The history of writing tools can be surprising sometimes. Did you know that the first fountain pens appeared in the 10th century? And that we didn’t have pencils until 1500 AD? Find out more about the history of writing instruments here.
Writing is one of the things that make our human civilization what it is. Without it, great ideas would be forgotten, information would stay at the place where they originated and we would have to invent things a thousand times over. To write we have writing implements that changed throughout history.
Reed pens are one of the first more sophisticated writing tools in history. They appeared after the carving tools and styluses and practically replaced them. They were later replaced with quills. Here you can read more about the history of reed pens.
Quills were the most sophisticated writing instruments for a long time (some 15 centuries). Many large birds gave their contributed to the spreading of knowledge until metal pens replaced feathers in writing. Here you can read more about the history of quill pens.
Fountain pens replaced standard metal pens because they were easier to use and were less messy. After years of improvements (and after appearance of ballpoint pens which are even easier to use) they became a sort of status symbol. Read more about history of fountain pen.
Using pen and ink marked the start of a new era of easier information recording. With them, early scientific discoveries would be remembered, and the development of humanity might be much faster.
At first, glance, who could tell that the first ballpoint pens appeared some 130 years ago? But they did and were intended for writing on leather. Today, billions are made and sold every year, and we almost cannot imagine our day-to-day life without them. Here you can read more about ballpoint pen history.
Mechanical pencils are also old inventions dating even from the 16th century. The first was relatively simple mechanisms, only becoming more complicated with time. Today we have mechanical pencils which can write and draw very precisely.
Compared with other art mediums, colored pencil is relatively new. It appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. But that doesn’t mean it is less worthy, especially when combined with other mediums. Here you can read more about colored pencil history.
It is easy to write something. But what to do when you make a mistake? Erasers come to the rescue! Since we started to write, we have tried to find a way to fix our errors. We used clothes, rocks, and even bread until we discovered that rubber works better than any of that. Here you can read more about eraser history, facts, and types.
Pencils practically cannot be used without some pencil sharpener. Were they simple knives or complex machines with many rotating elements, their purpose is to make a fine point to a pencil. You can read more about pencil sharpener history, facts, and types here.
Marker pens are particular pens that can write on almost any surface and have many different types of ink. They can last very long or be erased with a swipe of a cloth. Here you can read more about the history of marker pens.
Highlighters are useful tools: you can use them to mark dates on a calendar, parts of the relevant text in a book, or any other use where you need to highlight something on paper. Thy influenced our lives so much that we can even find them in some computer programs. Here you can read more about the history of highlighters.
Gel pens are one of the most modern writing tools and are beloved for their strong lines and nice colors. Both professionals and amateurs use them because of these characteristics. Here you can read more about the history of gel pens.
Calligraphy is an old art of drawing letters and symbols skillfully. Chinese calligraphy uses ink brush and ink to emphasize motion and represent texts charged with dynamic life. Here you can read more about the history of ink brush and calligraphy.
Crayons appeared in ancient times in their early forms, but we started using them in the 19th century as art mediums. Today they are used by children but are still important in art. Here you can read more about the history of crayons.
Dip pens were one of the first mass-produced writing tools. They replaced quills and are still in use, although they are an old invention. Dip pens are used more for drawing than writing. Here you can read more about the history of dip pen.
Space pen began as a try to achieve a perfect pen. Pen was so perfect that it ended in space as a valuable tool and one of the symbols of humanity’s venture into space. Here you can read more about the history of space pens.
When schools and classrooms started to grow in the 19th century, a problem appeared: how to transfer lectured information to more students. The solution was first on a blackboard and chalk and later on the whiteboard and whiteboard pen. Here you can read more about the history of blackboard chalk and whiteboard pen.
Digital Pens enable users to digitize their writings instantly on real paper, drawings, and quick scribblings, share them online, or edit them for professional use. Here you can find much more about this technology.