J Herbin
Top Selling J Herbin Fountain Pen Ink
About the J Herbin Brand
Meet J. Herbin—the ink rabbit hole that’s been seducing writers since 1670 (and yes, it’s often cited as the oldest fountain pen ink brand in the world). From everyday “can’t miss” staples like Perle Noire, Bleu des Profondeurs, and Lie de Thé to collector favorites like the 1670 and 1798 series, you can shop bottles, samples, and cartridges in a ton of colors—plus Pen Chalet is an authorized dealer and offers free U.S. shipping on $75+ on fountain pen inks.
J. Herbin fountain pen ink was founded in 1670 and is the oldest fountain pen ink brand in the world. The J. Herbin company first produced "l’Encre de la Tete Noire", followed by "Perle des Encres," (The Jewel of Inks) and "l’Encre des Vaisseaux" (The Ink of Ships). The J. Herbin company amd founder Jacques Herbin made ink for the King of France, Louis XIV, and a black ink exclusively of Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables.
The J Herbin company remains mainly a family-owned business and offers a wide selection of fine writing supplies, including fountain pen ink, scented inks, calligraphy inks and sealing waxes.
J. Herbin Ink FAQs
What is J. Herbin ink?
J. Herbin is a historic French ink maker best known for fountain pen inks, plus related writing supplies like cartridges, samples, and sealing wax.
Is J. Herbin really the oldest fountain pen ink brand?
J. Herbin is widely described as the oldest fountain pen ink brand in the world, with origins dating back to 1670.
Where is J. Herbin ink made?
J. Herbin is a French brand (Country of origin: France).
What ink formats are available (bottles, samples, cartridges)?
Common options include bottled ink (like 10ml and 30ml), small samples (like 4ml), and ink cartridges—availability varies by color and collection.
What are the J. Herbin “1670” inks?
The 1670 inks are a premium, collector-style series inspired by the brand’s 1670 heritage, known for rich colors and special effects (often including shimmer/sheen depending on the ink).
What are the J. Herbin “1798” inks?
The 1798 inks are another premium series associated with the brand’s historical milestones and often feature dramatic, high-saturation colors with special effects (frequently silver shimmer in many colors).
Are J. Herbin inks fountain-pen safe?
Yes—these are made for fountain pens. If you choose shimmer-heavy inks (like many 1670/1798 colors), use a pen that’s easy to clean and flush it regularly.
Does J. Herbin make scented inks?
Yes—J. Herbin is known for offering scented inks among its writing supplies (availability varies by current stock and selection).
What are some popular everyday J. Herbin ink colors?
Popular picks include Perle Noire (black), Bleu des Profondeurs (deep blue), Lie de Thé (warm brown), and Rouge Grenat (deep red).
How do I choose between cartridges and bottled ink?
Cartridges are fast and mess-free. Bottled ink offers the biggest color range and lets you refill with a converter or built-in filling system.
How do I use shimmer inks like 1670/1798 without clogging my pen?
Gently roll the bottle to re-suspend particles, use a wet writer or broader nib on fountain-pen-friendly paper, and clean the pen more often—especially if it sits unused.
Do you offer samples so I can test colors first?
Yes—sample sizes are a great way to try new shades and effects before buying a full bottle (sample availability depends on the collection).
Pen Chalet is an Authorized Dealer of J Herbin pens and inks.
Country: France
Customer Reviews
I love writing with this dip pen. I would recommend it to anyone if they are looking for a blown glass dip pen.
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Impressive color that stays vivid even when dry. It writes smooth. Takes a bit longer to dry than others but nothing of concern. I'll be getting more.
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Love this ink. The color is wonderful and it flows well in my Kaweco student with a fine nib. Love the little metal tin these come in.
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this is such a brillant yellow, it would be hard to see if you just wrote with it. I bought it to mix with other inks. just to throught it off a bit. I have tried it with Lamy Red and it works great.
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Utterly beautiful. Value is utility/price. I love it.
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Another great Herbin ink. The color is intense and does not disappoint at all. A vibrant red that truly stands out from other red inks.
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It is such a lovely color. I wasn't prepared to be enamored with it at all. There is something appealing to how it looks. Works well in my Sailor Pro Gear M. This is definitely a sleeper ink.
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Great ink - writes wet and great shimmer.
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These are stunning inks. I have the blue (kyanite) and it is perhaps my favorite blue ever. I'd have it in half of my pens if only they could handle glitter, but some pens just clog too quickly with any glitter at all. It has shading, sheen, and shimmer, so that in my stub nibs it shows amazing character. So eye catching. I strongly suspect I'll be getting the purple and orange, too, even though they are a bit expensive. Fortunately Pen Chalet has them at a good price, so this is the place to buy these jewels.
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I haven't used it, but if I decide to move some other ink into this ink bottle, it should work great. Nice looking bottle.
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So glad I tried this adorable little bottle. Great value and great ink. The J Herbin Lie de The turned out to be my favorite brown ink. Behaves well generally, is not too light or too dark, not too warm or too cool, and even has some water resistance (some of it washes away but enough stays to know what was there).
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So very glad I tried this ink sample (Stormy Grey)! It is absolutely gorgeous! I'm a sucker for a beautiful grey ink anyway but the very fine gold shimmer in this one just rings every bell. It's classy and understated, which are two words I never thought would apply to a shimmer ink. I will be buying a bottle of this one for sure.
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Have been struggling trying to add the right shades of orange into my ink collection but am so pleased with this shade as it leans to the coral spectrum and easily does well in writing correspondence notes/envelopes (which was my need). I am also pleased with the performance of the ink itself since I use it primarily for dip calligraphy pens and found it superior in that it doesn't wick or feather out (which tends to be a problem on the envelopes today). Quality ink & GREAT color! Thank you!
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Love these dip pens. They are a bit pricey but one gets what they pay for. The nib is silky smooth so is easy to use on many different paper types from rough to smooth and silky. J Herbin glass pens are well worth the extra few dollars one pays for them, and the colors are just lovely. The only thing this pen can't exactly do well is dip into the Ferris Wheel Press's charger bottles. The nib is just a little fat to get into the opening, but that is a very minor issue. And one small caution, the tip, being glass can get chipped if one is not careful, but that is the same for any glass dip pen. With very fine sandpaper the chips can often be smoothed out (I chipped the tip off one of my dip pens and used some very fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the tip. It isn't perfect but is still quite functional)
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Love this ink! Such a nice color for my everyday journal. Not harsh on the eyes on bright paper.
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Beautiful bright purple with a fine shimmer. Paired this with a broad nib, and am enjoying it a lot.
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I am liking this J.Herbin ink, offering some different colors in a reliable medium.
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Another of my favorite greens with simmer. Flows well with my Broads, stubs and italic nibs. No bleeding or feathering so far on my Crane or Yamamoto papers.
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Beautiful ink with nice shimmer. It dried fast on my bullet journal paper with no smearing. Also flows nicely on my Clairefontaine paper as well. It has a nice sheen and I used my TWSBI 1.1 Italic Stub. It is a combination of a dark forest green and emerald green. So far one of my favorite greens so far. Will order a bottle.
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This item is completely new to me. I had never heard of glass pens until I saw this one advertised on the Pen Chalet Web site. I find that it is very easy to write with and is especially handy for experimenting with different colors of inks, for example, the small 5 ml sample bottle of Colorverse inks, because it is so easy to clean. I love this pen and try to use it every day, if only to play around with the few colors of ink I have collected so far.
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Love the 1670 series! Beautiful ink!
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J. Herbin inks have worked well in all my fountain pens for many years. The sample of Rose Cyclamen is vivid and colorful.
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Whether you’re adding to your collection or purchasing your first writing instrument, J Herbin offers options that appeal to writers.
At Pen Chalet, we offer a curated selection of J Herbin Inks and Pens. Our collection includes options for most writers. You’ll also find compatible ink, refills, and accessories to complete your writing experience.
Explore our full range of Inks and Pens writing instruments and discover why they remain a popular choice among pen enthusiasts.
Complete your writing experience with high-quality fountain pen ink, premium notebooks, and pen accessories designed to pair perfectly with your J Herbin Inks and Pens.
