Iron nitride $Fe_4N$ by partial substitution of nitrogen by carbon was prepared by nitriding the iron oxalate whose thermal decomposition gives a carburating atmosphere. Iron oxalates, the precursors, were prepared by precipitation and co-precipitation. The size and shape of the carbonitride particles could be controlled by modifying the conditions of preparation of the oxalate precursor. From the results of electron micrographs, it is clear that the $Fe_4N$ pigment particle maintains the original shape(needle shape) of the starting materials and that it consists of fine unit particles which link together to form a stereo-network structure. An investigation of the $Fe^{II}_3;Fe^I_{1-x};Sn_xN_{1-y}C_y$ solid solution has shown that Sn plays the role of a growth inhibitor of the elementary microcrystallites of the iron carbonitride. The coercive force and saturation magnetization of iron carbonitride obtained from co-precipitated iron oxalate were 500 Oe and 120 emu/g, respectively.