Bad news: f116v was substantially mangled by Retracer

[Jorge_Stolfi]

In the Middle Ages, would poor quality ink tend to settle out with darker elements at the bottom?

From what I know, when iron-gall ink is just prepared, the black compound that gives its color is mostly soluble.  But as soon as it is applied it starts to combine with oxygen from the air and becomes insoluble.  At the same time it combines with protein in the parchment so that the black stuff binds firmly to it.  The end result is a black film that cannot be removed by water or by rubbing with bread, like other common inks would.

The same reaction will happen with ink left in the bottle, gradually turning the black compound insoluble there too.  But since there is no protein for it to bind to, the stuff will just settle to the bottom. Even if that spent ink is stirred, the insoluble black stuff cannot bind to the parchment like fresh ink does.  Writing with spent ink would leave a trail of black specks that are just sitting on top of the vellum, not bound to it.  It is not a matter of "quality", but only of fresh vs. old.

If someone knows better, please correct me...

All the best, --jorge