15. CHAPTER XV.
OFFICIAL AND LEGAL INK.
FIRST COMPLETE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION OF INK IN THIS COUNTRY—THE
HONOR DUE TO ROBERT T. SWAN OF BOSTON—RÉSUMÉ OF HIS
REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS—THE SWAN LAW
ADOPTED IN 1894 BY THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS—UNITED STATES TREASURY
DEPARTMENT ADOPTS AN OFFICIAL INK IN 1901—UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO
SECURE INK LEGISLATION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK—COMMENTS OF THE PUBLIC
PRESS OF THAT PERIOD—DIFFERENT WORKS WHICH MORE OR LESS DWELL ON THE
SUBJECT OF INK FROM 1890 TO 1900—CITATIONS FROM ALLEN'S COMMERCIAL
ORGANIC ANALYSIS—REFERENCE TO PAPER ABOUT INK READ BEFORE THE NEW YORK
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION.
IT was not, however, until 1891 that the subject of
the constitution of an enduring record ink received
the consideration its importance deserved and in this
the youngest of countries. To Robert T. Swan of
Boston is all honor due for the very unique and
comprehensive methods adopted in his investigations.
Appointed "commissioner of public records" of the
state of Massachusetts, he has set an example which
may well be followed by other states, as has been
done in a lesser degree by Connecticut and ten years
later by the United States Treasury Department,
which in this respect is so ably represented in part
by Dr. Charles A. Crampton of Washington, D. C.
Mr. Swan in his reports to the legislature of his
state for the last twelve years, deals with the subject
of the constitution of "permanent inks" so thoroughly,
and with it affords information of so practical
and useful a character, that the fullest references to
them prove both instructive and interesting. In his
report of 1891 he remarks:
"Upon commencing an examination of the records in various
places, I was impressed with the great importance of the use of inks
which should be permanent, and the necessity of an investigation which
might prevent the further use of inks that for one reason or another
were unfit for use upon records. I found that, as a rule, the inks upon
the most ancient records had preserved their color, many undoubtedly
being blacker than when used, but that the later records lost the
jet-black appearance of the older. This, it is true, is not wholly due
to the change of inks, for the use of quills, the soft surface of the
old paper, the absence of blotting paper and the greater time spent in
writing, were all conducive to a heavier deposit of ink; but evidence is
ample that in comparatively recent years inks of poor quality came in
use. Proof of this is given by an examination of the records in the
state house. Up to about 1850 it was the custom in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth to use for engrossing the acts, inks made
of a powder which was mixed in the office; and until that time the acts
which are engrossed upon parchment show, with but few exceptions, no
signs of fading. From 1850 for several years the writing in many cases
is becoming indistinct, that upon an act in 1851, and upon two in 1855,
having nearly disappeared. Since 1860, acts showing different intensity
of color are found, but whether this is their original color or not
cannot be determined.
That the fading can be attributed to the parchment, as some
claim, is disproved by the fact that of the signatures upon the same act
a few have
faded while others have not. Upon an act approved January 4, 1845, the
signature of the President of the Senate has nearly disappeared, that of
the Speaker of the House is more legible, while that of the Governor,
and the figure 4, which he evidently inserted, are jet black.
"The indexes in the volumes of archives in the office of the
secretary, which were written about 1840, were evidently made with a
different ink from that used for engrossing, and faded so badly that the
important words had to be rewritten.
"In the office of the State Treasurer the records to about
1867 are very black and distinct, but the ink used during a few years
following has faded.
"The records of births, marriages and deaths, in the
registration volumes in the secretary's office, furnish an excellent
illustration of the different qualities of the inks now used. These
records are original returns made by the city and town clerks, and from
1842 to 1889 show instances of the use of inks which are now almost
illegible. Here again the fault cannot be attributed to the paper, for
endorsements made in the secretary's office upon the most faded returns
at the time of their receipt are as black as when made.
"The volumes of copies of the old records of Lexington, made in
1853, have faded until they are quite indistinct.
"Some of the old inks, though retaining their black color
have, from the presence of acid in the ink or paper, eaten through the
paper as thoroughly as if the writing had been done with a sharp
instrument. In part of one old volume of court records, the ink, while
not injuring the paper or becoming illegible upon the face of the
leaves, has gradually become legible upon the reverse, while the heavy
paper has been impervious to the other inks used.
* * * * * *
To ascertain what kind of inks were in use by the town clerks,
I examined the registration volumes before referred to, and, as before
stated,
found many poor inks in use. In a few cases blue inks were used, and in
two violet, which is, as a rule, if not always, a fugitive color.
A
number of the returns in these volumes of as recent date as 1875
were almost illegible, and three made in 1888
were nearly as
indistinct.
"The more I looked into the subject, the more I became
convinced that the whole subject of ink was one Upon which the persons
using it were comparatively ignorant. Consultation with experts
satisfied me that good inks were being injured by improper treatment;
that the custom of mixing inks and of adding water to them was unsafe;
and that among the inks reported as in use upon the records there were
many manufactured for commercial Uses which should not be used upon
records, and which the manufacturers would say were not intended for
record inks. I therefore sent to the manufacturers of the inks reported
as in use by the recording officers, and to some others, the following
letter and inquiries:
"The fading of much of the ink used in records of
comparatively recent date, while as a rule the records of two hundred
years ago are as legible as when written, establishes the fact that for
permanent qualities much of the modern ink is inferior to the ancient,
and that inks are used that are unfit for making a record which should
stand for all time.
" `I am led to believe that most ink in manufacturers make
inks which are good for commercial and other uses where there is no
desire for a permanent record, but which they would not recommend for
use where the important object was the permanency of the record. One of
the dangers to which our records are exposed can be obviated by the use
of proper inks; and I desire to obtain the opinion of the leading
manufacturers on the subject, that I may advise the recording officers
of the State what are, and what are not, safe inks to use for
records.
" `I shall esteem it a favor, therefore, if you will answer
the enclosed questions, and return them at your convenience. Your reply
will be treated as
confidential as far as names are concerned, except in the answer to
question No. 5, and that will not be printed if you so request. Any
general opinion which will aid the recording officers in their selection
of ink or paper will be welcomed.
- " `1. Do you consider it safe to use for a permanent record
aniline inks?
- " `2. Do you consider it safe to use for a record logwood
inks?
- " `3. Do your consider nut-gall and iron inks absolutely safe for
a permanent record?
- " `4. Do you consider carbon ink the only permanent ink?
- " `5. What inks of your manufacture would you advise against using
for a permanent record?
- " `6. Do you advise generally against the inks known as writing
fluids, when permanency is the first requisition?
- " `7. Do you manufacture a writing fluid?
- " `8. Do you consider it safe to add water to ink intended for
permanent record, which has grown thick by exposure to the air?
- " `9. Do you believe that the obliteration of ink is ever due to
the chemicals left in the paper? (This question has been asked of the
paper manufacturers also.)
- " `10. Do you consider it safe to mix inks without knowing to what
chemical group the inks so mixed belong?'
"Replies were received from twenty-two manufacturers. Several of
the inks in the market, though bearing the name of certain persons, were
found to be manufactured for them by manufacturers who had already
answered the questions. Their replies were, therefore, not
considered.
"To the first question, `Do you consider it safe to use for a
permanent record aniline inks!' the unanimous answer was decidedly no.
Aniline black is absolutely permanent, but as it is not yet known how to
render it soluble in water, it has not been much used in ink.
"To the inquiry in regard to logwood inks,
nearly all answered no, and most of those who did not qualified their
answers to such an extent as to imply distrust.
"Upon the question of the permanency of nut-gall and iron
inks, the answers were more varied; one answering no, and four answering
directly yes, the remaining answers being in brief that such inks were
permanent if properly made.
"To the question, `Do you consider carbon ink the only
permanent ink?' the answers were varied and contradictory. Most of the
manufacturers said a carbon ink could not be permanent, because carbon
was insoluble; and some said that no chemical union could exist between
carbon and the other ingredients in ink. Others claimed that carbon was
the one permanent color, and cited the old Indian and Chinese inks which
have stood for centuries as illustrations of its permanency. These
statements were so widely different that I pursued the inquiry further,
and found it was conceded that, if a process could be discovered by
which carbon could be dissolved and made to retain its color, no known
substance would make so permanent an ink; but that there was no such
process, and in the inks now made the carbon was simply held in
suspension in the ink without any chemical union; but I found also that
improvement has been made, and that it is possible to combine the carbon
with chemicals which will cause the carbon to embody itself. More than
ordinary care should, however, be exercised in the purchase of carbon
inks, for the lack of chemical union would cause a tendency to
precipitate the carbon if the ink were improperly made.
"The replies to the inquiry, `Do you advise generally against
the inks known as writing fluids, when permanency is the first
requisition?' were in a way the most unsatisfactory, and savored
somewhat of advertising. One manufacturer made no fluid, and had no
opinion to express. Most of the others made fluids. Nine advised
generally against their use; four recommended them in preference
to ink; and the others either advised generally against them, but
recommended their own, or qualified the answer in such a way as to throw
doubt on them.
"The argument in their favor seems to be that their fluidity
makes them permeate the paper, and, in the change of color which usually
takes place after using, a dyeing of the paper results. The objections
are, that to obtain the fluidity body must be sacrificed, and there is
not enough substance deposited upon the paper. The objections made by
two manufacturers of fluids I give in their own words.
" `We advise generally against the inks known simply as
writing fluids—those not intended to yield a letter-press
copy—because they are universally made, first, with as little solid
matter as possible,—i. e. weak; second, with an excess of iron beyond
that required to combine with the tannin, so as to develop all the color
possible and flow with the greatest freedom. The combined writing and
copying fluids, and the copying fluids on the other hand if properly
made, may be justly recommended where permanency is the first
requisition, particularly the older ones, which should be the most
durable of all nut-gall and iron inks, because in them particularly
concentration is aimed at, and the iron need not necessarily, and should
not, be in excess of that required to combine with the tannin present. A
steel pen during use injures, and often greatly, the durability of a
writing ink by giving up iron to it.
" `For your purpose, where extreme permanency is the first
requisition, I should not advise the use of an ordinary writing fluid.
Many manufacturers cannot obtain sufficient fluidity in their writing
fluids without making their inks very dilute, and observing a particular
method of manufacture which, although providing more attained color for
a time, sacrifices the permanent quality of their color in a great
measure. I should advise the use of an ink decidedly stronger.'
"The addition of water was almost universally condemned, for
reasons stated later. As proof that this was not for the mercenary
purpose of indirectly advising the use of more ink, some of the
manufacturers said the ink should be kept in small-mouthed ink-stands,
and when not in use should be as tightly sealed as possible, to prevent
evaporation.
"In reply to the inquiry as to whether chemicals left in the
paper ever obliterated the ink, several of the manufacturers said they
knew of such cases, and all were agreed that, if the chlorides used for
bleaching the paper were not washed out, they would dangerously affect
any ink. The practice of mixing inks was universally condemned.
"Permanency against the action of time is the quality sought
for in this investigation, and it is claimed that better evidence as to
that quality is furnished by the test of time than by any other; and
manufacturers have shown or referred to specimens of writing made with
their ink many years ago, as proof of its merit in this particular. If
there was any surety that the standard of quality was always kept up in
all of the oldest inks on the market, it would be safe to accept that
test, but this may not be a fact; and, as has been stated, some of the
recording officers believe that it is not.
Moreover, if only the old inks were to be accepted, it would
be against the spirit of the age, which is to adopt the improvements
which science makes possible; and manufacturers who at great cost of
time and money have made improvements, would be deprived of the
compensation which they deserve. The old inks were as a rule heavy, and
had a tendency to settle; and the endeavor on the part of some
manufacturers has been to preserve the permanency, and at the same time
produce thinner inks which would be more agreeable to use.
"Improvements have been made in the direction of free-flowing
inks, and these are fast becoming popular; and, while for correspondence
and commercial uses they are undoubtedly sufficiently permanent,
for records many of them are not, and it was with a view of preventing
the use of these upon records that this investigation was made. No
attention has been given to the permanency of the inks, as against their
removal by acids.
"The use of proper ink is considered so important by the
British government that the inks used in the public departments are
obtained by public tender, in accordance with the conditions drawn up by
the controller of H. M. stationery office, with the assistance of the
chief chemist of the inland revenue department, to whom the inks
supplied by the contractor are from time to time submitted for analysis.
Suitable inks for the various uses are thus obtained, and their standard
maintained. The last form of `invitation to tender,' or `proposal,' as
we term it, is appended, as being instructive.
I cannot learn that the United States government uses any such
care as the British government in the matter of ink, although the
question has been a troublesome one in the departments.
"The State department issues no special rules for determining
suitable inks, or requiring that particular inks shall be used.
Proposals are asked for the lowest bids for the articles of stationery
required, the last form of proposal asking for bids upon seven black
inks, one crimson, and one writing fluid, which are named.
"With the market full of inks worthless for records, the only
safety for our records seems to be in the establishment of a system
similar to the English, which shall fix upon proper inks for various
uses, which all recording officers shall be required to use.
"I believe that the recording officers will be glad to have
the question of permanent inks decided for them, and to know whether
inks which were in use many years ago, and have stood the test thus far,
are maintained at their old standard. In the face of sharp competition
among manufacturers, they fear they are not."
Mr. Swan, proceeding still further, secured the services of two
of the most distinguished professors of chemistry in this country,
Messrs. Markoe and Baird, and submitted to them in camera
sixty-seven samples of different inks, known only by numbers, for
chemical analysis; in a long and exhaustive report on the work they had
set out to accomplish, and also with a dissertation on the chemistry of
inks in general, they complete their report as follows:
"As a conclusion, since the great mass of inks on the market
are not suitable for records, because of their lack of body and because
of the quantity of unstable color which they contain, and because the
few whose coloring matters are not objectionable are deficient in galls
and iron, or both, we would strongly recommend that the State set its
own standard for the composition of inks to be used in its offices and
for its records, have the inks manufactured according to specifications
sent out, and receive the manufactured products subject to chemical
assay. In this way only can there be a uniformity in the inks used
for the records throughout the State, and in no other way can a proper
standard be maintained."
Mr. Swan comments on the report of his chemists,
and calls attention to other tests made by himself:
"The conclusions at which I arrived were drawn, as stated,
from manufacturers or recording officers, wholly independently of the
chemists, but they will be found to coincide in many particulars with
theirs. I did consult them in regard to the practicability of
maintaining a State standard for record ink, which they have
approved.
"The commendation by the chemists of some of the so-called
writing fluids explains in a degree the variety of opinions advanced by
the manufacturers in regard to the durability of fluids. Some of
them will be seen to possess the qualities of ink, and the name
fluid is evidently given to meet the commercial demand for
fluids.
"Several persons, manufacturers among them, expressed greater
confidence in tests of exposure of inks to the light and weather than to
chemical analysis. I, therefore, as a dry test, placed on the inside of
a window pane receiving a strong light, writing made under exactly the
same conditions with each of sixty-seven inks, which remained there from
March 13 to December 8. Similar writing was exposed to light and the
weather from September 25 to December 8, and the result of the
resistance of the inks in both tests is an almost exact confirmation of
the report of the chemists, inks of the same class varying in their
resistance according to their specific gravity or amount of added
color.
"It may be safely said, therefore, that of sixty-seven inks
of which I procured samples, all but seventeen are unsuitable for
records, and among these the chemists say but one is fully up to the
established scientific standard of quantity of iron sulphate. The reason
is plain,—the demand for commercial inks is large, for record, small,
and the supply has been to meet the demand."
The British government advertises for tenders each year, the
requirements for black writing ink in 1889 reads:
"To be made of Best Galls, Sulphate of Iron, and Gum. The
Sulphate of Iron not to exceed in quantity one-third of the weight of
the Galls used, and the specific gravity of the matured Ink not to
exceed 1045° (distilled water being 1000°)." That of Black
Copying Ink "To be made of the above materials, but of a strength one
fourth greater than the Writing Ink, and with the addition of Sugar or
Glycerine. The specific gravity of the matured Ink not. to exceed
1085°." And that of Blue-Black Writing Ink "To be made of finest
Galls, Sulphate of Iron, Gum, Indigo, and Sulphuric Acid. The specific
gravity of the Ink when matured not to exceed 1035°."
Mr. Swan again remarks in his report of 1892:
"Many of the inks which should not be used upon records are
free flowing and more agreeable to use than permanent inks, containing
more body. As long as recording and copying is paid for by the page,
and the object is to accomplish the most in the least time, these inks
will be in popular use, and used, and blotted off the paper before they
have much more than colored it, only to disappear eventually. The State
should set a standard for a record ink; and, while our present system of
keeping records and furnishing supplies will not allow that its use be
required on all public records, as in England, it would seem practicable
for the secretary of the Commonwealth to advertise for proposals for
inks of a certain standard, which the manufacturers should be bound to
maintain, and that these should be used in all the State offices. With
a State standard ink adopted, its use by recording officers would soon
follow."
In 1894 Mr. Swan's indefatigable efforts were crowned with
success, the state of Massachusetts adopting his recommendations
included in the following act:
"SECTION 1. No person having the care or custody of any book
of record or registry in any of the departments or offices of the
Commonwealth shall use or allow to be used upon such books any ink
excepting such as is furnished by the secretary of the Commonwealth.
"SECTION 2. The secretary of the Commonwealth shall from time
to time advertise for proposals to furnish the several departments and
offices of the Commonwealth in which books of record or registry are
kept with ink of a standard and upon
conditions to be established by the secretary at such periods and in
such quantities as may be required, and may contract for the same.
"SECTION 3. The ink so furnished shall be examined from time
to time by a chemist to be designated by the secretary of the
Commonwealth, and if at any time said ink shall be found to be inferior
to the established standard the secretary shall have authority to cancel
any contract made for furnishing said ink, and the quantity so found
inferior shall not be paid for."
Professor Markoe, referred to before, was appointed
"chemist" by the Secretary of the Commonwealth
and prepared what he considered the best formula, for
a standard ink, which was competed for by a number
of ink manufacturers after proper advertisement, and
a contract awarded. Mr. Swan says that this departure
was received with favor by recording officers.
No change was made in the formula until after the
death of Professor Markoe in 1900, when Dr. Bennett
F. Davenport of Boston was selected as his successor.
He submitted a modified formula to be employed in
the manufacture of an official or standard ink. It
was adopted and such an ink is without exception now
used by all recording officers of both Massachusetts
and Connecticut.
In 1901 the United States treasury department
adopted a similar ink except that it permitted the
introduction into it of an unnamed blue coloring
material.
Early in 1894 and during the legislative session of
the state of New York, after consultation with General
Palmer, the then secretary of state, I prepared a
bill somewhat on the lines as laid down in the Massachusetts
statute. The press all over the state at once
took up the matter and urged that some such measure
should be enacted into law. A New York City newspaper
discussed it as follows:
"A bill is to be introduced in the legislature this week,
probably to-morrow night, providing for an official ink to be used by
every public officer throughout the State of New York in the writing of
public documents and in making entries in the records.
"The official ink is for the purpose of making public records
permanent and to guard against fraud by the alteration of the records.
As the law stands at the present time in the state every official,
whether municipal, county or state, is allowed to purchase and use for
the records of his office whatever ink he may choose. The consequence is
that there is no uniformity in public records throughout the state, and
entries, transcripts and certificates are written with hundreds of
various kinds of inks.
"The serious part of the business, however, is the evanescent
character of some of the kinds now used, especially of the cheaper
grades. These are the inks made from aniline and other dyes which are
held in solution in water. Such inks are made from a fine, cheap powder,
of which nigrosine is used in making black inks, eosine for red, and
methylene for blue ink, and they cost only a few dimes a gallon to
manufacture. The writing made with such inks quickly dries by the
evaporation of the water, when it merely requires the application of a
little soap and water to wash them out, leaving the paper absolutely
clean, besides being fugitive.
"It is said that as a result of the present lack of system in
this matter there are now public records of the city of New York in
which the ink has entirely faded. These records have been made within
the past forty years, and are now worthless because of the character of
the inks originally used.
"In the Police department of this city a blue ink is often
used which is made from prussian
blue. A large portion of the entries in the books of the Police
department are made with ink of this kind, and the warrants and other
public documents with which the police have to do are similarly
written.
"A little soap and water will wipe out this writing, so that
the record can be easily altered at any time. The use of this ink in the
Police department is said to date from the time of Tweed, which is
significant of the original purpose for which it was adopted.
"A permanent writing fluid such as it is now proposed to adopt
throughout the state would not only secure uniformity in the character
of the inks used, but it would also throw many obstacles in the way of
altering the records.
"The present Secretary of State is heartily in accord with the
proposed legislation. He was seen last week by Mr. David N. Carvalho,
who has made a life study of the subject and who drew the bill and is
pushing the reform.
"Mr. Carvalho said yesterday: `This ink, whose use it is
intended to secure in the making of public records in this state, is
more costly than those made from aniline and other dyes, which fade and
wash. In it the black particles are suspended in water by the addition
of gum. This kind of ink has an affinity for oxygen, and hence it
oxidizes and turns black. When unadulterated it only becomes blacker
with the passage of time, and cannot be washed from the paper by the use
of water.'
" `I could show you,' continued Mr. Carvalho, `public records
of this city made within forty years which are entirely illegible and
consequently worthless, because cheap inks were used in the writing.
These include not only records of wills in the Surrogate's office, but
entries and transfers of real estate which are likely to come up in the
course of litigation at any time, thereby affecting the rights of many
citizens.
" `I can tell you at once upon seeing an old document the
character of the ink that was used in
the writing, and I have seen many old papers over a hundred years of age
in which the writing was as clear as the day it was made, simply because
a good writing ink was used. On the other hand writing made with cheap
aniline ink may under certain circumstances fade out within a year, and
in a book which is much handled is almost certain to be rubbed out in
time.
" `It has frequently happened that in the course of
litigation, especially over real estate, that old records made with poor
inks have been produced which the court refused to accept as evidence,
thereby depriving some citizen of his rights. At the present time many
officials in this state, in fact, the majority of them, are using these
cheap and worthless inks and the records they are making will be of
little or no value in a few years.
"`It is to put a stop to this abuse that the present bill has
been drawn up, and there is no argument which can be raised against
it.'"
It appears that there was one, however, as the bill
failed to pass for the stated reason that it came under
the head of "class" legislation. The great state and
city of New York with costly and magnificent depositories
continue to place in them, for safe-keeping,
valuable records and other ink-written instruments
which will become illegible before the present century
comes to an end.
Professor Lehner, a German chemist, in 1890 published
a treatise "Die Tinten-Fabrikation," which has
been translated and added to by Dr. Brannt, of Philadelphia,
editor of "The Techno-Chemical Receipt-Book," who remarks:
"The lack of a recent treatise in the English language
containing detailed descriptions of the raw materials and receipts for
the preparation of Inks, and the apparent necessity, as shown by
frequent
inquiries, for such a volume, were the considerations which led to the
preparation of
The Manufacture of Ink."
This work compiles a great number of formulas,
and rather favors the views of the chemist Dr. Bostock
respecting the iron and gall inks. The book
possesses value for reference purposes to the manufacturer.
Auguste Peret, author of "The Manufacture of Ink,"
1891, has put together a lot of excellent material relative
to ink-making and valuable for reference purposes.
The late Dr. William E. Hagan of Troy, New York,
in 1894 issued his book, "Disputed Hand-writing."
He devotes two chapters to the discussion of ancient
and modern inks and their chemistry. He has been
kind enough to quote the writer as the first to remove
ink in open court with chemicals in order to determine
the existence of pencil writing beneath the ink.
The pencil being carbon was not affected thereby and
with the subsequent restoration of the bleached ink
by the use of the correct re-agent.
In the same year Dr. Persifor Frazer of Philadelphia
published his "Manual of the Study of Documents."
A few pages are given to the study of inks,
and a part thereof is devoted to the researches of
Carré, Hager, Baudrimont, Tarry, Chevallier and
Lassaigne, to determine suspected forgeries. The
chapter on "the sequence in crossed lines," where he
indicates his method of determining which of two
crossed ink lines was written first, is both original and
a real contribution to science.
Alfred H. Allen, F. C. S., of England, perhaps the
highest authority on the subject of tannins, dyes and
coloring matters in his "Commercial Organic Analysis,"
revised and edited by Professor J. Merritt Mathews
of Pennsylvania, edition of 1900, devotes eight
pages to the subject of the "Examination of Ink
Marks." He says:
"Ordinary writing ink was formerly always made from a
decoction of galls, to which green vitriol was added. Of late, the
composition of writing inks has become far less constant, aniline and
other dyes being frequently employed, and other metallic salts
substituted for the ferrous-sulphate formerly invariably used. The best
black ink is a tanno-gallate of iron, obtained by adding an infusion of
nut-galls to a solution of ferrous-sulphate (copperas)."
In 1897 the author in a paper read before the New
York State Bar Association at Albany, entitled "A
Plea for the Preservation of the Public Records," discussed
the question of the stability of inks and their
phenomena and took occasion to make recommendations
as to their constitution and future methods of
employment. A vote of thanks was adopted and the
association referred the paper to the Committee on
Law Reform, where no doubt it still slumbers.