All Pens and Ephemera

The Parker 51 was such a wildly popular pen, the company has tried several times to bring it back since the 1990s. This is their second attempt, which they called the Parker 100. We actually think these pens were quite elegant and should have been more popular than they were. This ballpoint version of the Parker 100 has a dark-blue barrel, and dark-pearl-grey cap and gold plated trim. The brushed gold nose cone has some scratches, but the rest of the pen only shows light wear from use. We installed a brand-new Parker style refill with black ink. The pen has a little weight, which makes it a really smooth writer. You also get its boxes. 13.7cm.

Some pens are just difficult to define. Our Depression-era Parker looks a lot like a Parker Challenger in a demi size. However, it is the Parker Thrift Time pen. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. A little of the nickel-plated trim is worn away, and there are some bite marks on the blind cap. Yet, the marble design helps to hide the wear. You will write a nice extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. We don't find the line to be scratchy, but it isn't buttery smooth, either. A slender pen that measures 12.2cm capped.

A shiny vintage pen can brighten anybody's day, and we think this Parker Deluxe Challenger Jr. might brighten your's. We love the vibrant green and black marble design. This pen has been fully restored with a new ink sac. There are no cracks or deep scratches, but there is significant brassing, a little wear and a couple bite marks on the blind tail cap. Nice crisp imprint. You will write a nice fine to fine-medium line with its 14k gold nib. It is on the shorter and slender side. Click the headline for close-ups. 11.8cm capped.

If you love great pens, flexi nibs and functional artwork, then the Franklin-Christoph Panther 40 Diamondtree fountain pen is for you! This truly limited edition pen is only #31 of 51. Franklin-Christoph took its Panther 40 model pen and had Maki-e artist Katsunobu Nishihara use platinum dust, mother-of-pearl and six layers of urushi to create a masterpiece. Better yet, it comes with a Franklin-Christoph 14k gold flexi nib! Unfortunately, we don't have the original box, but this pen is still pretty remarkable. Aside from a few traces of wear, there are no cracks or deep scratches. Click the photo for close-ups, but the mother-of-pearl "diamonds" in the tree really pop much better in real life. Smooth, easy flexing from extra-fine to maybe around .75mm wide. Comes with original converter. 13.8cm capped.

Who luxury can't be an exotic beauty? Our Stipula Iris checks so many boxes for us to love. It is a larger pen for easy gripping, but you know it is unique filling systems that float our boat. Unscrew the "cap" of the pen to reveal an empty space where the nib should be. Insert the cap into the tail and twist. The nib spins up like an old safety filler pen (or lipstick). Take off the cap from the tail and spin the little black spindle in the tail to fill pen with the internal piston. (No cartridges or converters) You will write a smooth fine-medium line with its two-tone 18k gold nib. It comes with its leather box and a booklet. You can spin the pocket clip to make your writing grip on the pen more comfortable. 15cm capped.

Matching the autumn leaves, our Esterbrook LJ is a lovely copper color. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. The model LJ meant Long J-model in the world of vintage Esterbrook pens. Ours is in excellent condition without any cracks or deep scratches. A nice crisp imprint. Perhaps it has a little wear from use but nothing serious. Its 1555 Gregg nib was intended for the Gregg shorthand writing method. It is a surprisingly smooth nib. Gregg nibs were often used by secretaries, journalists and anyone taking dictation. 12.8cm capped.

If golfing and vintage pens are your passions, we have the ideal desk base for you! This is a Parker Duofold desk set designed to hold two fountain pens. It has the bronze image of a golfer in some very 1920s' looking golfing regalia. How could anyone look so earnest in those pants? Nevertheless, he is a rugged handsome man. A man of business and industry. Personally, we think the paper clip tray is cleverly positioned as a divot from his mighty swing. The two Duofold trumpets appear to be in good condition, as is the green marble (?) base. A price sticker that is likely original is under the base reading that it is a Parker set that originally cost $53.50. No model I.D. number. Sorry, the pens are long gone. This is about a foot long and 8 inches high. It weighs about 5 pounds and will likely cost a little extra to ship than our site can figure out how to ship. Please ask about shipping rates.

We have often pondered if the "Great Characters" series by Montblanc was a slightly derisive title for a series of pens based on real people and not fictional characters in a book or movie. However, I think most people would define Andy Warhol as one of the great characters of pop culture, no matter how you define it. Our Montblanc Andy Warhol rollerball pen is in like-new condition and complete with all of its original boxes and papers. Featured on the cap are Warhol's famous Campbell's soup cans. This pen comes with a working blue refill. Not all the boxes are featured in this image.