All Pens and Ephemera

We polished the daylights out of this brass-topped Montblanc inkwell, and it really looks stunning. The well, itself, is hand-cut leaded crystal. It comes with a base that still looks sharp and is free of initials. An ideal way to dress up your desk with class and professional aplomb.

In 1992, Montblanc created its famed Writer's Series line of pens. It started with the Montblanc Hemingway. As author Ernest Hemingway once wrote with a Montblanc, the company based its new line of pens off that one and dedicated it to "Papa." Some of his best books include "A Farewell to Arms," "The Sun Also Rises," "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and others. Our preowned pen is the ballpoint version, it comes with all of its original boxes and papers. The book box is a little banged up and its glue is starting to give a bit. Be careful opening it. The pen looks fantastic with minimal wear. The twist mechanism works smoothly, and the black refill still writes. From the collection of a very dedicated Montblanc aficionado. 13.2cm.

The writing instrument maker for kings dedicates one of its finest pencils to one of the all-time greatest kings: Ramses II. Made using lapis lazuli mined from the same mine Egyptian pharaohs used, the Montblanc Ramses II is a functional work of art. Aside from a little scuff on the vermeil barrel (gold-plated sterling silver), this pen looks close to new. Twist the lapis cap to the right a little to extend the .7mm lead. Everything works well, and there are spare leads loaded inside the pencil. The eraser still works, too. Guaranteed authentic. 14cm capped.

The backbone of vintage pens has to be the ever-popular Parker 51. The flagship of Parker production for 30 years, this aerometric-filler comes from the very peak of production and popularity in the 1950s. There are a couple little dents on the back of the gold-filled cap and a little wear on the body of the pen. However, this vintage pen remains a fantastic writer with its original "pli-glass" ink sac! You'll love the smooth fine line it lays down. 13.6cm capped.

Cross really stepped up its game with the limited-edition Cross Townsend made with gold-flecked jade lacquer. Click the headline for a close-up, but our photo still doesn't do this pen justice. Falling just short of like-new, this preowned pen shows only light wear from use. We installed a fresh blue refill. It is a remarkable rollerball pen! 15cm capped.

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.