Stoneware jar of Stephens’ writing ink, red, made by Henry C Stephens Ltd, London, N5, date of manufacture 1 September 1958, prepared for British civil service use, S.O. Code 43-66, as issued to the Science Museum, London, 1958

The fact that ink once needed to be supplied in bulk in large jars is a recognition of the sheer quantity needed when most members of the Museum’s staff used either a steel pen with holder or a fountain pen. This jar of red ink was probably for use in the Science Museum's finance office, then called ‘Stores and Accounts’.