Summer 2012 - John Neal, Bookseller

lack sumi INK
If you have been using Higgins Eternal and want something
blacker, try one of these sumi inks. The Squarish
Green Bottle Sumi is the easiest to write with and the
closest to Higgins Eternal.
Bokuju Sumi. A shiny, dense black ink. A
very popular ink. Will eat your nibs. “Green
Bottle Sumi.” Fairly slow- drying.
I22-2. 2oz. $4.50 I22-12. 12 oz. $12.80
Squarish Green Bottle
Sumi. A dense black waterproof sumi ink.
More free flowing than Bokuju or Yasutomo
Sumi, but not quite as densely black.
Similar to, but blacker than,
Higgins Eternal. I39-2. 2oz. $5.95
I39-6. 6oz. $9.50 I39-12. 12oz. $18.25
Ink Sticks
Yasutomo Sumi. Matte black. Comes
in a tall rectangular black bottle.
KY Series. I24-6. 6oz. $8.95
I24-2. 2oz. $5.60
143.
I43. Best Bottle Sumi. This popular, new (to
Western calligraphers) Japanese sumi
ink is good both for beginners and for
professional work. Smooth, rich black.
Hard to find. 6.75 oz, 200 ml bottle.
$15.85
I70. Moon Palace Sumi. While the
packaging is a bit different, this is the
170.
highly sought after and highly recommended
Japanese Sumi Ink. For both
broad-edge and pointed pen work.
Works in Parallel Pens. Dries waterproof.
6.0oz, 180ml. $12.95 15.0oz, 450ml. $19.95
60oz (1.8L). $75.00
IS19. Shakyo-Ken Ink Stone. Unlike
most ink stones, this one has a flat
surface for grinding and a deep
well to collect the ink. Ideal for
dipping nibs. 2½"x5¾"x 5 ⁄8"
(65x124x14mm).
Made in Japan of
stone with a very
dense grain. $24.95
Ink sticks shown at 50% of actual size.
IS03.
Kenbimukan
IS04.
Gansui
IS05. IS06.
Mujokokuhin Skakyozumi
IS07.
Ranjyatai
IS08.
Eiraku
IS09.
Chingen
IS10.
Akanegumo
IS11.
Seiryutai
IS12.
Soshobanko
IS28.
Fudenotomo
IS29.
Chinese
Japanese Ink Sticks. These are high quality ink
sticks from Japan’s most respected ink stick maker.
All come in an individual wooden box. Ewan Clayton,
a master scribe from England, tested their full range
and chose these ink sticks for calligraphy. His description
and comments are given for each stick.
Student Quality
IS03. Kenbimukan Ink Stick 30104. Brownish
Black. Student Grade. Gives sharp and crisp strokes.
The least expensive stick suitable for Western calligraphy.
Made from mineral oil. $20.00
Professional Quality Ink Sticks
IS04. Gansui Ink Stick 30208. Bluish Black. Made
from different size soot particles which give the blue
black color. Flows well from the pen, basically matte
(with the merest hint of sheen). Works well when
dark or diluted. $30.00
IS05. Mujokokuhin Ink Stick . Reddish brown black.
Slight sheen, very smooth flow. Good for small scale
writing. Slightly denser than Gansui. Made from
vegetable oils. $50.00
IS06. Skakyozumi Ink Stick 30207. Densest black
of these ink sticks (hinted slightly toward red brown).
Glossy when thick. Made from vegetable oils. $30.00
IS07. Ranjyatai Ink Stick 30211. Bluish Black. Made
primarily for painting but also good for calligraphy.
Works well thick (dense black). When watered down,
it moves out into wet paper in a very subtle way. $40.00
IS08. Eiraku Ink Stick 30201. Reddish Brown Black.
Dense black. Smallest size of all the ink sticks. Top
quality ink stick, but for Ewan, Mojokokuhin is a better
value. $40.00
The black Japanese Ink Sticks below are recommended
by Reggie Ezell.
IS28. Fudenotomo Ink Stick 30101. Mike Kecseg
uses this inexpensive ink stick for his pointed pen
work. (It’s not recommended for broad-edged calligraphy.)
$10.00
IS09. Chingen Ink Stick 30105. Black. $35.00
IS10. Akanegumo Ink Stick 30210. Reddish Brown
Black. $35.00
IS11. Seiryutai Ink Stick 30213. Black. $29.00
IS12. Soshobanko Ink Stick 30205. Bluish Black.
$25.00
See next page for 15 colors of Japanese Ink Sticks.
IS29. Chinese Ink Stick. A very black ink stick from
China. Great for Western calligraphy. 1" x 4-3/4" x 3/8"
(3.7x11.7x1cm). $19.95
S150. Boku Undo
Marbling Set. Six tubes
of color suitable for
suminagashi marbling.
Instructions included.
Six 12ml (.42oz) bottles of color. $15.99
44 ❧ e m a i l: info@johnnealbooks.com v www.j o h n n e a l b o o k s.com