All Pens and Ephemera

As if bronze arco celluloid wasn't enough to get you excited, this is the grand poobah Omas Grand Paragon pen. Larger than a standard Paragon, ours measures 14.75cm long. The height of Italian luxury pen making, this is a stunner for any collector. It is tough to see at a glance, but there is some wear on this pen that is quite visible up close. No cracks, deep scratches, brassing or other serious flaws. Just lots of wear from daily use. We found it by luck, as it came in an Omas Milord box with a leather sleeve. This was obviously not a Milord the second we set eyes on it. Click the headline for a close-up. You will write a medium-broad line with its 18k gold nib. There's a little light feedback, too. Its piston still operates smoothly.

New Old Stock Sheaffer Snorkel fountain pens are a rare treat. This Sheaffer Admiral is actually our favorite kind of snorkel. We prefer the open 14k gold nibs as smoother, more responsive nibs than the firmer conical Triumph nibs. We replaced the pen's O-ring, but the point seal and sac performed as good as new with water. There might be a little shop wear on this pen, but there are no significant blemishes. Click the headline for close-ups. 14.2cm capped.

Our parade of Sheaffer Imperial II fountain pens continues with this vintage pen. Click the headline for close-ups. It is a nice grey model, but you can see a scar on its section. You'll also see the top of its nib tipping area is a bit chewed up. You will find the nib writes a smooth medium line at a low angle of attack. However, the more vertically you hold the pen, the finer and scratchier the nib gets. We restored the pen with a new ink sac and O-ring. 13.6cm capped.

Many people go ga-ga for the stunning Omas Arco designs, but the blue-and-orange "Saffron" design really blows our mind. This is the large Omas Paragon at 14.1cm in length while capped. It is in good working order, with a smooth piston fill. It does have some wear from use but no cracks, brassing or deep scratches. Also included are its original boxes and papers. Beyond the stunning celluloid is a delightfully smooth two-tone 18k gold nib that writes a juicy medium line. This one sports the year 1997 on the section. Click the headline for close-ups.

Who says teens shouldn't have a good pen for school? The Sheaffer Cadet was aimed at the beginners fountain pen market. With a great TouchDown filler, this is a more sophisticated way to ink up a basic pen. We replaced the ink sac and O-ring. You will write a very smooth fine line with its steel F1 nib. Overall, the pen looks pretty good. There is a little wear. Worst of all is some chrome plating missing from the cap band. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.3cm capped.

Here's a real granddaddy of vintage pens. It is a black hard rubber Sheaffer Lifetime Senior with etched pinstripes in the cap and barrel. It also has no white dot. It is that early! Fully restored with a new ink sac, it is ready to write. Brassing can be found on the ball of the pocket clip, but the rest of the pen is free of the blight. Click the headline for close-ups. There is a little chocolate hazing on the cap and barrel. It is worse on the cap, which is a little more faded in its pinstripe imprints. No cracks, chips or serious scratches. You will love its nib the most! Smoothly write from extra fine to more than 1mm wide with its semi-flex properties! A very rare semi-flex nib. Notice that the Lifetime nib has a serial number? This might indicate it is an early replacement nib, as the original nib had no serial numbers. 13.6cm capped.

Blue-pen lovers that we are, we think there is no topping the Pelikan City Series Stockholm pens for looks. It is easily the most attractive of the "cities." Ours is in excellent working worker, showing only minimal wear from use...and some scratches on the piston filler knob and the section grip. We find it rather amusing that it comes in the "Grand Place" city series pen's box. It is the right size and shape box for the Stockholm, just the wrong labels on the box. Click the headline to see close-ups of the pen and nib. Marked "M" for medium, you will find that this two-tone 18k gold nib writes a buttery smooth double broad line. It is a gusher. Located on the top of the cap's black "jewel" is a frosted gold logo of a mama pelican and two chicks. 13.1cm capped.

More rarities are on display with this Esterbrook Dollar Pen. Please note the three incised cap bands. Add on the rare 1314 left-foot oblique nib, and you have an interesting classic Estie. No cracks or deep scratches. The only cosmetic issue, other than light wear from use, is the pitting on the lever filler. We restored this pen with a new ink sac. The oblique nib on this one is very sharp and scratchy. Yet, it delivers nice line variation for a trade off. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.1cm capped.