March 25, 2021

Ink Flight #50 Reveal, March 2021

Originating in Paris when King Louis XIV was 32 years old, the Maison HERBIN is one of the oldest names in the stationery world. In 1798, the Maison launched its writing ink under the name Jacques Herbin."Les Essentielles" collection represents a renewal of Herbin's commitment to "give body and color to our thoughts.”

Although we've sampled J. Herbin inks twice before in early Ink Flights #4 and #20, we've never sampled "Jacques Herbin" inks before. Technically, they are the same brand with the same history. However, since we're calling dear ol' Jacques by his full name, it must be much fancier, right? Well, at a U.S. retail price of $32 for a 50ml bottle, it better be some really nice ink! Let's find out.

Here is a rundown of March 2021's Ink Flight colors.

Jacques Herbin Orange Soleil
This bright, glowing saffron color has a vitality that will illuminate the page with its radiance.

Jacques Herbin Gris de Houle
This deep and dense grey evokes the surging waves of a storm at sea.

Jacques Herbin Rouge d'Orient
This passionate, intense red color is a symbol of power in Antiquity.

Jacques Herbin Vert Amazone
This intense, luminous green is inspired by the wild shores of the Amazon in South America.

Jacques Herbin Bleu Austral
This enchanting, deep blue evokes the turquoise waters of the South Seas.

Jacques Herbin Violet Boréal
Dip your nib in the violet glows of the aurora borealis with this dark purple ink.

Jacques Herbin Bleu de Minuit
This deep, celestial blue captures the awe of a starry night sky.

Tasting Notes:
In contrast to J. Herbin's standard lineup of ink, which we covered previously (with colors like Poussiere de Lune, Eclat de Saphir, etc.), the Essentials lineup all have a bright, saturated coloring that stand out on the page. Yet, they aren't so super-saturated like the shimmery Anniversary Inks.

One favorite that I wasn't expecting was Violet Boreal. It has a cool blue undertone which almost looks like a dual-shading ink. But, it definitely leans more purple as it dries. I think the fan favorite has to be Bleu Austral with it's greenish-blue hue and deep saturation.

However, for top-dollar inks, I can't say that I'm noticing the premium here. This Jacques Herbin collection has one of the highest costs per ml, yet they aren't that much different from less-expensive brands we've sampled in the recent past. These are nice inks, don't get me wrong. I'm looking forward to using every last drop of them in the next few months to get my money's worth.

Box Extras: Kobeha Graphilo A5 Size, Lined Notebook

Fans of Japanese stationery will enjoy the East-meets-West connection with this month's notebook selection. Showcase the sheen and shading of the Jacques Herbin Essentielles inks with the Kobeha Graphilo A5 Lined notebook. A minimalist cardstock cover contains 32 sheets of paper built for fountain pen use.

The 68gsm paper is ruled with 8mm spacing between lines. Use all types of inks and nib sizes on this paper without worry. It resists bleed through and feathering. Lay the book flat thanks to the subtle thread binding.

Since the journaling theme this month was "luck," each Ink Flight Box also received a lucky ink sticker that poured out a rainbow of color.

Let's chat about this Flight

We invite you to join hundreds of kindred spirits in the Ink Flight Lounge Facebook Group to talk about this month's Flight Box. Likes? Dislikes? Favorite pairings? We'd love to read what you thought about the contents of this box. If you don't have/do Facebook, please feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Previous Ink Flights (Ink Flight #1 - Noodler's, Ink Flight #2 - Robert Oster Signature, Ink Flight #3 - KWZ, Ink Flight #4 - J. Herbin, Ink Flight #5 - P.W. Akkerman, Ink Flight #6 - Papier Plume, Ink Flight #7 - Platinum Mix-Free, Ink Flight #8 - Franklin-Christoph, Ink Flight #9 - Organics Studio, Ink Flight #10 - Monteverde, Ink Flight #11 - Krishna, Ink Flight #12 - Caran d'Ache, Ink Flight #13 - Rohrer & Klingner, Ink Flight #14 - Blackstone, Ink Flight #15 - Colorverse, Ink Flight #16 - De Atramentis, Ink Flight #17 - Aurora & Montegrappa, Ink Flight #18 - Krishna, KWZ, Papier Plume, Ink Flight #19 - Diamine, Ink Flight #20 - J. Herbin, Ink Flight #21 - Robert Oster Signature 80's Collection, Ink Flight #22 - 3 Oysters, Ink Flight #23 - InkJournal Holiday Blend, Ink Flight #24 - Taccia, Ink Flight #25 - Kyoto TAG, Ink Flight #26 - Kaweco, Ink Flight #27 - April Fool's Surprise, Ink Flight #28 - Pelikan, Ink Flight #29 - Sailor, Ink Flight #30 - Straits Pen Honest Inks, Ink Flight #31 - Colorverse, Season 5, Ink Flight #32 - Inks by Vinta, Ink Flight #33 - Troublemaker, Ink Flight #34 - Monteverde Sweet Life, Ink Flight #35 - Taccia Inks Pt. 2, Ink Flight #36 - Sailor Manyo, Ink Flight #37 - P.W. Akkerman, Ink Flight #38 - Waterman, Ink Flight #39 - April Fool's Suprise II, Ink Flight #40 - Lamy, Ink Flight #41 - KWZ, Pt.2, Ink Flight #42 - Robert Oster, Pt. 3, Ink Flight #43 - Pure Pens, Ink Flight #44 - Kiwi Inks, Ink Flight #45 - Sailor Manyo, Pt. 2, Ink Flight #46 - Colorverse Ink Project, Ink Flight #47 - Van Dieman's Ink, Ink Flight #48 - L'Artisan Pastellier Callifolio, Ink Flight #49 - Pennonia )