One (minor) problem with using India ink is that even with the finest pen
tips, I have found it difficult to write small enough letters.

Ink sold in stores is usually sold as drawing ink, etc. I have never seen
ink labeled as "India ink". So, how does one know that one is buying real
"India ink" as opposed to some mixture that looks black, but is something
else. India ink used to be made from lamp soot, which is basically very fine
carbon particles.

Aydin

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Howard L. Clark or Kate Clark [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, 05 February, 2002 9:52 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Alcohol insoluble printing ink
>
>
> Nothing is better than 100% rag paper and India ink on a
> handwritten label.  This has been used for centuries and is not
> affected by solvents.  Yes, keeping the India ink drawing pens
> clean is a hassle, but less than the problems of the label ink
> dissolving and the collection becoming scientifically useless.  If
> you deplore your handwriting, print the label and write over it
> manually with India ink.
>
> Howard Clark
>