Jacques Herbin Gris de Houle - Ink Sample
2ml sample of Jacques Herbin Gris de Houle grey fountain pen ink, in a labeled plastic vial.
Established in Paris in 1670, the Maison HERBIN initially specialized in the sealing wax, fine stationery and ink trade, and imported shellac from India. Since this founding their aim has been to "Give body and color to our thoughts." The adventure of one of the oldest ink makers in the world began over three hundred years ago but its products have expanded into a complete universe of inks, writing instruments, stationery, and other goods for amateurs and connoisseurs of the lettering arts.
- Condition
- New
- Brand
- Jacques Herbin
- Type
- Ink Samples
- Color
- Silver/Grey
- Fast Drying
- No
- Fluorescent
- No
- Shimmer
Whether or not the ink contains glittery particles.
- No
- Freeze Resistant
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to better withstand freezing temperatures.
- No
- Volume
- 2ml
- Iron Gall
Ink made from iron salts and tannic acids. Though quite permanent and waterproof, these inks are typically known for causing chemical corrosion to metal pen parts (especially the nib) and should be used sparingly or with less-valuable pens.
- No
- Lubricated
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to increase flow in your pen.
- No
- Pigmented
Whether or not the ink contains finely-ground solid particles in liquid suspension.
- No
- Scented
- No
- Water Resistant
Whether or not the ink, once dried on the paper, will resist being washed away with water.
- No
Customer Reviews
I love gray. And I mean GRAY. Not watery blacks, grayish purples, or blue-blacks passing for gray. And I want my grays to be gray enough for my extra fine nibs. I know it is challenging to find such unusual color. To be able to say “it is gray” when the line produced by such nib is truly thin, well, that is not an easy color to find. So, when I received my “Gris de Houle”, I was pleasantly surprised. A bit smoky with a touch of blue, yet still gray. And I’m not going to hide that I love it 😉
I bought a sample and used it to sketch in an EF nib, so the color is light and versatile, it has a nice flow and dries quickly. I will be buying the bottle since I absolutely love sketching with it!
This seems to be the Goldilocks grey of the grey inks I have tried; not so light it's difficult to see, not so dark it's mistaken for black (after it gets going). It has a nice smooth, wet flow (Lamy 1.1 stub nib); others have praised it's dry time and water resistance, and deservedly so�this ink seems like it will hold up well in many applications.
Grey inks are my favorites, and I very much like J. Herbin inks. This is a pretty grey that has arrived just in time for May Gray, June Gloom. Very happy with the ink sample and will be purchasing a larger size.
Writes smoothly. But my favorite thing about this ink is the color.
FAQ about Ink Samples
How do I fill my fountain pen from an ink sample vial?
It depends on the fountain pen's filling mechanism.
Check out our blog post on How to Fill a Fountain Pen from an Ink Sample Vial.
How much writing can I do with 2ml of ink?
It really depends on how big or small you write, and the nib size you’re using. We find that usually you can get 2 good fills for a typical converter with our Ink samples, or one good fill with a piston-filling pen. How much writing depends on you more than anything else, so we recommend experimenting with different nib sizes to find what works best for you.
What is shading, sheening, or shimmering ink?
Shading - A common (and often desired) result of a fountain pen ink pooling in certain parts of a letter when writing, so that the color and saturation of the ink appears different within a single letter or word. This characteristic cannot be achieved with ballpoint or rollerball pens and is a very appealing aspect of fountain pen use for those particularly drawn to all the pretty ink colors.
Sheen - Characteristic of a fountain pen ink where when ink pools another color can be seen on top of the ink, especially when looked at in different light angles using certain paper types. There is no way to guarantee an ink will sheen, but using a larger nib on a pen will help obtain sheening results in your writing.
Shimmering - Fountain pen ink that has small particles of glitter mixed in.
Is shimmering ink safe to use in fountain pens?
Yes! Shimmering ink is a great way to add some flare to your writing. We have found that a larger nib will showcase more shimmering particles while writing, but you can use any nib size and shimmering ink. All the ink we sell is safe for use in fountain pens.
You can learn more in our blog: How to Write with Shimmering Ink.
What's your return policy for ink samples?
We do not accept returns for ink that has been used. Otherwise, we accept returns on unused ink products for up to 30 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.
To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.