Reed_pen

Egyptian reed pens in the Louvre

Reed pens or kalamoi (singular kalamos) are a type of writing implement with a long history. They are made by cutting and shaping a single reed straw or length of bamboo. Reed pens with modern features such as a split nib have been found in Ancient Egyptian sites dating from the 4th Century BC. Reed pens were used for writing on papyrus, and were the most common writing implement at the time the New Testament of the Bible was written.

Reed Pens are stiffer than quill pens cut from feathers, and don\'t retain a sharp point for as long. This led to their being replaced by quills. Nevertheless a reed pen can make bold strokes, and it remains an important tool in calligraphy.

References

• Egyptian reed pen
• Linotype article
• Glossary definition
• How to make reed pens (by Edward Jonston, edited by Leif Eurén)

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