Pelikan Günther Wagner Ink Bottles

Pictured are Pelikan ink bottles (various colors) by Günther Wagner with original paper labels and glass stoppers.

The story of Pelikan dates back to 1832 when the chemist Carl Hornemann (1811-1896) began a company in Hannover making paints and inks. The official date that operations commenced was April 28, 1838. Hornemann was the son of an art shop keeper and drawing teacher at the court of King George V of Hanover. Hornemann had the idea of starting the business, because in those days most artists’ colors were imported from France and England.

In 1871 the former plant manager, the chemist Günther Wagner (1842-1930), took over the company and from 1878 used the Pelikan, the emblem of his family, as a hallmark of the company. The company logo originally showed a pelican with three chicks in the nest. When the company owner had fourth child, the number of little birds was increased to four.

In the early years the company produced student quality paints, inks for children, and artists’ watercolors. Another product was liquid ink, which had previously been offered only as solid ink sticks. From 1895 the range was extended to include more and more products in addition to the previously produced ink and other office supplies. In 1898, the iron gall ink 4001 was introduced to the market. It was an ink which did not fade, making it suitable for official documents. Within a few years it was the best-selling ink in the world. Because it guaranteed the authenticity of documents it was also favored by state authorities.