Jacques Herbin La Perle des Encres Writing Ink 30ml - Rouille d'Ancre (Anchor Rust)

There is something quietly compelling about an ink named after the rust left on a ship's anchor - the slow, unhurried oxidation of iron after long days at sea. Rouille d'Ancre takes its inspiration from the journeys of Jacques Herbin himself, and specifically from the colour that forms on anchor chains when a vessel has been moored in one place for a long time. It is a name with patience and history built into it, and the ink itself carries that spirit well. On paper, Rouille d'Ancre reads as a muted, warm rust-pink. It offers low shading and an average flow, with a dry time of approximately 20 seconds on standard fountain pen paper using a medium nib. This is not a bold or saturated ink - it is understated, refined, and well suited to those who find strong primary colours too obvious for everyday correspondence or journalling. A House With Credentials J. Herbin was established in 1670, making it the oldest name in formal ink production in the world. The house supplied ink to some of the most significant figures in French history, among them Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Victor Hugo. The La Perle des Encres range - "The Jewel of Inks" - was created by Jacques Herbin in his shop on the Rue des Fosses Saint-Germain in Paris in 1700, and the names given to each colour have always been drawn from French culture, history, and imagination. That lineage is not merely decorative. It represents over three centuries of consistent craft in ink-making, carried forward into a formula that remains genuinely thoughtful. The Formula Rouille d'Ancre is made in France, formulated with all-natural dyes, and is both non-toxic and pH neutral. It is water-based, smooth-flowing, and lightfast. The pH neutral formulation matters in practical terms: it is gentle on pen components and will not corrode nibs or feed channels with regular use. Easy to flush and clean, it is well-behaved in both daily writers and more considered pens you would rather not risk. It is suitable for fountain pens, rollerballs, glass pens, and dip pens. The Bottle The 30ml glass bottle has a distinctive square form with a grooved top that doubles as a pen rest — a practical detail that anyone who has balanced a pen precariously on an ink bottle lid will appreciate immediately. These are known as "D" bottles, a reference to the old French unit of measure, la Demi Courtine. The bottle opening measures 2.3cm in diameter, which allows easy filling with most standard converters and syringes. The label design is understated and elegant - period in feel without being theatrical about it. Who This Ink Is For Rouille d'Ancre suits writers who want something outside the ordinary range of blues and blacks without straying into novelty. It works particularly well for annotation, personal correspondence, and journalling, where its warm, earthy tone adds character without demanding attention. It pairs naturally with cream or ivory papers, where its muted warmth comes forward most clearly. For those building a considered ink collection, this is one of those colours that does not duplicate anything else on the shelf. Specifications Volume: 30ml Colour: Muted rust-pink Shading: Low Flow: Average Dry time: Approximately 20 seconds (medium nib, coated paper) Water resistance: Low Pen compatibility: Fountain pen, rollerball, glass pen, dip pen Formula: Water-based, natural dyes, non-toxic, pH neutral Bottle: Square glass with integrated pen rest, 2.3cm opening