Inktend / Ink library / French Writers - Honoré de Balzac
French Writers - Honoré de Balzac
Founded in France in 1670, one of the oldest ink makers still operating. Its 1670 anniversary line is known for pronounced gold sheen.
Paper & pairing
Blues and navies are the most broadly "safe" fountain pen colors: legible, professional, and unlikely to raise eyebrows in an office. This ink will behave predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Cheap, highly absorbent paper (standard copier paper) will dull any ink's saturation and can cause feathering or bleed-through with wetter nibs.
About J. Herbin
Founded in Paris in 1670, J. Herbin is the oldest ink maker still in business. Its 1670 anniversary line, launched to mark 350 years, is known for pronounced gold sheen.
Storing and using the bottle
Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight: most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.
Frequently asked questions
Similar shades By colour distance
Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.