What were the original materials used to create early pens?

The correct answer is based on the historical context of pen manufacturing. Early writing instruments, such as quills, were made from bird feathers, typically goose feathers, while other types like reed pens were crafted from hollow stems of reeds. These materials were readily available and offered suitable properties for writing, such as flexibility and the ability to hold ink.

Bamboo and wood, while used in various crafting techniques and tools, were not the primary materials for early writing in the same context as quills and reeds. Likewise, metal and plastic emerged much later with the advent of modern pen manufacturing. Stone and clay, on the other hand, are associated with ancient forms of writing, such as cuneiform, but are not relevant to the creation of pens specifically. Therefore, the choice of bird feathers and reeds accurately reflects the original materials used for early pens.