Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue: 62.5 ml Bottle & Dry Time
Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue is a washable royal blue fountain pen ink made in Germany, sold in a 62.5 ml (2.1 fl oz) glass bottle and a 30 ml bottle. Pelikan says it can be erased with an ink eradicator. It isn't water resistant, dried in 40 seconds in one reviewer's test, and runs on the dry side.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue fountain pen ink, 62.5 ml bottle
- Brand
- Pelikan
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- Water-based dye ink in a glass bottle
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per item
Notes on these facts
- Made by Pelikan (Germany). Made in Germany: Pelikan's English product page (mam.pelikan.com) for the 62.5 ml Royal Blue bottle lists the ink as made in Germany. That page refused connections when we rechecked on October 20, 2026, and Pelikan's German ink pages don't state the country; Pelikan's German maker, Hamelin GmbH, is based in Hanover. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The standard glass bottle holds 62.5 ml (2.1 fl oz); a 30 ml (1 fl oz) bottle is also sold.
- Mountain of Ink measured a 40-second dry time and rates the ink very dry in flow.
- Goulet lists it as not water resistant and gives a 22.6 mm (0.89 in) bottle opening.
- Pelikan's German site says the 4001 name first appears in a document from 1897; today's Royal Blue is a dye ink, unlike the iron gall Blue-Black.
- Pelikan's own product page says the ink is made in Germany.
What is Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue?
It’s Pelikan’s standard washable royal blue fountain pen ink, part of the 4001 line and made in Germany. Pelikan designs it for its own piston fillers and says it suits many other pens, including cartridge pens with a converter.
Pelikan’s German site says the 4001 name first appears in a document from 1897 and calls the line “Das Original”. The Gentleman Stationer says Royal Blue has its own group of devotees.
Royal Blue specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Pelikan, Germany |
| Code | 329136 (62.5 ml, Goulet P329136); 301010 (30 ml, Pelikan) |
| Bottles | 62.5 ml (2.1 fl oz) glass; 30 ml (1 fl oz) |
| Bottle opening | 22.6 mm (0.89 in), per Goulet |
| Ink type | Dye-based (retailers), washable (Pelikan) |
| Eradicable | Yes: “löschbar und auswaschbar” (Pelikan’s German site) |
| Water resistance | Not water resistant (Goulet); medium (Mountain of Ink) |
| Dry time | 40 s (Mountain of Ink) |
| Shading / sheen | Medium / low pink sheen (Mountain of Ink) |
| Price band | $$ ($5–20 per 62.5 ml bottle) |
Pelikan’s German site says the 4001 bottle’s shape lets you tip it on its side to draw up the last drops. Pelikan also sold the 62.5 ml size in a special-edition historical bottle with an old-style label (item 340299 on Pelikan’s English page); we didn’t find bottle dimensions, so our cover draws the standard bottle in proportion.
How does Royal Blue write?
It’s a dry-flowing royal blue with medium shading and a hint of pink sheen. Mountain of Ink calls it very dry, but says it works really well in wet Pelikan nibs.
On 20 lb copy paper, Mountain of Ink saw some feathering and a few dots of bleed-through with the larger nibs. Its dry flow makes it a good partner for a pen that writes too wet.
How fast does it dry, and is it water resistant?
It dried in 40 seconds in Mountain of Ink’s test and isn’t water resistant. Goulet’s listing marks it neither fast drying nor water resistant.
Mountain of Ink still rates the water resistance medium, so a soaked page may stay faintly readable. For writing that has to survive water, a bulletproof ink such as Noodler’s Black is the safer pick.
Can you erase it?
Yes: Pelikan’s German site calls Königsblau “löschbar und auswaschbar”, erasable with an ink eradicator and washable. Eradicator pens work on washable blue inks like this one, so a mistake can be made to disappear rather than crossed out.
The flip side is the same as with water: this ink is made to wash away, not to stay put.
Which pens is it safe for?
Nearly any fountain pen. The Gentleman Stationer calls it a safe choice for most pens, and retailers describe it as a dye ink. The original 4001 of the 1890s was an iron gall ink, but The Pelikan’s Perch notes the modern formula is different; Pelikan’s German site names only today’s 4001 Blue-Black as iron gall.
A 62.5 ml bottle is about 78 fills of a LAMY Z28 converter, about 35 fills of a TWSBI ECO, which holds about 1.76 ml, or about 50 fills of a Pelikan M200 at about 1.2 ml. The 22.6 mm opening takes most nibs.
How do you clean it out of a pen?
Flush with plain water until it runs clear. As a washable dye ink, Royal Blue rinses out easily, so it’s a good everyday ink for pens you clean often.
How does it compare with Waterman Serenity Blue?
Royal Blue is slightly darker, drier and slower to dry; Waterman Serenity Blue is brighter.
| Ink | Bottle | Dry time (Mountain of Ink) | Flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue | 62.5 ml | 40 s | Very dry |
| Waterman Serenity Blue | 50 ml | 20 s | Average |
Where is Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue made?
In Germany, according to Pelikan’s English product page. Pelikan traces its ink business to 1838 in Hanover, where its German company, Hamelin GmbH, still has its address; Günther Wagner bought the business in 1871 and registered the Pelikan trademark in 1879.
Pelikan’s German site says the 4001 name first appears in a document from 1897, and The Pelikan’s Perch shows a 4001 price list from about that year. We didn’t find a release date for today’s Royal Blue formula.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a bottle of Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue?
The standard glass bottle holds 62.5 ml (2.1 fl oz), which Goulet sells as a 2 oz bottle. Pelikan's German site also lists a 30 ml (1 fl oz) bottle, item number 301010.
Is Pelikan Royal Blue waterproof?
No. Goulet lists it as not water resistant and Pelikan calls it washable; Mountain of Ink rates the water resistance medium, so some writing may stay faintly legible.
Can Pelikan Royal Blue be erased?
Yes. Pelikan's German site calls Königsblau (Royal Blue) "löschbar und auswaschbar": erasable with an ink eradicator and washable.
How long does Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue take to dry?
About 40 seconds in Mountain of Ink's test. Goulet doesn't list it as fast drying either, so give it time on coated paper.
Is Pelikan 4001 a wet or dry ink?
Dry. Mountain of Ink calls it very dry but says it works really well in wet Pelikan nibs, which is why it's a good match for pens that gush.
Is 4001 Royal Blue an iron gall ink?
No. The original 4001 of the 1890s was an iron gall ink, but the modern 4001 has a different composition. Pelikan's German site says only today's 4001 Blue-Black is iron gall, and far more permanent than Royal Blue.
Is Pelikan Royal Blue darker than Waterman Serenity Blue?
Slightly. The Gentleman Stationer finds Royal Blue a touch darker than Serenity Blue and prefers Waterman's brighter tone, while calling both safe for nearly any pen.
Where is Pelikan 4001 ink made?
In Germany, according to Pelikan's English product page. Pelikan traces its ink business to 1838 in Hanover, where its German company is still based.
Sources
- Pelikan (DE): Pelikan Tinte 4001 (Pelikan's German product page: Königsblau löschbar und auswaschbar, 30 ml item 301010)
- Pelikan Passion (DE): Tinte 4001 (Pelikan's German ink page: first mentioned 1897, 30 and 62.5 ml bottles, Blue-Black is iron gall)
- Pelikan: Ink 4001 Royal Blue, historical ink bottle 62.5 ml (made in Germany, washable, eradicable)
- Goulet Pens: Pelikan Royal Blue 4001, 2 oz bottled ink (P329136, opening 22.6 mm, not water resistant)
- Mountain of Ink: Ink Review No. 2457, Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue
- The Gentleman Stationer: Back to basics, blue ink for everyday writing
- Pen Chalet: Blue ink comparison (Pelikan 4001 Blue)
- Fritz Schimpf: Pelikan Special Edition Tinte 4001 Glas 76 königsblau historisch (62.5 ml, historical label)
- The Pelikan's Perch: 4001 and Günther Wagner's lost but not forgotten Pelikan inks