Ink Flight Reveal #53, June 2021
In the history of the Ink Flight program, we've traveled to countries far and wide in search of fountain pen ink to sample. This month, we drew upon the
figurative well in our backyard and featured Private Reserve. Before the Big Bang (or should I say "big splat") of fountain pen inks that resulted in thousands of colors brewed around the world, there were only a few makers that offered over 8 ink colors in their lineup. In the early 2010's, it was Noodler's Ink and Private Reserve.
Private Reserve originated in Zionsville, Indiana, founded by Terry W. Johnson and Susan Schube. At the time, their vision was simple - offer writing inks in a rainbow variety of colors instead of the same old blue, black, red, and green. In January 2018, Darla Aniline purchased the company and ran it as a one-woman show until her passing in late 2020.
In early 2021, Yafa brands rebooted the American ink company, retaining all the original colors and refreshing the packaging.
Here's a rundown of June 2021's Ink Flight Colors:
Private Reserve Daphne Blue
This light, refreshing blue ink can be enjoyed poolside on a hot summer day. Daphne Blue is lightly saturated, yet bold enough to stand out on the page.
Private Reserve Vampire Red
More like the color of dried blood, this reddish-brown color has nice shading.
Private Reserve Blue Suede
This velvety, saturated greenish-blue shades well with a hint of sheen. This ink hits the sweet spot of a unique teal color that is satisfying to look at.
Private Reserve Purple Mojo
Get into a writing groove with this vibrant, deep purple ink. It's so bold, it's totally psychedelic.
Private Reserve American Blue
This rich, bold blue color flows nicely with a hint of purple sheen. Keep in mind the dry time will be a little longer here.
Private Reserve Ebony Purple
So dark, it could be considered black ink, this saturated purple has a rich sheen.
Private Reserve Avocado
This fresh green ink has yellow and blue undertones to give it a pleasant look on paper. Love me some ripe 'cado.
Tasting Notes: With dozens of ink colors to choose from (including fast dry and permanent inks), it was difficult to narrow down the choice of 7 inks to include for this introduction into the brand. The selection reflected the bold, saturated colors that Private Reserve is known for. They're all fun to right with and show up brilliantly on the page. Blue Suede seems to scratch the itch for me. Vampire Red isn't quite what I would imagine for a color of that name. I'm an immediate fan of all things avocado. And, American Blue is quite an appropriate ink given the time of year.
Box Extras: Nebula Casual Note - Dotted + Midori Habit Tracker Journal Stickers
This "Casual" spiral-bound notebook may look like an ordinary item you might find at an office supply store. Yet, it has just the right amount of embellishments suited for the fountain pen enthusiast. Iridescent, twinkling stars accentuate the flexible color cover. The 90gsm white paper is considered "ink proof," resisting feathering or bleed-through. It'll hold up to wet flex, stub or other bold nibs without a complaint.
The Nebula Casual Note's dotted grid format is flexible for use as a journal, planner, idea scratchpad, and more. To share your ideas (or throw out the first drafts), each page is perforated for easy, clean removal.
Accompanying this month's notebook are Habit Tracker stickers to help build daily habits. Whether you're looking to read 20 minutes, go for a daily walk, or journal every day, these stickers are a fun way to positively reinforce desirable habits.
Attach the Habit Tracker like a bookmark in your journal. Title the top with the habit you're looking to track. Carefully peel off the sticker and apply it to a journal page or calendar layout. Then, highlight or color each day that you complete the activity.
This month's exclusive sticker is brought to you in collaboration with freelance artist and YouTuber Talart. It's a reimagining of the InkJournal Inktopus as an edgy, anime-style character. Go check out her work and watch some of her illustration videos if you please.
This month, instead of the intimate Zoom call, the Ink Flight reveal was live on Instagram and TikTok. Several hundred people came to watch and participate in both streams. It was fun to get feedback and discuss the contents with folks online through the comments.
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, Ink Flight #50 - Jacques Herbin Essentials, Ink Flight #51 - April Fool's Surprise III, Ink Flight #52 - Colorverse, Season 7)