Quill

writing · history · birds

Made from feathers. Quills were crafted from the large flight feathers of birds like geese, swans, and crows. Writers would find feathers that had naturally fallen out so they didn't hurt the birds.

How to use it. You'd dip the sharpened tip of a quill into ink and write on paper. The hollow part of the feather held just enough ink to write several words before you needed to dip again.

Took skill to prepare. Before using a quill, you had to carefully trim and sharpen the tip with a special knife called a penknife. If you made a mistake, you could trim it again, but eventually the quill would wear out.

Used for centuries. Quills were the main writing tool from around the 600s all the way until the 1800s when steel pens were invented. Famous authors, kings, and scholars all wrote with quills.

Why we stopped using them. Fountain pens and ballpoint pens were faster, cleaner, and didn't require as much skill to use. They also didn't need constant dipping in ink, making writing much easier for everyone.