From Red to Red

In writing to a friend recently I chose to use a custom mixed ink from Osamu Ishimaru at Sailor, an ink first called ‘Dried Persimmon’ but later changed (by me) to 'Blood Orange.’ (The second name seemed more fitting.) Some days later, in a reply to my letter, my friend commented that the Blood Orange ink looked very much like the new Rouge Hematite 1670 ink from J Herbin. I am usually sensitive to ink colors, and quick to note similarities in different inks. I have a bottle of the Herbin 1670, have used it frequently, but still had not noticed its closeness to the older Sailor ink I call Blood Orange. Suppose it was a case of not using the two inks back to back, or maybe I just wasn’t paying attention. But I did notice the likeness of the two colors immediately upon reading my friend’s comment.

I can’t remember exactly when it was that Mr Ishimaru mixed the Blood Orange for me, but I think it was sometime in 2008 at a pen fair in Tokyo’s Maruzen Department Store. I have old journals with a good many pages in the Blood Orange ink, but it hasn’t been in my ink rotation in recent months.

A comparison might be of interest to some, so that’s what you see here. Apart from Q-tips and brushes, the two fountain pens used in the photo sample are: Sailor Naginata with a medium nib for the Herbin 1670 (left), and Lamy 2000 medium nib for the Sailor ink (right). The paper used is Vélin Blanc Clairefontaine Triomphe, 90g. The Sailor is slightly darker than the Herbin, perhaps with a dollop more black. The Herbin has a pleasing brightness that the Sailor Blood Orange lacks, but at the same time, the shading is better in the Blood Orange. Saturation appears to be in favor of the Rouge Hematite. The two inks have a similar drying time; I tested each after a ten second wait. Neither of the inks is waterproof, but if I had to write in the rain I would opt for the Blood Orange. Under water, the Herbin loses all character, all that distinguishes it from ordinary red ink, while the Sailor turns purple, though manages to hold the letter shapes.

For those who might be interested in buying the Sailor ink, you will need to give Sailor and Mr Ishimaru the following blend number: 070112059. Most likely in Mr Ishimaru’s records, the color is identified as ‘hoshi-gaki’ (Dried Persimmon).

Murder? Just Ink

If you were around this blog on May 24, then you saw some glowing remarks on the ‘Anniversaire 1670’ J Herbin ink, Rouge Hematite. Those opinions still stand, no retractions. I have continued to enjoy the ink daily, and will need to refill my Sailor Naginata soon.

But not that soon. If you’ve noticed the picture above, you will guess that I have not a drop remaining in the bottle of Rouge Hematite I bought a few days earlier. Early this morning, barely out of bed I heard something, the beginning of a sound coming from the living room. The short one-second part was a paper sound, the movement of pages, paper, notebook, followed the next second by the heartbreak of glass shattering on ceramic tile. Had I been in a different place I might have thought earthquake, but not in Florida. It turned out to be a bunch of papers and file folders losing their grip on the bookshelf, slipping and jarring a bottle of Herbin Rouge Hematite, sending it four feet down to hard, hard floor.

After a one-hour clean up of all that earthy red mess, I clicked over to writersbloc.com with a replacement bottle in mind. Not surprisingly, they are out of stock for now. I will patiently wait for a new batch, and hope that they might be the ‘new’ bottles. Read a note in Quo Vadis blog that Herbin had a fix in mind for the sub-standard bottle opening and chintzy aluminum cap on their ‘Anniversaire 1670’ ink.

Mail today brought something from writersbloc.com. Right off, a thanks to Julie B (Whatever) for the recommendation. The stationery is ichiban, number one. Pen and ink both squeak their pleasure in meeting such paper. My pens at least, like the Clairefontaine Triomphe much, much more than Crane stationery. Five pens, five different inks, all like butter on glass with the Triomphe.

Not sure if the writing in the bottom photograph is legible, not sure if it’s even important, but the paper is Clairefontaine, the ink Herbin Rouge Hematite and Sailor O-cha Green.