Latest Pens, Pencils, and Ephemera

The Sheaffer Valiant Snorkel was first released in 1952, and you know you have a first-year model when this beautiful 14k gold snorkel comes out from under the nib. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac, O-ring and point seal. It has seen its share of action, as you can see some cracks and impressions on the burgundy plastic cap and barrel. It is imprinted with the name "F. Stanfield." You will write a fine line with its two-tone 14k gold Triumph conical nib. It digs into the paper a little if you are heavy handed and/or sometimes at the tops and bottoms of letters. 14.2cm capped.

He has been called the father of modern American literature, and it is amazing how well the work of Samuel Clemens holds up today. In 2010 he was honored with the Montblanc Mark Twain fountain pen from its Writers Series. The cap of this stunning luxury pen resembles the smoke stack of a paddlewheel riverboat he worked on, while the knot imprinted on the 18k gold nib represents the depths he would call out to alert the captain of the Mississippi River's depth. Our pen appears to be New Old Stock in mint condition. From the collection of top-selling author Bill Adler Jr., whose book "Outwitting Squirrels" would likely have tickled Mr. Clemen's fancy, Mr. Adler asserts he never filled this pristine pen. It comes with its original book box but not the papers or outer box.

We love how Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" often gets swept into the children's books category when it is really a biting political satire for adults. Montblanc paid tribute to the great satirist in 2012 with a Writers Series pen best known as the Montblanc Jonathan Swift. Ours is in mint condition and has never been used. It comes with its book box and that is all. The pen is numbered 07675 of 12,800. You will likely write a fine line with its 18k gold nib, but we have not dipped it to verify. No sense messing up its New Old Stock status. Click the headline for a close-up.

In the 1980s, Sheaffer made a series of slender luxury pens to fit the times. This one is called the Sheaffer Fashion. We love its deep green with golden accents. It actually takes Cross rollerball refills, and we include one with your purchase. The cap and barrel have a brass construction underlying the green. It is a nice, durable writer. There is a little scratching on the nose cone of the pen. Otherwise it is in great shape. 13.7cm capped.