Description

Jacques Herbin’s Genuine Ink Black (Encre Authentique) is an excellent choice for calligraphy. Here is a breakdown of its characteristics and how it performs:

Ideal Calligraphy Tools:
It is perfectly suited for traditional dip pens, glass pens, calames, and brushes.

Archival Properties:
This formula is a traditional “notary’s ink” crafted with natural tannins from Campêche wood (logwood). This composition gives the ink exceptional permanence, and its pigmented nature means the lines will actually deepen and darken over time.

Fountain Pen Caution:
While Jacques Herbin officially lists this ink as compatible with fountain pens and rollerballs, highly pigmented archival inks carry a well-known risk of clogging feeds if allowed to dry. If you decide to run this through a daily writer like a Lamy, Pelikan, or TWSBI, it will require rigorous and frequent flushing to maintain a healthy ink flow. For pure calligraphy work with a standard dip nib, it provides a highly durable and traditional finish.

A Traditional Ink with Centuries of French Heritage

Jacques Herbin Authentic Ink belongs to a long tradition of specialist French writing inks developed for important documents and formal correspondence. Often referred to as notary’s ink or lawyer’s ink, this formulation reflects the historical requirement for written records to remain legible and durable for generations.

Its distinctive formulation incorporates Campeche wood, also known as logwood, a natural source of tannins traditionally used in the production of durable inks and dyes. These tannins contribute to the ink’s remarkable permanence and give the writing a characteristic ability to deepen in tone over time. This ageing quality is part of what makes Authentic Ink particularly interesting to calligraphers and writers who appreciate traditional materials and historic writing techniques.

The ink has a water-based formulation and becomes waterproof once dry. It is intended for application with dip pens, glass pens and suitable calligraphy nibs, allowing the writer to control the flow and character of the mark through the choice of nib. Its traditional nature makes it better suited to these open-nib writing instruments than to modern fountain pens or rollerball pens.

The Jacques Herbin Heritage

Jacques Herbin is one of France’s historic names in writing materials. The brand traces its origins to Paris in 1670, when Jacques Herbin established a business associated with wax products used by travellers and sailors. Over the centuries, the company developed its expertise in writing inks and became particularly associated with finely made French inks for writing, drawing and calligraphy.

This long history is reflected in the brand’s approach to traditional ink making, combining established formulations and specialist knowledge with the needs of contemporary artists, calligraphers and writers. Jacques Herbin inks remain closely associated with French writing culture and are appreciated for their distinctive colours, specialised formulations and connection to historic writing practices.

Authentic Ink is a particularly appropriate choice for anyone interested in traditional calligraphy, archival-style writing or the history of ink making. Rather than being simply a black writing ink, it offers a connection to the materials and techniques used for important written records in earlier generations.

The 30ml bottle is presented in a resealable cardboard case, providing practical storage between uses while preserving the traditional presentation of the product. Made in France, Jacques Herbin Authentic Ink brings together centuries of French writing heritage and a specialist formulation created for permanence.