Existing comment:
Dickens's Inkpot
Inkstand and pen
Before 1870
Traces of Dickens's characteristic dark blue ink stain the interior of this inkstand, which he used near the end of his life in 1870. The Keuffel & Esser pen, designed with a long and relatively dull steel nib, was intended for use by draughtsmen who needed to draw or write rapidly without scratching or catching in the grain of the paper. For Dickens, who was often working on multiple creative and philanthropic projects simultaneously (in addition to maintaining his voluminous correspondence) and was regularly under the pressure of monthly deadlines, fine ink and a quality pen were imperative. |