Feather fans like their quills

Calligraphers have been relying on bird feathers for centuries. Even today, with the availability of many specialized calligraphy tools, the goose quills used hundreds of years ago are still sought after and can be used in feather art. Feather suppliers keep these in their inventory for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that calligraphy feather fans continue to order and use them. To what do scribes attribute the value of the goose quill? It's the capillary action coupled with the shaft's flexibility and the precise stroke afforded by the quill tip.

Capillary action is a phenomenon found in the natural world in which a viscous substance is lifted up into another substance that is capable of wicking. The tubes in plants do this, but so do paper towels, and the action can only occur when the force between a liquid and another type of matter exceeds the force between the molecules in the liquid, resulting in a drawing action. The hollow tube in a feather quill pen is capable of capillarity, which makes this elegant tool perfect for calligraphers. Goose feather fans are often drawn in, so to speak, by how naturally useful these snowy white writing instruments are.

What writing instrument has been used the longest in history? The feather quill pen has, interestingly enough! Its use began around 700 C.E., when the feathers were filched from live geese. The best specimens were taken from the left outer wing because these were strong and curved in the right direction so as not to annoy right-handed scribes. Feather suppliers were kept busy because these pens would only last seven days or so and then would need to be replaced. It was the beginning of supply and demand in the writing instrument world, a condition perhaps not so popular with local geese! Make sure you know how to cut your quill properly.