Sharpies are one of the most iconic and recognizable brands of permanent markers. Since being introduced in 1964, these markers have become a staple in offices, schools, and homes for their versatility, durability, and striking ink colors. But what color was the very first Sharpie? To find out, we’ll take a look at the history of how Sharpies were invented and first brought to market.
The Invention of the Modern Marker
The story of the Sharpie begins in the 1950s with a man named Sidney Rosenthal. At the time, Rosenthal worked as a chemist and salesman for the Carter’s Ink Company in Chicago. While on business trips, he found that the tip on traditional felt-tip pens would dry out between uses. This caused frustration as he’d have to throw away and replace dried out pens frequently.
To solve this problem, Rosenthal began tinkering with making a better pen in his basement workshop. After much experimentation, he developed a new fast-drying ink formula and created a specialized fibrous tip to regulate ink flow. Unlike standard felt pens, Rosenthal’s new marker tips would resist drying out. By 1957, he had a working prototype for the world’s first modern marker.
Rosenthal partnered with businessmen Edward Greene and William Zimmerman to found the Sanford Ink Company (named after Sanford, North Carolina, where they established a manufacturing facility). The team began selling Rosenthal’s revolutionary marker design under the brand name “Magic Marker” in 1959.
The Debut of the Sharpie
The Magic Marker was an immediate success. However, Rosenthal and his partners wanted to improve on the design even further. While Magic Markers worked well on paper, they were not ideal for labeling more textured surfaces like wood, metal, and cardboard.
To address this, in 1964 they introduced a new line of markers featuring stronger ink and a finer tip. These new markers boasted superior adhesion and marking ability on almost any surface. Reflecting this versatility, they were branded as “Sharpies” – a name that evoked sharp, crisp writing.
Newspaper advertisements from December 1964 highlight “18 brilliant colors” available for the newly launched Sharpie markers. This indicates that from their very inception, Sharpies were produced in a wide range of vivid ink shades.
The First Sharpie Colors
While original marketing materials list 18 introductory colors, finding specific documentation on the very first Sharpie colors sold has proven difficult. However, we can make some educated guesses based on surviving early Sharpie advertisements and products:
- Black – The quintessential Sharpie color, basic black markers were almost assuredly part of the original 1964 product line.
- Red – Early ads highlight red as one of the available colors, implying it was likely among the first batch of Sharpie colors.
- Blue – Like red, blue is prominently featured in early Sharpie marketing as an available color option.
- Green – Sharpie advertisements from the 1960s and 70s consistently include green in color charts, suggesting it was a foundational color.
- Brown – Vintage television commercials and print ads indicate rich chocolate brown was also among the introductory colors.
Other probable early Sharpie colors based on surviving packaging and marketing materials include purple, orange, yellow, and assorted shades like lime green, light blue, pink, and more. Sharpie color offerings expanded quickly through the 1960s and 70s with specialty hues like gold and silver added to the lineup.
Limited Edition First Sharpie Colors
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sharpie in 2014, the brand released limited sets of replica 1964 markers in the suspected original colors. These commemorative Sharpie sets provide perhaps the clearest record of what the first Sharpie colors likely were:
| Color | HEX Code |
|---|---|
| Black | #000000 |
| Brown | #78350f |
| Red | #ff0000 |
| Orange | #ff8000 |
| Yellow | #ffff00 |
| Lime Green | #32cd32 |
| Green | #00ff00 |
| Turquoise | #40e0d0 |
| Blue | #0000ff |
| Purple | #800080 |
| Pink | #ffc0cb |
This set of 12 colors provides the most complete picture available of the initial Sharpie color lineup in 1964. Black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple seem to match hints from period advertisements. Novelty shades like lime green, turquoise, and pink also align with the “18 brilliant colors” promoted in early marketing.
The Evolution of Sharpie Colors
While the original 12 colors provide an idea of the first Sharpie dyes, the brand’s color palette has expanded exponentially over the past 50+ years. By the late 1960s, white and metallic gold and silver colors were added to the mix. Specialty shades like camouflage green and coral soon followed.
The 1970s and 80s saw even more new hues introduced, including popular neon shades like neon yellow, pink, orange, and green. More exotic metallic colors including copper, bronze, and brass also became available. By the 1990s, Sharpie offered well over 50 standard color choices.
This explosion of new colors continued into the 2000s with limited edition shade offerings growing each year. Today, there are over 100 distinct Sharpie colors and styles. However, classic original colors like black, red, blue, green, and brown remain popular choices.
The First Sharpie Ultra Fine Tip Pens
After the success of their original fine point markers, Sharpie began expanding into other writing tools. In 1986, they introduced the first Sharpie Ultra Fine Tip pens. These featured slim 0.4mm tips designed for precision writing and detailing.
The inaugural set of ultra fine Sharpie pens mirrored the brand’s popular marker colors. Early advertisements show black, red, blue, green, and brown ultra fine pens. Specialty metallic finishes in gold, silver, and bronze were also likely available based on later catalog listings.
Over the following decades, Sharpie continued expanding their ultra fine pen color selection in step with their standard markers. Today, ultra fine Sharpie pens come in over 50 colors including vibrant shades like fuchsia, lime green, orange, and turquoise.
Influence on Art and Culture
Over time, the iconic Sharpie markers have made their way into art, pop culture, and DIY projects. The brand has collaborated with major artists like Basquiat to create exclusive designs. Sharpies have also been embraced by musicians and self-expression subcultures for customizing clothing, gear, and more.
The bold, intense shades produced by Sharpie inks have become ideal for contemporary art that incorporates graffiti and street influences. Their durability and ability to write on nearly any surface make them a favorite of creators, customizers, and artists alike.
Even with countless new colors now available, those original 1960s shades – the blacks, blues, greens, reds, browns – remain essentials. Call it brilliant planning or serendipity, but those very first Sharpie dye formulas turned out to be classic hues with timeless appeal and versatility.
Conclusion
Reconstructing the exact debut colors of an iconic product like the Sharpie marker over 50 years later proves tricky. But looking at surviving bits of evidence like advertisements, packaging, and commemorative releases, we can make reasonable assumptions.
It seems likely that the first 12 Sharpie colors available back in 1964 included black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, lime green, pink, turquoise, and possibly white or silver. These shades aligned with the “18 brilliant colors” touted when Sharpies first hit store shelves.
In the ensuing decades, the Sharpie color palette has expanded exponentially. However, those original hues maintain popularity for their visual impact and versatility. They laid the foundation for Sharpies to become a ubiquitous writing tool and pop culture icon.
