The gall solution forming the basis of iron gall ink comes from tannic and gallic acids contained in gallnuts.
This special ink is composed of a solution of tannic and gallic acids. Both acids come from gallnuts.
Widely used to write on parchment and vellum papers, acidic iron gall inks were commmon during the 17th-19th centuries. Acidic iron gall inks may produce a lace or stencil effect by actually eating into the paper until the sketch or words are eaten away. These inks were frequently used in fountain pens in the 1860s and 1870s. Back to text
An acidic, indelible ink popular from the middle ages to the mid 20th century when it was replaced by carbon ink. Made of tannin, iron sulfate, gum arabic and water, and with age turns brown.
a brownish ink made from various formulations which included ferrous sulphate and the galls from oak leaves
Iron gall ink (sometimes iron gall nut ink) is a purple-black ink made from iron salts and tannin from vegetable sources. It was the standard writing and drawing ink in Europe, from about the 12th century to the 19th century, and remained in use well into the 20th century.