All Pens and Ephemera

We don't know the model name for this black-hard rubber Wahl pen, but it is a very nice example of the company's 1920s manufacturing. The pattern is still crisp and there is minimal brassing. We couldn't get it open, but it does still have a working ink sac inside it. There is a little chocolate hazing overall with some larger spots of it on the cap. You will write a dry, extra-fine line with a little feedback...but the 18k gold nib also flexes just a little to give you about a half millimeter of line variation. Long and slender. 13cm capped.

Wahl-Eversharp took the fountain pen world of the 1940s by storm with its very modern looking Skyline pens. This pencil was a match to one of those pens, although Eversharp didn't always give pencils the same name as the pens. We love the contrast of black and the green striped upper half of this vintage pencil. It is an early clicker that still works well. It comes with spare 1.1mm leads. A hardened eraser is under the clicker. You'll see some wear and a touch of brassing on this pencil, but we suspect everyone shows a bit of wear and brassing after 80 years on earth. 13.2cm.

Never underestimate the joy of a Cross Townsend pen. We think these rollerball pens are vastly underrated. Green marble with gold-plated trim looks great. There is light wear on the trim but nothing especially egregious. The worst of the wear is on the nose-cone where the refill emerges. Somehow, some of it has been chewed away. Yes, the metal seems chewed away! Nevertheless, the brand-new refill seems stable for writing. Click the headline for a close-up. 15cm capped.

Italian artisans resurrected the lost are of orange-hard-rubber pens with woodgrain designs when developing the Stipula Novecento fountain pen. Sterling silver accents turn this pen from simply functional to a functional work of art. The piston filler is a little stiff but still works well. We restored the finish by removing all the chocolate hazing. The finish about 98% haze free and looking really sharp. You will write a fine line with its two-tone 18k gold nib. It has a little feedback. A delightful preowned luxury pen that can be a real highlight for any collection. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.9cm capped.

We have always loved the more sophisticated stylings of the Waterman L'Etalon fountain pen. It is a model that was retired way too early. Ours is in great shape with a little wear from past use. Our preowned pen comes with a working standard international converter. It also takes like cartridges. Click the headline for close-ups, and you will see its stately 18k gold nib. It writes a buttery smooth, wet, fine line. 13.9cm capped.

New Old Stock pens are always fun, even it they are from a lower tier. This Venus fountain pen bares a distinct resemblance to the Parker 51. Certainly, the hooded nib was all the rage. Unlike a 51, this pen is a lever-filler, and we just replaced the ink sac. You will see a little wear on the pen from rattling around an old drawer or box for the past 70 years or so. As it is N.O.S., we haven't dipped or written with it. Its matching ballpoint pen has a click top to engage the non-working vintage refill. Just under the clip is the refill release. A fun early ballpoint pen. Too bad they don't make these refills, any more.

Sapphire flames glint off the light as you spin this Waterman Rhapsody pen in your hands. With only light wear from use, it still looks really sharp. You will write a smooth, fine line with its two-tone 18k gold nib. This pen fills with an original Waterman standard international converter (included) or cartridge. A great preowned pen for any occasion. 14cm capped.

Marbled emerald-green really glints off the light gorgeously when you rotate it under a light. Quite attractive. Our preowned Waterman Rhapsody is truly music to your writing sensibilities. A luxury pen, it is in close to like new condition with only light wear...if any. You will write a fine line with its two-tone 18k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. We think the nib writes a little on the dry side with light feedback, but we also think that with more regular writing the line with get more consistently fluid with its ink flow. The cap snaps on the front and tail of the pen. It refills with the included standard international converter or like cartridges. 14cm capped.