gall nuts, vitriol from Cyprus
Iraq
13th Century
Source: Raggetti, L. (2021). Ordinary Inks and Incredible Tricks in the ʿUyūn al-ḥaqāʾiq. In: Raggetti, L. (eds) Traces of Ink. Brill.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
gall nuts, water, vitriol from Cyprus
Preparation Steps
Gall nuts are crushed and macerated in water (p. 172). This solution is used to write on a leaf, and the text is allowed to dry until it fades from view. To reveal the text, high-quality vitriol from Cyprus is ground well, mixed with water, and used to wash the leaf. This reaction causes the writing to appear black (p. 172).
Original Recipe Text
Gall nuts are crushed and macerated in water (p. 172). This solution is used to write on a leaf, and the text is allowed to dry until it fades from view. To reveal the text, high-quality vitriol from Cyprus is ground well, mixed with water, and used to wash the leaf. This reaction causes the writing to appear black (p. 172).
Evidence
"Take some gall nuts, crush them, macerate them in water, write with this on a leaf and leave it until it fades away. Then, take some good vitriol from Cyprus, grind it well, mix it with water and wash the leaf in it, and the writing will appear black."
Remarks
This is a 'sympathetic' or invisible ink preparation where the two components of iron-gall ink are applied sequentially rather than mixed beforehand (p. 172).
Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
Philological analysis
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
ColorBlack
RegionIraq
Approx. Year1250
Source Information
AuthorRaggetti, L.
CollectionʿUyūn al-ḥaqāʾiq
Language
N/A
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