The ballpoint pen, now a common writing tool, was initially invented to prevent leaks in airplanes during World War II. Its inventor, László Bíró, was a Hungarian journalist frustrated with fountain pens leaking at high altitudes.
In ancient Egypt, writing materials were at a premium. Scribes often used reed brushes to write on papyrus, but they also had a peculiar habit of using their beards as makeshift pen-wipers while writing.
During the medieval period in Europe, before paper became widely available, scribes often used parchment made from animal skins. It wasn't uncommon for them to accidentally scrape off previous writings while erasing mistakes, leading to some amusing mishaps in historical documents.
Close-up shot of an elderly man writing in a notebook.
Close-up shot of an elderly man writing in a notebook.
Leonardo da Vinci, known for his intricate drawings and inventions, designed a prototype for a self-propelling pen. Unfortunately, the design never came to fruition during his lifetime, perhaps because he was too busy painting the Mona Lisa.
Before the advent of erasers, writers in ancient Rome would use a chunk of bread to erase mistakes made with ink on parchment. This method was effective, albeit a bit messy, as crumbs would often get stuck in the writing.
In the 19th century, steel nib pens became popular, but they had a tendency to rust if not properly cared for. This led to some rather unfortunate incidents where writers found themselves with stained fingers and unexpected ink blots on their letters.
In the early days of the United States, quill pens made from goose feathers were the writing instrument of choice.