| The writing instrument that was predominant for
the longest period in history (over one thousand years) was the
quill pen introduced around 700 A.D.
The quill is a pen made from a bird feather. The strongest quills
were those taken
from living birds in the spring from the five outer left-wing feathers.
The left wing was favored because the feathers curved outward and
away when used by a right-handed writer.
Goose feathers were used most, swan feathers were considered a
premium grade being scarcer and more expensive. For making fine
lines crow feathers were considered the best and the feathers of
the eagle, owl, hawk and turkey were occasionally used.
Quill pens lasted for only a week before it was necessary to replace
them, there were other disadvantages associated with their use,
including a lengthy preparation time. The early european writing
parchments were made from animal skins and required much scraping
and cleaning. Margins were then made with a lead and a ruler.
To sharpen the quill, the writer needed a special knife (origins
of the term "pen-knife".) Beneath the writer's high-top
desk was a coal stove to cause the ink to dry as fast as possible.
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