All Pens and Ephemera

Our Palmer Method Woodgrain pen was undoubtedly sold by or for the school of handwriting also known as the Palmer Method. We have not previously seen a Palmer Method pen that didn't have some other branding on it. We strongly suspect that this pen was made by the Wahl-Eversharp company, but there are no markings to verify that beyond the shadow of a doubt. It just has similar design touches. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. No cracks or deep scratches. There is brassing on the cap bands and lever. You will write a razor-sharp extra-fine line that can flex out to about 1mm. This 14k gold nib is on the stiff side for a semi-flex nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.3cm capped.

Levenger teamed up with Sheaffer to make a new series of pens for the Connaisseur line. Each color of the line was named for one of the most famous seas on the planet. This is the Sheaffer Levenger Connaisseur Mediterranean. It is a handsome sapphire blue with gold-plated trim. Our preowned pen takes modern Sheaffer cartridges and short converters. Unfortunately, we haven't any for this pen. No cracks or serious problems. Only light wear from use. You will write a very nice fine line with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 14cm capped.

The 1920s were THE decade for amazing semi-flex nibs. This Swan Mabie Todd 142/1 fountain pen has a fantastic semi-flex nib made of 14k gold. Not a wet noodle, this vintage pen still writes a great extra-fine to 1mm wide line. No cracks or chips. However, the chocolate hazing is obvious, as is the wear on the chasing of the black hard rubber. It does not appear this pen ever had a pocket clip. Initials are engraved in the wide cap band. We restored the pen with a new ink sac. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.9cm capped.

Leboeuf invented the celluloid pen. Prior to this company from Springfield, Mass., pens were only made from hard rubber, metal or glass. Celluloid broadened the spectrum of colors and shapes pens could take. Our Leboeuf Unbreakable is actually quite breakable, but it also is an interesting piece of vintage pen history. We restored this pen with a new ink sac. This is a standard-size pen, not one of the hyper-expensive oversized pens. Unfortunately, the section has tons of scars and damage from past repairs. Click the headline for close-ups. You will write a slightly varied line with its small-stub point 14k gold nib. It is a smooth writer, but we don't think it has any tipping. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.4cm capped.

Like waves fighting with the tide, the limited edition Pelikan Souveran Blue O' Blue fountain pen looks like a stunning force of nature. Our preowned luxury pen is nearly perfect with minimal--if any--wear. Its piston operates smoothly, too. Click the headline for close-ups. You will write a very nice fine line with its two-tone 18k gold nib. The logo on top of the cap features a frosted-gold field with a shiny mama pelican with a single chick. 14.1cm capped.

Mandarin yellow Parker Duofold Juniors are not the most common of colors. Yet, streamlined versions are even more difficult to find. Our vintage pen was fully restored with a new sac several years ago. The photo doesn't showcase the nuance of the colors in the cap and barrel. The of the cap is a couple of shades lighter than the barrel. However, the barrel is inconsistent with some spots darker or lighter than others. The imprint is fairly well worn. No cracks. Minimal, if any, brassing. You will write a buttery smooth, wet fine line with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 11.5cm capped.

Smoky blue makes for an elegantly dynamic barrel on our Pelikan Souveran M200 fountain pen. Aside from a little light wear from use, our preowned pen is in excellent condition. Its piston works smoothly, though it is a little reluctant to give up some stubborn green ink. You will write a very nice extra-fine line with its golden alloy nib--even though it is marked "F" for fine. As long as you don't write with any pressure, there is no feedback. The black logo on top of the pen features a golden mama pelican with two chicks. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.5cm capped.

If there was one pen that taught Americans how to write with a fountain pen, it was the Esterbrook J-model. Required by many high schools and professional schools in the 1950s, these vintage pens were attractive, easy to use, easy to customize and very affordable. We restored this J-model pen with a new ink sac. If you have a spare Esterbrook nib, these are easy to customize by simply unscrewing the old nib and screwing in a new one. Its steel 1555 Gregg was designed for practitioners of the Gregg Shorthand Method. Mostly stenographers, secretaries and journalists. You will find it is extra-fine with some feedback. No cracks or deep scratches. Staining to the barrel threads and the pocket clip isn't flush against the side of the cap. 12.7cm capped.