Herbin Ink Deals: Compare Sale Prices & Find the Best Discount UK

Some brands have a long history. Herbin has a very long one. The house of Jacques Herbin was founded in Paris in 1670, which makes it older than most of the countries its inks are now sold in. It’s often described as the world’s oldest maker of writing inks and sealing wax, and it has the stories to match.

Jacques Herbin was a sailor who made several voyages to India, reportedly with the French East India Company. On his travels he gathered the ideas and ingredients for a new kind of sealing wax, including a shellac-based formula that helped his seals stick better and look smarter. Back in Paris he set up his business in 1670, and his sealing wax is said to have been chosen by Louis XIV for official documents at court. In 1798 the company began making its own writing ink, and the house moved to a shop in Paris’s 1st arrondissement. Over the centuries, Herbin inks are said to have been used by famous French writers, and the company even made a special black ink for Victor Hugo. Today the brand is part of the Exaclair family, with a UK business that supplies British shops.

Herbin’s range covers far more than fountain pen ink. Its writing inks are some of the best-loved fountain pen inks around, known for their soft, beautifull colours and for being kind to pens. There are scented inks too, along with ink gift sets that make lovely presents. For artists, the most interesting ranges are the fine arts and calligraphy inks, made for writing and illustration, and the creative inks, including drawing inks and fluorescent inks. Éclats are Herbin’s watercolour inks, which are very popular with illustrators and watercolour painters who want rich, fluid colour. Herbin also makes tradtional writing instruments, such as feather, reed and glass pens, as well as fountain, rollerball and gel pens, brush lettering supplies, inkwells and blotters. And of course there’s sealing wax, the product that started it all, from wax sticks and seal sets to personalised initial seals and a wax gun. For collectors, the Prestige collection includes the 1670 and 1798 anniversary inks, named after the years the company began making sealing wax and ink.

In sixteen years in the art supplies industry, including nearly a decade running digital marketing at ARTdiscount, I’ve seen inks and calligraphy grow from a small niche into a really popular hobby, helped along by brush lettering, journaling and urban sketching. In our community of 30,000 UK artists at Discount Art Supplies, Herbin comes up often, especially with fountain pen sketchers, calligraphers and anyone who loves a beautiful bottle of ink on their desk. Its sealing wax sets are a popular gift too, especially around Christmas and for weddings.

Getting the best deal on Herbin comes down to a few things. First, compare prices before you buy. Herbin inks and sealing wax are sold by several UK retailers, and prices on the same bottle or set can vary, so check our comparison above, which is updated in real time. Second, check the bottle size. Larger bottles usually work out much cheaper per millilitre if you use a lot of ink. Third, choose the right ink for the job. Fountain pen inks are designed to flow safely through fountain pens, while drawing, calligraphy and some creative inks are made for dip pens and brushes and shouldn’t go in a fountain pen. And finally, watch for sales. Herbin gift sets and sealing wax are often discounted around Fountain Pen Day in early November, Black Friday and the run-up to Christmas.

A few questions come up regularly. Is Herbin the oldest ink company? Herbin is often described as the world’s oldest maker of writing inks and sealing wax. It was founded in Paris in 1670 and began making writing ink in 1798. What’s the difference between J. Herbin and Jacques Herbin? They’re the same brand. J. Herbin is the name many people know it by, and Jacques Herbin is the full name of its founder and of the brand today. Can I use Herbin drawing or calligraphy ink in a fountain pen? Only inks made for fountain pens should go in a fountain pen. Drawing, calligraphy and some creative inks are designed for dip pens and brushes, and can clog a fountain pen. Always check the label. What are Herbin Éclats inks? Éclats are Herbin’s watercolour inks, popular with illustrators and watercolour artists for their rich, fluid colour. Who makes Herbin? Herbin is part of the Exaclair family, with a UK business that supplies British retailers.

Herbin brings more than 350 years of Parisian tradition to your desk, your sketchbook and your letters. Looking for a Herbin sale, discount or discount code? Check the price comparisons above, updated in real time, and you’ll always know you’re getting the best current UK price.