A rotary ink valve for providing ink in a printing press is provided. The valve includes a stationary outer portion having first and second ends connected by a body, said body having a substantially cylindrical interior area and having at least one bypass aperture and a substantially tubular inner portion lying within and rotatable within said cylindrical interior area of said outer portion and having first and second ends connected by a side wall, and having at least one bypass aperture in said side wall. The ink valve further includes at least one of the substantially cylindrical interior area and the side wall having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves holding a lubricant.