The History Of Fountain Pens Part One-The Evolution Of The Pen-From Stone To Feather

The first primitive type of paper were clay tabletspaper that we are familiar with today.
that were engraved with the help of a straw, theThe first writing instrument with a point similar to a
forerunner of the pen, cut diagonally in such a waynib, made from a papyrus stem, was created during
to leave a mark on the soft, wet surface of the claythe antique Greek civilization. This pen with a nib was
that in a second phase would then be dried so thatconstructed by first drying a papyrus stem and then
the lines previously engraved would becomecutting it on one side in such a way that the point (a
imprinted.flute's mouth) results split in two from one opening
Overlooking this interesting part of our past, the trueso that the pen obtained had a better result in
history of the pen begins with the invention of therespect to that of the reed used by the Egyptians,
paper made from papyrus thanks to the skilledeven though it's correct use required much practice
Egyptian people. This introduction generated awith the instrument.
significant change which was dictated from theWith the introduction of parchment paper, the goose
intrinsic characteristics of the papyrus paper thatfeather pen surpassed that of the reed (straw) given
demanded ink in order to leave legible marks, andit's strength and flexibility. From the 16th century, this
lines. The Egyptian scribes learned to fabricate redkind of writing instrument was commonly used
and black ink by mixing soot and oxidized iron withthanks also to the introduction of paper. The feather
water and glue. In order to write with this tenacious,that became individualized as the most suitable for
yet elementary ink, the scribe would submerge thewriting was the most external one of the right wing
point of a reed that by capillary action was able toof the bird, that is then naturally turned to embrace
absorb a small quantity of ink, enough to allowthe hand of who holds it. The process of making the
several characters to be written. This action wasgoose feather pen that was introduced by the Dutch
then repeated numerous times until the scribewas composed of two phases: during the first phase,
completed his work: a task that followed writingthe feather was buried for a short time under a layer
through history until the end of the 19th century.of fine and very warm sand in order to dry it's inner
The evolution of the pen was a direct result of theand external membrane; and then, it was immersed in
development of the accessories of writing: froma boiling solution of alum or nitric acid to strengthen
utilizing papyrus to parchment, and finally to thethe feather for future use.