Dip Pens & Early Writing Equipment
If not otherwise specified, measurements of dip pens are inclusive of their nibs, and measurements of pens and pencils with extending parts are given at full extension. We can provide nibs upon request for dip pens listed without nibs. For ordinary steel nibs, this will normally be without charge.
Pencil lead links: order lead or learn about sizes and sources
The items below are sorted by date; click here to sort by maker
9809: unmarked novelty pencil: high quality English-made figural in the form of a key, 7 cm long extended, 5.5 cm long retracted; gold filled (may be solid, at least in some parts, as no wear-through visible), Victorian design registry mark on top, slider and end band set with little turquoises, early cone-shaped nozzle marked "M", uses 1.0 mm lead. Pin fitting soldered onto the back could readily be removed by a jeweler if desired.
DATE: c. 1845 • CONDITION: exc • $450 
9299: H. Thompson quill knife: tapered, flat-sided wood handle, imprinted with Victorian crown and cipher, as well as "H. THOMPSON/9 NASSAU ST."; 17.6 cm long overall, blade sound, tiny chip to tip.
DATE: c. 1860
• CONDITION: fine • $95
9658: Mabie Todd pencil: unmarked Mabie's patent twist-action, 7.2 cm long closed, 9.9 cm extended; gold filled trim, uncommon wooden barrel sleeve; excellent condition but for usual age shrinkage crack to wood. Accepts 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: fine* • $95
9671: Manual Tool Co. quill knife: Sheffield-made, 16.8 cm long, well-marked on handle with queen's crown and "S.O." (Stationery Office) above "45-12", with maker's name.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: fine-exc •
$95
9670: unmarked quill knife: Sheffield-made, 16.2 cm long, well-marked on handle with queen's crown and "S.O." (Stationery Office) above "45-12".
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: fine • $85
9899: John Holland dip pen in box: rare hand-engraved socketed nib with pearl taper, 16 cm long, #4-size nib of substantial construction; in original Holland presentation box, box has minor scuffs to the outer cover.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine semiflex • $485
10065: John Wilson quill knife: Sheffield-made, tapering flat-sided wooden handle, 16 cm long, blade sound but with some deep pitting; well marked on handle, ripples over imprints appear to be pressed rather than carved.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: G • $60
9785: unmarked scraper: erasing knife, blade marked on base "AVE/MARIA"; ivory handle slightly bent to side, doubles as a paper knife; 15.7 cm long.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $120
9832: unmarked dip pen: French manufacture with gilt piquet work, 17.5 cm long excluding plated nib, one crack at front (see detail), some moth damage and warpage as is typical on natural materials.
DATE: c.
1870 • CONDITION: G* • $285
9834: Gorham dip pen: large with bold "pineapple" pattern, 15.8 cm long excluding plated nib; fully marked, nicely patinated, unusual form; nice condition, a few light nicks.
DATE: c. 1880 •
CONDITION: fine • $275
10286: Eagle drop-action pen knife: black lacquered brass, twist pattern, 7.5 cm long closed, press end button to release blade; marked only "PATENTED" (patent awarded in 1883), one chip to lacquer.
DATE: c. 1883 • CONDITION: fine • $60
10277: Aikin Lambert (?) dip pen: sterling silver, elegant twist pattern, marked only "STERLING", 16.5 cm long excluding nib. Nib is a large ventless gold Aikin Lambert #5, spidery fine writing lightly, will open up wide with normal pressure. Hairline from end of slit could be repaired, but does not appear to open during normal use. Holder is nice and clean, noting slight shallow indentation at center of smooth front gripping section.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: extra-fine superflex • SOLD
6725: Asprey combination paper knife and pen knife: ivory, 18.9 cm long, blade marked "ASPREY/166/BOND STREET"; blade has one nick in edge, action is good; ivory has scattered traces of what appears to be the remains of painted decoration.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG • $185
10064: Baker quill knife: fine quality English manufacture, 14.7 cm long, handle doubles as paper knife; no cracks, metal clean.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • $150
8250: De La Rue "Casket Ink" traveling inkwell: unusual oversized version, nickel plated, fully marked on both inside and on outer case, Paris-made, glass well inside; 5.5 cm high, 2.6 cm thick, original inner seal mostly present but not ink-tight; plating dull with wear and some spotting, mechanically sound, will clean up.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G • $200
10246: Eagle Arrow dip pen: unusual drop-action holder, 11.2 cm long retracted, nickel plated brass, less common twist pattern; imprint on nib holder notes Feb. 1, 1887 patent date, end button is pressed with nib down to extend, pressed again with nib upwards to retract; good working order, usual moderate plating wear.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG • $125
9954: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: small gold filled "snail" pattern ringtop, 8.7 cm long extended, 5 cm closed; unmarked, monogram on indicia, mechanism works smoothly, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1890 •
CONDITION: VG-fine • $80
10051: Gorham dip pen: smooth sterling silver holder, fully marked, model number B2675, 15.25 cm long excluding unusual star-vent Fairchild #5 gold nib; holder is clean, with no engravings or dings, but nib is missing tipping on one side, forepart of very flexible tines show signs of having been straightened.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • $275
9943: Gorham dip pen: sterling silver, 15.25 cm long excluding nib, nicely-swelling body with high-quality repousse flower decoration, woodgrain-like lines cut at either end of relief-worked area a refined touch enhancing the realistic effect. Ferrule fully marked, model number B140.
DATE: c. 1890 •
CONDITION: fine • $425
10284: Hicks combination dip pen and pencil: sterling silver, 15.8 cm long excluding steel nib, fully marked with acorn logo, very uncommon form with end of taper turning to extend and retract standard 2.0 mm lead; no dings, monogram elegantly engraved on indicia.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc
• $485
9819: Hicks magic pencil: oversize gold filled ringtop, 9 cm closed, 15.8 cm extended; uses 2.5 mm lead, marked "W.S. HICKS NEW YORK"; unusual helical chasing, name on indicia, significant wear, noting wear-through on the beading of the front ferrule; functionally sound, fijne appearance, mechanism smooth and positive. Magic pencils of this size are very uncommon.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G* • $200
10276: Mordan dip pen: sterling silver, twist pattern with smooth taper and baluster finial, 18.1 cm long overall, excluding steel Falcon nib. Some shallow dings and minor nicks, a long and elegant instrument.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $225
9975: F. G. Davison dip pen and paper knife set in box: unmarked pen with gold filled ferrule, spiral-cut pearl taper with inset gold filled twisted wire and ball finial, 13 cm long excluding rather toothy Davison #2 gold nib; matching pearl paper knife in scimitar form is 8.2 cm long, both in plush case with usual external wear.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine flex • $200
10238: Faber dip pen: nickel-plated brass ferrule, marked "E. FABER" with 1877 patent date, taper of simulated ivory (celluloid over a wooden core) with scrimshaw-type decoration, highly detailed; 17.9 cm long not including steel dip nib, taper marked "FRANCE"; plating wear to ferrule.
DATE: c. 1895 •
CONDITION: VG-fine • $165
9842: Fairchild magic pencil: large sterling silver ringtop, 12.2 cm long extended, 6.4 cm retracted; beautiful high-relief design of raised flowers against a textured ground, no maker's mark, but shaft imprinted "STERLING" and "PAT. APD FOR"; uses 2.0 mm lead, mechanism sticky, some scratching to nozzle.
DATE:
c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine* • $250
9808: Mabie Todd dip pen: sterling silver, 16.1 cm long excluding plated nib; fully marked, twist-pattern with smooth ends, a few very small nicks and dings, overall very clean.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine •
$165
10035: Battin sheath pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 8.1 cm long, flat wooden pencil inside, engraved name on side; made by Battin & Co.of Newark, New Jersey.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine •
$60
9660: Hicks magic pencil: gold filled, larger size, 13.1 cm extended, French "DOUBLÉ OR" hallmarks, uses 1.5mm VS lead, note test marks at end of shaft near finial, irregular surface on indicia from engraving removal.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG* • $80
10047: Mordan dip pen: sterling silver, heavy reeded pattern, bold with only a few pinprick dings, 15.5 cm long excluding plated nib.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $225
6730: B. & B. dip pen: unusual, aluminum, 15.8 cm long excluding bronze nib, marked " B. & B. ST. PAUL" near nib holder, and "MELLON NATIONAL BANK/PITTSBURGH" on the barrel; inner portion of nib holder rust-eaten, but does not affect function and is not visible with nib in place.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION:
VG-fine* • $70
10037: Mordan combination dip pen and pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 6.25 cm long closed, telescoping body opens to reveal sliders to extend dip pen holder and 1.5 mm (VS) pencil nozzle; mechanically sound, but one slider plate is missing (can still easily be operated by pushing upon the protruding pins) and the other is missing an end. 1908 dated inscription on the barrel.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION:
VG-fine* • $85
10241: Eagle Automatic drop-action pen knife: plated brass, engine turned pattern, 6.9 cm long closed, press end button to release blade; fully marked, appears to be an unusually late example.
DATE: c. 1920
• CONDITION: fine • $60
7829: Conklin paper knife: laminated celluloid, 22.2 cm long, imprinted "COMPLIMENTS OF THE CONKLIN PEN CO."; side panels are the same distinctive mottled green used for Conklin pens, tip of blade has been chipped and smoothed.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $400