Dip Pen Starter Set 2.0
New and improved—and now featuring Optimist black ink, made here in St. Louis!
Our Dip Pen Starter Set 2.0 includes everything you need to get started with dip pen drawing, calligraphy, and cartooning. We've included a unique assortment of two modern nibs and two vintage nibs (made in the 1930s, but still in new condition), plus a universal pen holder from Japan, our Optimist super opaque black ink, and Optimist Ink Solvent for cleanup.
Four Versatile Nibs:
The modern nibs included are a Brause Steno, with a blue finish and precise stub tip, and a Nikko G Pen, with a chrome finish and an extra fine point. The vintage nibs are an Esterbrook Oval Point 802, with a round tip for general writing, and a Heintze & Blanckertz LY-8, a bold stub that writes smoothly and makes dark marks.
Tachikawa Pen Holder:
The pen holder is a Tachikawa T-25, a great choice for maximum nib compatibility. This versatile and simple holder works with all the included nibs and virtually everything else in our dip pen section.
Optimist Black & Solvent:
We designed Optimist Mixable Color to coat dip pens perfectly, dry quickly, and cover paper with a thick coat of opaque black. It's the perfect ink for dip pens because it coats the nib completely and doesn't drip easily. A 45 mL glass jar of Optimist #000 Black and a 200 mL squeeze bottle of Optimist Ink Solvent are included in this set.
5 mL Tuff Vial:
Durable, pocket-sized polycarbonate vial with blue cap. Perfect for storing up to 10 nibs.
Ink, solvent, and Esterbrook nib made in USA. Holder and Nikko nib made in Japan. Steno and LY-8 nibs made in Germany. Vial made in Vietnam.
Packaging and product colors may vary from what is pictured.
Product number(s)
Looking for a bit more information about shopping at St. Louis Art Supply? We're glad you asked!
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Free U.S. Shipping Over $59
We're pleased to offer free shipping to any U.S. address (including Alaska and Hawai'i) for orders over $59.
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Shipped Quickly from St. Louis
Our efficient, centrally-located warehouse in Missouri ships orders within one business day. Unlike a lot of online retailers, we operate our own warehouse — we wouldn't trust your art supplies to anyone else.
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Real People, Here to Help
Any questions? Please reach out to our friendly customer service folks at hello@stlartsupply.com. We're art supply experts and we're happy to assist.
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Real Pictures
Almost all of our images are shot right here in our St. Louis studio. We never generate content or images with AI.
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Quality Pledge
We only stock materials we'd use in our own studios. Every product is tested in St. Louis and continually evaluated for quality and value. We're never afraid to discontinue an item that misses the mark.
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Trusted Since 2015
We've been in business since 2015 and we've shipped hundreds of thousands of orders. We use bank-level encryption to protect your data and excellent packaging to protect your supplies.
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Something else?
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FAQs
Even more info about us here
How quickly will my order ship?
Our St. Louis warehouse team is pretty speedy! We generally ship orders within one business day of receiving them. You'll receive a tracking number by email as soon as your order's packed and out the door.
How long will it take to arrive?
We offer shipping estimates for each order at checkout. Please note that these are only our system's best guess — there are many factors that may affect shipping time.
Generally speaking, our parcels take about 2-3 business days to travel to most U.S. addresses once they are shipped.
In a hurry? We offer expedited shipping options, including overnight shipping, at checkout.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We never guarantee delivery dates because carrier delays are not within our control. We do not issue refunds due to delays in transit.
Do you accept returns?
Yes — we accept returns of unopened, undamaged items within 30 days of receipt.
If your return is because we made a mistake, we'll pay for the return shipping label. If you're returning an item because you changed your mind, return shipping is at your expense.
Read our full return policy here.
Is there a physical store?
Yes, there is! We'd love to see you at our St. Louis retail store. We're in the Grove neighborhood, near lots of fun places to eat, drink, and shop.
Do you offer wholesale or bulk discounts?
We do! Educational and institutional customers can email hello@stlartsupply.com to place a discounted bulk order. Send us a screenshot of your Blick or Amazon cart and we'll do our best to match it. You can always finish checking out with the big guys if we don't have a great bid for you.
If you're buying for a retail store, we'd love to meet you! Please head over to our wholesale division, Federal Color. You'll find our wholesale catalog and application there.