| The name "pen" is derived from the Latin word | | | | consisted of a few hairs added at the end of |
| "penna", which means feather. This is a | | | | a rod. Little by little the feather pen and |
| writing instrument that, manually through | | | | its variants inspired the invention of the |
| capillary action applies ink to a surface, | | | | modern fountain pens, since people had to |
| usually paper. Pens can be used with inks of | | | | find a system that would no longer rely on |
| many colors but commonly make use of inks in | | | | repetitive dipping of the feather pen in ink. |
| shades varying between black, blue, red, and | | | | The hardness level of the nibs we use today |
| sometimes green. There are many different | | | | is definitely one hundred times higher than |
| kinds of pens, some of which are listed here | | | | that of the initial feather pen. |
| i.e. Reed pens, Quills, Metal nibs, Fountain | | | | |
| pens, Ballpoints, Felt tips, Roller balls and | | | | Though tradition has made us believe that the |
| the Porous Point. All the pens of the world | | | | feather pen preserved the real feather as |
| are made around these different. Pens are | | | | such, history proves otherwise; apparently |
| also classified depending on the type of tip | | | | all the hairs were removed and the feather |
| that accompanies the pen, there is the | | | | structure was cut at a comfortable size for |
| ballpoint pen, the rollerball pen, the | | | | the hand. Writing was definitely slower that |
| fountain pen, the felt-tip pen and also the | | | | we know it today, not just because of the |
| gel pen. | | | | many feather pen dippings in ink, but also |
| | | | because of the quality of the materials on |
| The first feather pen was used as a writing | | | | which people were writing. The capillary |
| instrument around the year 500 BC; dried and | | | | structure of natural feathers was the one to |
| well cleaned, feathers were great in | | | | have actually inspired the inventors of the |
| combination with ink made of herbal extracts. | | | | first fountain pen. |
| Swan, goose or turkey feathers were the only | | | | |
| ones reliable for writing since their thicker | | | | Presently, there are plenty of feather pen |
| capillary system sucked more ink. The feather | | | | models, but they are distant imitations of |
| pen was made by sharpening the tip of the | | | | the authentic items that where used in |
| feather and splitting it in half so that the | | | | parchment writing. Thus, you can find |
| ink could spread evenly on the writing | | | | feather-shaped fountain pens and ballpoints |
| material. During the last millennium BC, the | | | | that school-age children usually enjoy. They |
| Egyptians had invented an alternative to the | | | | are pretty cheap and often show special |
| feather pen by using sharp sticks to apply | | | | distinctive features such as multicolor |
| soot to the papyrus. | | | | writing, and sparkling or even invisible ink |
| | | | use. Considered great gifts for the Christmas |
| Instead of a feather pen, the ancient Chinese | | | | holidays or special family celebrations, a |
| used brushes made of camel and mouse fur that | | | | modern feather pen preserves only the |
| were passed through clay. In case the | | | | simulated image of the real writing tool that |
| material that had to be written on was silk, | | | | was so widely used not more than two |
| very fine brushes were used, and they simply | | | | centuries ago. |