All Pens and Ephemera

The granddaddy of mechanical pencils in the 1920s was the Sheaffer Titan. Ideally matching the Oversized pens of its time, this vintage pencil is in excellent condition. Its 1.1mm lead propelling mechanism works very smoothly, advancing and retracting the lead. Under the gold-plated flat-top topper is a working replacement eraser and spare leads. Cosmetically, this pencils is looking great. There's one deep scratch hard to find on the barrel, a little brassing on the pocket clip and some small dimples on the topper. Otherwise, there's only some light wear. 13.3cm.

Here's one you don't see every day. This is an oversized Sheaffer Balance pencil with a separation point about a full centimeter below the cap band. The pencil is in great working order, loaded with a smaller-than-customary-for-this-era .9mm lead. It has a handsome black-and-pearl design. Unfortunately, there is general wear from use, brassing on the pocket clip and a small portion on the barrel that looks as if it was sanded down. Nothing remains of the original eraser. Nevertheless, it remains a great daily writer for everyday math, crosswords, sudoku and more. 14.6cm.

New Old Stock pencils from the 1940s that still have their original price sticker are always a treat. However, this poor Wahl-Eversharp 161-R Skyline pencil has a big crack near its clicker button. Our pencil still works great. The 1.1mm lead advance smoothly with a click, a still-rare early feature and advancement on mechanical pencils at that time. Under the button is a new, hardened old eraser and spare leads. The gold plating looks good. The only problem is that damned crack. 13.3cm.

Marine green is a desirable and less common design on the 1930s Sheaffer Balance line. Even rarer are the Sheaffer Autograph models! Sheaffer Autograph pencils have a solid 14k gold pocket clip and an extra-wide solid 14k gold band around the cap. Typically, those wide bands were engraved. This vintage pencil has no such engraving! Better, yet, it is in great working order. Twist the tail cap to advance or retract the 1.1mm lead. Pull of the tail cap to access the remains of an eraser and spare leads beneath it. Unfortunately, this pencil isn't perfect. To the right of the cap band are some dots deeply cut into the celluloid, that also has a 1/2-inch of flat spot, possibly where someone tried to polish the dots out. The remainder of the pencil has some blemishes, especially near the top of the tail cap with a bite mark and a few lines/scratches imprinted. Believe it or not, you really don't see it well unless you go looking for it, but, nevertheless, it is there. 13.2cm.

Parker advanced the efficiency and ease of using fountain pens when it created the Lucky Curve inkfeed. This is an early Parker Lucky Curve button filler from the very early 20th century. Click the headline for close-ups of the pen and nib. Notice the pen still has a slip cap and significant chocolate hazing of the black hard rubber (ebonite). We have not attempted to restore this pen. Notice how the threads of the blind cap by the button are missing. We feel that this rare older pen is likely too fragile to properly disassemble and put back together. Its 14k gold nib is a beautiful number 2 size that writes a very smooth medium line with a little flex. It also appears to have an early inkfeed. The pocket clip is an aftermarket clip made by the Rexall pharmacies. Slender and 14.1cm capped.

Russia's great empress Catherine the Great gets her due from the Montblanc Patron of the Arts with this sumptuous luxury pen. One of only 4,810 pens, you can see this one is still sealed in its original plastic. The pen comes complete with all of its boxes and papers. Guaranteed authentic. For those who look to use it, it comes with a solid gold medium nib. Perfect for use or a museum-worthy collection.

Factory sealed and never used, behold the Montblanc Peter the Great fountain pen from the Patron of the Arts limited edition series. The green and gold is stunning on this luxury pen. Should you wish to be the first to write with it, it comes with a solid-gold, medium-point nib. The pen comes complete with its original boxes and papers. We love the green finish on the wooden presentation box. A great design attribute of czarist Russia. Only the outer cardboard boxes show any trace of wear. Perfect for both daily use or a museum piece.

You can't get much closer to perfection on the hard rubber cap and barrel on a rare Sheaffer 41 Autograph model pen than this. Its chasing and imprint are as crisp as the day it was made. Zero chocolate hazing. Its 41 imprint in the flat tail has orange paint or chalk in it, which apparently isn't original. Not a trace of brassing on its extra-wide gold-plated cap band, clip and lever. The ONLY flaw is the teeniest, tiniest little dimple a 25% turn to the left of the clip in the center of the cap band. That's it, and you'll miss it if you don't specifically look for it. Our vintage pen is fully restored with a new ink sac. It has a replacement 14k gold Lifetime nib without the serial number AND an original spear-point inkfeed. You will write a fine line with a little feedback, but we don't think most people will be making such a beautiful specimen a frequent writer. It is an impressive vintage pen, especially in this condition. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.5cm capped.