ESSRI (Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink) — Ink Review #191
Essri (Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink)
Ink Review # 191
Originally posted on FPN: Jun 26, 2025
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🧾 Description
Ink: Essri (Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink)
Available: only in 110 ml bottles, from Essri website. Shipping is included in the price.
Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Ahab with a FPR ultra-flex nib.
One of the classics of iron gall inks.
Its lineage goes back to Stephens in 1834. In 1976, when the former ceased production, one of the former associates launched ESSRI (Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink), carrying on that iron gall ink tradition
ESSRI comes in 110 ml plastic bottles, which should ideally be decanted into smaller glass bottles, as plastic is porous and allows air exchange over time. Like all iron gall inks, it has an expiry date. A Dutch scientific website dedicated to the history and preservation of iron gall inks https://www.irongallink.org/how-to-make-ink-trouble-shooting-chart.html suggests that gently blowing into the bottle before sealing it may prolong the ink’s life: the expelled carbon dioxide, being heavier than oxygen, can create a protective barrier over the surface. When I mentioned this trick in some of my earliest IG reviews, a few readers mocked the idea. But a few years later, I revisited my inks and found that a quarter-full 20 ml bottle had precipitated, while a full bottle from the same batch remained perfectly stable.
Ink oxidizes immediately from medium/ dark blue to blue black. If one uses wet flex nibs, it oxidizes to black almost immediately.
This is still one of the best Iron gall inks I’ve ever used.
Bottom line: If you’re condemned to use cheap paper, no ink beats Essri in comfort, behavior, and ease of use.
Note: as with all Iron gall inks, one should ideally use a diluted ascorbic acid solution, patience, and lots of flushing to clean the pen. Never use conventional cleaning solutions for iron gall inks.
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🧪 Chroma
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✍️ Writing Samples (scan)
JEF stands for Japanese EF nib.
Rhodia /Iroful
Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm
Hammermill 20lb
📸 Photo
Rhodia /Iroful
Midori /Tomoe River 68 gsm /Hammermill 20lb
🔍 Comparison
I redid the Essri swatches to compare with the original swatch done three years ago.
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💧 Water Test
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🎨 Artwork
Mountain Dew
Essri - Talens Mixed media Sketchbook.
Oxidation
Invoking Tishtar
Cat and mouse enact a traditional Tirgan custom: the symbolic throwing of water to encourage rainfall. Rooted in ancient Persian mythology, this midsummer practice was associated with Tishtar—the celestial figure linked to Sirius and water—who battles drought to bring rain. The festival occurs shortly after the summer solstice and reflects seasonal concerns with heat, fertility, and renewal.
Essri, Diamine Sepia, J. Herbin Bleu Calanque
While researching the solstice in different cultures, I came upon an ancient pre-Islamic Persian tradition. It honored the midsummer battle of Tishtar—the deity of water—against the demon of drought, to summon rain. While this festivity happens a week or so after the summer solstice, it seems fitting to celebrate one of the four elements.
Essri Iron gall ink, J Herbin Bouton d'or/ Bleu calanque, Noodler's Apache Sunset
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- What I Liked: Ease of use, behavior on cheap paper.
- What I Did Not Like: Expiry date.
- What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink.
- Writing Experience: Exceptional.
- Pros: Waterproof, excellent for cheap paper.
Cons: It comes only in 110 ml plastic bottles and needs to be decanted into smaller glass bottles. As of this date, orders outside the UK require the purchase of two bottles. Expiry date. Cleaning.
🧷 Ink Characteristics
- Shading: Lovely
- Ghosting: Minor ghosting with a wet flex nib.
- Bleed Through: None.
- Flow Rate: Wet
- Lubrication: Surprisingly good.
- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
- Start-up: Excellent.
- Saturation: Dark charcoal
- Sheen: A bit on Iroful
- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.
- Staining (Pen): Didn’t keep long enough in a pen.
- Clogging: No.
- Cleaning: Like most iron gall inks, one needs pure ascorbic acid for cleaning.
- Water Resistance: Excellent.
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💬 Closing
Among all the iron gall inks I’ve reviewed, Essri is still among the best, especially for those condemned to use cheap paper. Its downsides, as noted above, are a huge volume plastic bottle and expiry date. Nothing is eternal. 😊
No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. 😉
Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier. 😊
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