Vintage Stephens’ Black Drawing Ink Bottle No. 192 – Indian Ink – Original Label

Lovely little thing — proper desk-drawer social history. This is a vintage Stephens’ Black Drawing Ink / Indian Ink bottle, No. 192, in clear glass with the original black-and-cream paper label still present. The wording “Waterproof / Imperishable / Gently shake this bottle occasionally” gives it a wonderful period artist’s-studio feel.

Displayed with other items illustration only for sale separately

5 cm tall

4 cm round at base

Product description

A charming vintage Stephens’ Black Drawing Ink bottle, labelled No. 192, once containing waterproof “Indian Ink” for drawing, lettering, technical work and studio use. The squat clear glass bottle retains its original paper label, with bold period typography reading Stephens’ Black Drawing Ink / Indian Ink, together with the lovely instruction panel: “Waterproof, Imperishable, Gently Shake This Bottle Occasionally.”

The bottle has exactly the right sort of honest, workbench character: dried black ink residue inside and around the neck, age spotting to the glass, and wear, creasing and small losses to the original label. Rather than detracting, these details give it a beautifully authentic look — the sort of small object that speaks of architects’ tables, school art rooms, draughtsmen, illustrators and old stationery cupboards.

Stephens’ Ink has a particularly strong place in British stationery history. Dr Henry Stephens developed his famous indelible blue-black writing fluid in 1832, creating what became one of Britain’s best-known ink brands, later carried forward by his son Henry Charles “Inky” Stephens. The company became a major name in writing and office supplies, with London Museum noting that Stephens’ ready-mixed indelible ink transformed office work and was adopted for official documents and ship’s log books.

This later drawing ink bottle is a lovely survivor from that broader Stephens story — small, graphic, highly decorative and ideal for collectors of vintage stationery, artist’s tools, advertising, old bottles, desk accessories or social history pieces.

Condition: Vintage used condition. Original label present but worn, with creases, marks and small losses. Dried ink residue remains inside and around the neck/top. Sold as a decorative collectible only, not as usable art material. Please see photos for full condition.