All Pens and Ephemera

Orange hard rubber just looks so much better than the later "Permanite." It is more vibrant on this Parker Lady Duofold, and we love it. Better yet, this vintage pen almost looks new. Nice crisp imprint. No brassing on the wide cap band. Only a little brassing on the ball of the pocket clip. Really sharp milling on the ends of the pen. The tail cap is as black as the day it was made. The top of the regular cap has a little chocolate hazing but not much. We restored the pen with a new ink sac. In some different lighting situations the cap and barrel show a degree or two of contrast with each other. You will write a smooth fine line with its 14k gold nib. Also present is its original Christmas-tree inkfeed. 12.1cm capped.

When it comes to hand bags, few brands are as well revered as Coach. This thick, sumptuous black-leather pen case is made by one and the same. It holds two fairly large pens. Click the headline for close-ups, and you can seem some crinkling in the leather where the flap unfolds. However, the case is in great overall condition. It is just worn from past use. Possibly not quite nice enough for a gift to a friend or family member, but a nice gift to yourself to keep your pens safe and happy while out of the house or office.

Oh so sleek and glassy finished, our oversized Sheaffer Balance Lifetime fountain pen is a beautiful vintage pen for many a collection. Ours has been restored with a working "vacuum-fil" system. The piston rod feels a little stiff, but it pushes out air and draws in water when we tested it. Not visible in the photo is an impressive double-helix design visible through the ambered ink-viewing window. Minimal if any wear. You will write a firm, extra-fine line with its two-tone 14k gold nib. Expect a some feedback. Not terrible but noticeable. No brassing, cracks or deep scratches. Nice crisp imprint. 14cm capped.

Montblanc LeGrand "Document Markers" are somewhat hard to find, but ones in the discontinued "Bordeaux" color are even more difficult to find. Aside from a little light wear from use, our preowned luxury writing instrument looks pretty amazing. This one comes with a working highlighter refill. Guaranteed authentic, this one was made after the invention of serial numbers on the pocket clip band but before "Pix" was written under the cap band. We love these slightly larger sized LeGrands that don't yet cross over into oversized territory. 14.5cm capped.

At one point in yesteryear, there was no transnational travel more glamorous than the train route known as the Orient Express. Royalty and celebrity hobnobbed on its cars from Paris to Istanbul over an approximately 3-day run. It was considered "The train of kings and the king of trains." Our S.T. Dupont Orient Express pays tribute to that great locomotive. In like-new condition, we think this pen has only been dipped once or twice. Not a mark appears to have blemished the glittering blue cap and barrel. You'll write a very smooth fine line with its rhodium-plated 18k gold nib. Comes complete with its original boxes and most of its papers. (Not sure if it had a large square booklet or not.) Click the headline for close-ups. 15.2cm capped.

A ruby-red vintage pen is just what this holiday season needs. Our Esterbrook LJ has been fully restored with a new ink sac. It sports a steel 1555 Gregg nib, which meant the nib was originally for anyone who took shorthand. Think secretaries and journalists. This can be thought of as the long, slender version of the J-model pen. The cap and barrel have some wear from use, but there are no cracks or major scars. Nice, clean imprint. You will write a surprisingly smooth extra-fine line, if you have a light touch with this firm nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.8cm capped.

Earlier this year Pelikan released an M1000 Renaissance based on this original limited edition Pelikan M800 Renaissance. We love the original better, as it fits the hand more easily than the bulky oversized 1000s. Our pre-owned pen is in excellent condition with minimal wear from use. The piston filler operates smoothly. You will write a fine line with its two-tone 18k gold nib. There is a little feedback. Included with the pen are its original box and travel pouch. The inner box shows a little wear. The outer white box not pictured has some ink stains. The frosted gold logo sports a mama pelican with one chick. Click the headline for close-ups of the pen and nib. 14cm capped.

One could argue that the Parker 75 was the last of the golden era fountain pens Parker made with the intention of it being a daily luxury pen. Our preowned pen is a later model that was made in France. No dents mar the sterling silver cap and body. The top and bottom element looks like a dinner plate. We fitted this pen with a more modern Parker converter. It also takes Parker cartridges. The cap has a tight closure. You will write a nice, fine line with a little feedback while engaging its 14k gold nib. 12.9cm capped.