

well-balanced; another 3•OYSTERS ink

exceptionally well-suited for this nib

Blue

{24 Nov ‘22} {p. 16}

Bukhansan

{29 Oct ‘22} {p. 15}

Chilli Red

{15 Oct ‘22} {p. 13}

performs well in this nib

Mustard

{18 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

the well-crafted inks by 3•OYSTERS

all work well in this nib

Seal Brown

{23 Dec ‘22} {p. 18}

discovering the lovely 3•OYSTERS inks is
another pleasant consequence of testing ink

performance in the Italic Edge 100

WALDMANN

Blue

{21 Aug ‘22} {p. 07}

good shading

WATERMAN

Serenity Blue **

{19 Jul ‘22} {p. 01}

very wet

——————

Tested by:

* @como (on Feinpost or Brause Calligraphy)

** @Carrau (on Rhodia or Staples TruRed)

^ @Fritz Schimpf(Sebastian Stolz) (on Feinpost)
^^ @amberleadavis

^^^ @bunnspecial (on Feinpost, Rhodia, or Tomoe River)

*** @masterguns (on Tomoe River, or cheap graph)

# @fireant

all others @Tom Kellie (on Feinpost)

March 18, 2023

Thank you @Tom Kellie

March 18, 2023

Wow that Colorverse has some nice shading!

May 6, 2023

~ The why and the how of life's mysteries often baffle.

Testing a newly arrived bottle of Graf von Faber-Castell ink, it became

apparent that another ink from their line had been tested but never posted in FPN.

An investigation turned up a set of inks tested with Montblanc x Fritz Schimpf Italic Edge

on 29 December, 2022 yet somehow inadvertently never uploaded to this thread.

Although these dozen inks were tested over four months ago, the colors remain vibrant.

With apologies for this inexplicable delay,

Tom K.

May 6, 2023

May 6, 2023

May 6, 2023

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Montblanc x Fritz Schimpf 149 Italic Edge

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