On Sale: Pens, Pencils, and Ephemera

We'd take a Cross Peerless 125 ballpoint pen any day over a Montblanc LeGrand ballpoint. Large for easier gripping, we love its 23k gold plate and metal construction. There's a Swarovski crystal in the cap jewel. Plus, it takes more affordable, easy-to-find ballpoint refills. This pen is almost perfect with only a couple small scratches. No dents. It comes with its original box and papers. It also has a snazzy acrylic block display. Also includes a working, black Cross refill. 14.5cm

Don't overlook the Cross Peerless 125 rollerball pen as a modern luxury pen. It is a large, rugged, handsome pen that writes as smoothly as any competitor. Marking 125 years since the original Cross Peerless appeared in 1889, this pen features a textured look that is 23k gold plated. A Swarovski crystal serves as the top jewel in the cap. This pen looks great except for a little wear. No dents nor deep scratches. Comes complete with its original box, papers and an acrylic "Cross" pen stand that is a little difficult to see in this image. This pen cost more than $500 when brand new at the original retail store. 14.4cm capped.

Perfection in vintage pens is such an elusive target. This Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal gets awfully close. Its "Brazilian Green" or "Bronze Green" finish is stunning without much, if any, discoloration. There is no brassing on the oversized fountain pen except for a tiny sliver on the edge of the lever. Fully restored, both the vintage pen and pencil work well. Under a bright light you can see some shallow scratches on the caps and barrels. You also can see some marks where the pen's cap rubs against the barrel when it closes. Very minor wear, but it didn't just roll off the assembly line. You will write a smooth extra-fine (or fine, depending on how you define extra-fine) line with its 14k gold nib that screws in and out of the pen. You will notice it is not a "Signature" nib, but it was likely a replacement nib the store that sold it used to customize the nib for the original owner. The pencil takes 1.1mm leads. Its biggest flaw is brassing on the nose cone. Pen measures 13.4cm capped.

Perhaps our favorite color combination on the Parker 100 pencil is this sky-blue and brushed-gold design. Our preowned luxury pencil is in great working order with a new eraser and spare .5mm leads. You'll see some scratches on the brushed gold cap and nose cone. Twist the cap to advance the lead or close up/retract the lead mechanism. Makes math, crosswords and sudoku more fun. 13.8cm.

We have often pondered if the "Great Characters" series by Montblanc was a slightly derisive title for a series of pens based on real people and not fictional characters in a book or movie. However, I think most people would define Andy Warhol as one of the great characters of pop culture, no matter how you define it. Our Montblanc Andy Warhol rollerball pen is in like-new condition and complete with all of its original boxes and papers. Featured on the cap are Warhol's famous Campbell's soup cans. This pen comes with a working blue refill. Not all the boxes are featured in this image.

Sleek black gleams against the silvery trim of this Dunhill Cubist ballpoint pen. It has a great faceted design for an easy grip and unique look. Complete with its original box and papers! It comes with a working refill that writes a nice black line. 13.8cm.

In our own personal collection we have a Pelikan P40 Pura that is probably the most reliable daily driver that we have. We can't imagine this one would be any different. Complete with its original box and travel pouch (not photographed) this is a luxurious workaday pen. This one is gently used with only light wear. It fills with standard international cartridges. You will write a smooth fine line that might be a shade on the dry side depending upon the ink you use. 14cm capped.

Pelikan shocked its die-hard customers by eliminating the red-striped design from its line about 10 years ago. Bold, without being gaudy, these pens became a little harder to find, though the company has recently reintroduced the color. This mid-sized R600 model looks about as close to new as you can get. We include a new working refill. The logo sports a golden mama pelican with two chicks on a black background. It comes with its original box. 13.2cm capped.