All Pens and Ephemera

Among the many experiments in the world of fountain pen companies, Nemosine made a strong push to succeed in a crowded modern pen market. We believe these are the Nemosine Singularity models in cream, brown, red and blue. Though discontinued, they are nice, basic fountain pens that have a classic look and fill with either standard international cartridges and converters. Three are in excellent condition and have converters. The cream pen has a big chunk missing from its cap's lip. You can see it in the photo. Click the headline for close-ups. The nibs are steel. One is a .6mm nib, 2 mediums and one fine. 2 are scratchy and 2 are smooth. A bargain at $25 a pen. 13.6cm capped.

Some days you just want a damned fine vintage pen that you don't have to worry about during daily use. Here's a great Oversized Sheaffer Balance that is already heavily brassed and sporting some obvious wear. Yet, the this pen was born to write and still has a ton of good writing left in it. We restored it with a new ink sac. Its thicker grip is ideal for all-day writing sessions. And its solid 14k gold nib just won't quit. We love the classic, firm Sheaffer fine-point feel with just a hint of feedback that lets you feel the surface beneath your point without slowing you down. Click the headline for close-ups. 14.1cm capped.

Montegrappa is easily our favorite Italian luxury pen maker. The company is filled with master designers and artisans. Our Montegrappa Nazionale Flex fountain pen is a limited edition. Numbered 48 of 100, it is more than a pretty pen. It has a flexi 14k gold nib! You will write from extra fine to about 1mm wide. There is a little up-front pressure that gives quickly with a little pressure. It isn't a wet noodle, but you need to go gently on it until you learn to feel how it performs. We tested the pen with water, and its piston fills well. The color of the near mint condition pen is called "Indian Rainbow" and the trim is solid sterling silver. Comes with its original box, sealed bottle of blue ink and a pamphlet under the pad. 13.7cm capped.

Sheaffer Craftsman or Sheaffer Admiral...in the mid-to late 1940s they were nearly identical pens. We think this is the Craftsman, but it is just as likely to be an Admiral. Either way, it is a handsome blue vintage pen that has been fully restored with a new ink sac. The barrel has a 350 imprint on it, which meant it originally sold for $3.50. The blue is darkened in some spots, which are more visible in real life than in the photo. The cool part about the pen is that its 14k gold nib has a little flex. You can go from a fine/extra-fine to about a .5mm line if you are slow and gentle. 12.9cm capped.

I am surprised Sheaffer collectors don't seem to put more emphasis on hoarding Canadian-made pens. They seem a bit more difficult to find. We think this is a Sheaffer Craftsman, and we are certain it was made in Canada from the barrel and nib imprint. Click the headline for a close-up. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac and O-ring. Its 14k gold nib is a little springy and writes a smooth, wet medium line. The pen shows a little wear and brassing, but most of us do after 70-odd years. 13.3cm capped.

We don't know a lot about India's Ranga pens. However, we do know this is a very nice writing fountain pen with a very comfortable grip. The wide grip is excellent for people whose fingers cramp up when writing or have arthritis. You will find its golden alloy nib writes a smooth medium line. Complete with box. The pen looks nearly new. Click the headline for a close-up. 15.5cm capped.

Social media excels at telling us we misidentify these pens as Sheaffer Craftsman pens. However, we're pretty sure that is what this is. We restored this lever-filler with a new ink sac. These pens came out in the mid- to late 1940s, and the war rationing was evident in this skinny cap band. This vintage pen was heavily used but remains free of cracks. It does have substantial wear and a really deep scratch on the cap, down and to the left of the pocket clip. The black color of the pen helps to hide the blemishes. You will write a wonderful extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. The nib sounds scratchy but writes surprisingly smoothly. Click the headline for a close-up. 12.7cm capped.

Inkwells come in so many different beautiful shapes and sizes. This one appears to be white milk glass with brass trim. The lid to the antique inkwell has what looks like a polished amethyst stone (or polished glass, we aren't sure, but it is a pretty purple) on top. We don't know who made it. The only marking on it is inside the lid with a patent date of Dec. 28 1897. The bottom has a dried leather or paper pad to protect the desktop surface. It is a discreet but attractive desk piece. The round base measures 3 inches across. The whole piece's height is only about 2.5 inches.