Stipula "Blue"

[Melnicki]

I actually can't comment much on the identity of this ink, but I assume it's "deep blue" AKA "Blu della Robbia". It came from a sample from Deirdre. It's dry, it's blue-grey (which I honestly think is nice, and rare...) I wish Nathan would make a permanent blue-grey the way he made a series of green-greys with Lex Grey/El Lawrence/Pushkin. I guess I can just do it myself. I like this ink, except for its dry-ness. It doesn't dry on the nib, though, doesn't skip. Problem-free, I'd say.

 

It is also green when it first dries, but turns purplish about 30-60 sec after first putting it down. It's amazing to watch. I've never seen an ink do anything like that.

 

Anyway, beware: there is some discrepancy of this ink, as noted in this thread by Wim and in this thread by Girlieg33k. I think there are a few other threads that show differences. Didn't someone send a sample to another person and try to sort it out?

 

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mmelnicki/SMSKx-j_oCI/AAAAAAAAAbI/ldh68_CpayY/s800/080907%20stip%20blue.jpg

From Fountain Pen Ink

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/mmelnicki/SMSKyNvZNHI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/VOCJASzx_Jk/s800/080907%20stipula%20blue.jpg

From Fountain Pen Ink

 

Many thanks to Deirdre for the sample!!

Edited September 8, 2008 by Melnicki

[Jersey Diabolo]

Just received a bottle of Stipula Calamo Deep Blue from Swisher. I was going to ask about it, then I saw your review. The ink in my bottle looks NOTHING like the Wim and Girlieg33k reviews – it looks like your photos, only less saturated. I was stunned.

 

I compared it to the sample ink blot on the side of the box and on the bottle’s label. I shook the bottle well, used different pens, different paper. First time I’ve run into such a stark variation in dye lots. I guess my luck ran out. My batch, to my eye, is a sickly, faded gray with the slightest hint of blue. Ugh !

 

“Deep Blue”

 

I’m reminded of a Saturday Night Live Coffee Talk bit: “...Talk amongst yourselves, I’ll give you a topic: Rhode Island is neither a ‘Road’ nor an ‘Island’ – discuss."

Edited September 8, 2008 by Jersey Diabolo