Quill Pen
Before metal pens became common in the 1800s, quill pens were the go-to writing instrument of choice. Used for fine writing on manuscripts and important documents like Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence, quill pens provided an efficient means of note taking.
Quills were harvested from large birds such as geese, swans and turkeys before being transformed into nibs for writing purposes.
Ink
People used quill pens with dry ink in the past to write with. From 500 AD through the 1800 AD, these quill pens were widely used, being utilized from geese, swans and turkey feathers for construction. Quills weren’t too durable though; often needing frequent dips into an inkwell in order to remain functional.
Quill pens remain an effective writing instrument, though they require more effort than ballpoint or fountain pens. Quills work particularly well when writing on parchment and vellum paper which were both originally developed as writing surfaces; additionally they work great when combined with traditional inks like iron gall ink.
For iron gall ink, combine black tea bags and nail vinegar in a pot. When finished, stir in some sugar for added resiliency. Technical draftsmen and illustrators continue to utilize quill pens to create precise lines with fine line weights.
Shaft
Before the invention of quill pens, people had difficulty writing. They relied on styluses on clay tablets that needed to be baked before use; waxed paper that melted when exposed to heat and broke easily; and reed pens with ink that ran out too quickly.
Quill pens proved particularly effective on parchment and vellum writing surfaces made of animal skin, providing finer details than what could be accomplished using reed pens.
Scribes had to meticulously prepare every feather for use as pens, by soaking it in water to dissolve its internal membrane, cutting its end and shaping into a nib. Goose and swan feathers from primary flight birds (right-handed writers used left wings) were most suitable;
Each tip was meticulously formed into a nib using a pen knife – a small blade with both a flat edge and curved edge – then hardened for strength.
Nib
The nib used to hold and apply ink can take many forms. From fine pointed tips used for calligraphy and broad linework to chisel edges that broaden out linework or round points that write notes. Some nibs also feature capillary action channels to transport ink down its length while some also contain shoulders that help prevent the slit cutting all the way through its body.
Quill pens were widely used writing instruments during this era and were ideal for parchment and vellum writing surfaces, which were the predominant forms. Quills were utilized in creating important documents like Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence – even Thomas Jefferson kept himself supplied with quills at Monticello by breeding geese especially.
Metal pens have become more prevalent among professional scribes and calligraphers as an alternative to quill pens for holding points for much longer, sharpening easily with pen knives, can be shaped for different purposes and come in an assortment of nib sizes to accommodate any writing style or handwriting style.
Writing
Quill pens were popular writing tools before metal-tipped fountain pens and ball point pens became widely used. Composed from long feathers of large birds (typically geese, swans and turkeys) hardened and formed into nibs for writing purposes, quill pens were especially helpful for creating and signing important documents like Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence – Thomas Jefferson even kept geese at Monticello specifically to supply himself with writing quills!
To properly use a quill for writing, it is best to first remove the greasy film that covers its surface and trim it to create a point with an indented end that allows ink to flow via capillary action when immersed into an inkwell. When ready, hold the quill between your thumb and index finger at a slight angle and position its tip so it touches paper naturally as you write.
