Ink Links

-- Road Test :: XTS Titanium Pen + Stylus (EDC) (Carryology)

-- Accidental Early Review of the Nock Co. Brasstown (The Daily Carry)

-- My "Without Hesitation" Five Pens (Pen Envy)

-- Ultramarine Sheaffer Intensity Fountain Pen (Inkdependence!)

-- New Pilot B2P Pens (My Supply Room)

-- TWSBI Vac 700 (That One Pen)

-- Review: Midori Pocket & Envelope Notebooks (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- Notebooks (Put This On)

-- The Lamy Studio (Ionsomnia)

-- Review: Rhodia Dot Pad Notepad (Gourmet Pens)

-- 2013 The Pen Year in Review (Anderson Pens)

-- Diamine Registrar’s Ink – Review (Ed Jelley)

-- Simply Red: A Review of the Franklin-Christoph M27 SE (A fool with a pen)

-- Review of Tombow Mono 100 (Pencil Revolution)

-- Lamy Pur Fountain Pen – Aluminum Smooth – EF Nib (No Pen Intended)

-- My Analog Writing Tools (Collin Donnell)

-- Diamine Eau de Nil ink review (Pens! Paper! Pencils!)

-- Camlin No:47 Piston Filler Fountain Pen (Write to Me Often)

-- Fresh Start (From the Pen Cup)

-- Kaweco ART Sport Fountain Pen - Alabaster Finish (The Clicky Post)

-- Tale of a Vandal Notebook User: Going Indie, Part 3 #Chronodex (Peaceable Writer)

-- 2013 Editors' Choice Awards - Best Office Supplies (OfficeSupplyGeek)

-- Write Notepads & Co. Large Notebook Review (THE UNROYAL WARRANT)

-- Ink P0rn: Beautiful ink bottles (these beautiful pens)

-- Notes and Books (inessential)

-- 2013 - It's A Wrap (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- This Just In: TWSBI Classic (Fountain Pen Quest)

-- Review – Pilot Kakuno (My Pen Needs Ink)

-- Pen Review: Namiki (Pilot) Falcon Acrylic (The Pen Habit)

-- The three major iron gall-based inks on the market (The Five Cat PENagerie)

Ink Samples With The Maruman Mnemosyne Word Book

One thing I have always wanted is a visual sampling of my fountain pen inks. I have tried random sheets of paper and various notebooks but none have ever stuck. I wanted a good, thick paper and the ability to move the samples around and compare them side-by-side. Enter the Maruman Mnemosyne Word Book.

The Word Book is basically Maruman's take on flash cards. Used by students for memorization, these ringed study cards can serve many purposes. Personally, they remind me of a paint sample book and are the perfect setup for fountain pen ink samples.

The cards are approximately 4"x2", giving me plenty of room for a large ink swab (using a basic Q-Tip dipped in the ink bottle) while leaving room for a written description at the bottom of the card. The cards are thick enough to where the large amount of ink doesn't buckle the card or bleed through. You could even use the back side for another ink sample, but I will probably use that side for ink notes.

The paper is off-white and does have some tooth to it, similar to watercolor paper. For deadly accurate color representation I will admit it is not perfect. Since the paper is so porous it soaks up much of the ink and dulls out some of the colors. It works for what I am trying to accomplish but a smoother, perfectly white paper would be a better choice.

Having the ring and pre-drilled holes is an awesome option. I can arrange the cards however I want, plus add and remove as needed. My only mistake was putting the ink sample near the top of the card. It would have worked much better if I put the ink at the bottom to where I could see them better when fanned out.

Overall, I am happy with this setup. It allows for a quick comparison of inks and is easily accessible. I have swabbed all of my ink bottles so far, and will be moving onto my sample vials in phase two. The Word Book is a great deal for under $4.00 at JetPens.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Happy New Year!

2013 was the biggest and best year in Pen Addict history and it wasn't even close. Readership has grown by leaps and bounds, the podcast moved to the 5by5 Network, and I started a pen case company. Looking back all I can say is WOW!

The readers of this blog hold a special place in my heart. You are all amazing and keep me going! And seeing the pen blogging community grow like it has in the past year makes me a happy camper.

2014 is going to be great!