Jacques Herbin

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"Writing with pen and ink is much more than writing; it ís giving body and color to our thoughts." – Jacques Herbin

Jacques Herbin was a 17th century French adventurer who, following multiple journeys to India, returned to Paris with formulas for manufacturing sealing wax and inks. He consequently established the House of Jacques Herbin in 1670, specializing in sealing wax and fine stationery.

In 1798, Jacques Herbin, the 4th generation family scion, launched the company’s eponymous line of writing inks. It was a time of tumult, discovery and industrialization as the French Revolution was ending and Napoleon Bonaparte was beginning his ascent. This was also the time when steel nib dip pens began to replace quills for writing.

Jacques Herbin continued to develop new inks in the 19th century. The company began production of India Ink (also known as Chinese Ink) in 1829. Their violet ink was the everyday color used by students during the Third Republic (1870-1940) and Jacques Herbin even developed a special black ink just for Victor Hugo, one of the world’s great French authors.

The Jacques Herbin company was handed down from father to son throughout the 20th century. Under the Clairefontaine Rhodia umbrella since January 2021, Jacques Herbin is still synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship and time-honored traditions as it continues to be celebrated for the exceptional quality of its inks, sealing waxes and writing instruments. Made in France and finished by hand in Paris, Jacques Herbin inks and waxes provide a luxurious writing experience that has been favored by prominent figures throughout history, from Louis XIV to Coco Chanel.