David GANZ, London - Randall A. ROSENFELD, Toronto The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Corpus instrumentorum scribendi (CInS), an international project to publish the writing tools extant from Roman Antiquity to A.D. 1500 in a format both exact and methodical. A concise rationale of the project will be given, followed by a brief examination of possible models for CInS, such as the Chartae latinae antiquiores (ChLA), the Manuscrits datés and the Corpus vasorum antiquorum (CVA). Some problems peculiar to the study and survey of writing tools will be treated, such as the lack of a finding list and a central bureau for reporting artefact discoveries, and the mis-identification and under reporting of writing tools. This will be followed by some remarks on the organization of material, and the presentation of sample formats for the catalogue entries. The paper will conclude with two contrasting case studies to illustrate the potential of the CInS, that of the Wachsspachtel, and that of the "sphere and point" punctorium.