Abstract: A printing ink particularly suitable for use in flexographic and letterpresses includes a basic dye, a polyhydric alcohol, water soluble carboxylic acid containing polymer and optionally water, thickeners, corrosion inhibitors and biocides. Preferably the water soluble carboxylic acid containing polymer is a homopolymer or copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid. The ink has an extremely high affinity for cellulosic and hemi-cellulosic substrates such as Kraft paper and newspaper. It forms a permanent bond to such substrates but does not easily dry out on the press rollers.