Inktend / Ink library / Lie de Thé
J. Herbin
Lie de Thé
Founded in France in 1670, one of the oldest ink makers still operating — its 1670 anniversary line is known for pronounced gold sheen.
Specs
About J. Herbin
Founded in Paris in 1670, J. Herbin is the oldest ink maker still in business — its 1670 anniversary line, launched to mark 350 years, is known for pronounced gold sheen.
Paper & pairing notes
Browns tend to photograph and scan a little darker than they look in person — worth testing before using one for anything that will be digitized. This ink will behave predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Cheap, highly absorbent paper (standard copier paper) will dull any ink's saturation and can cause feathering or bleed-through with wetter nibs.
Storing and using the bottle
Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight — most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.
Frequently asked questions
Similar shades
Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.