| 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.
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The items below are sorted by maker; click here to sort by date
5428: American Pencil Co. pencil case: wooden holder, 28.3 cm long, in the form of a giant pencil with a screw-on nickeled brass end cap; faux woodgrained finish, real lead inset into end; marked with number "32" and "PATENT/APPL'D FOR".
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • $100 
4307: American Pencil Co. No. 19 giant dip pen: oversize display piece, 30 cm long; brass plated ferrule, wooden taper w swirled paint decoration (some minor flaking -- see picture); matching "MIDGET" steel nib.
DATE: c.
1900 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: fine semiflex • $150
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
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
6983: E. S. Johnson magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, 8.2 cm long open, 4.8 cm closed; uncommon checkerboard pattern of engraved panels and inlaid pearl; shaft imprinted with date of Johnson's design patent 6229; mechanically sound, but one pearl panel cracked (see detail); uses 1.0 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: G*
• $95
5930: Eagle No. 1200 reversible dip pen holder: nickel-plated brass, 12.6 cm long closed, end plug reverses to reveal nib holder; new old stock, but patches of surface corrosion to plating; several available; label from original box shown for illustration only, not included.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $12
5147: Edward Todd magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 9 cm long extended, maker's mark on ribbed shaft; nozzle mouth has two slits but also a third parallel split; mechanism works fine, metal crisp, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE:
c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • $50
5917: Fairchild dip pen and pencil combination: early example in engine turned silver (no metal content marks, however), 9.2 cm closed, 15.4 cm extended; telescoping body with reversible pen holder and pencil insert; scattered shallow dings, pen holder has a crack on one lower edge (see detail); barrel marked "L.W. FAIRCHILD & CO.".
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: G-VG* • $160
6563: Fairchild dip pen: 17.3 cm long, wooden taper, large socket-base #8 nib; can be used despite missing tipping material, typical seam opening to socket (see detail).
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: fine
stub flex • $150
7133: Fairchild retracting dip pen: uncommon twist-action model, 15.6 cm extended, 11.6 cm long retracted, gold filled checkerboard pattern ferrule, wooden taper is turned to extend and retract the nib. Clean, fully marked, with a #5 Fairchild nib (iridium intact, but quite scratchy; light scratch marks over imprint).
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine superflex • $285
7641: Fairchild magic pencil: large sterling silver cable twist pattern ringtop, 7 cm closed, 12.2 cm extended; smooth easy action, no dings, even wear, uses 2 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG • $225
5361: Fairchild magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 10.2 cm long extended, marked "F/J", scattered fleabites and superficial scratches to barrel, mechanism works well, uses "VS" lead (1.5 mm).
DATE: c. 1900 •
CONDITION: G • $65
5701: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: large, heavy sterling silver ringtop, 7 cm long closed, mechanically sound, scattered light marks, uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: G • $180
7642: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: large smooth gold filled ringtop, 6.4 cm long closed, 12.2 cm extended; very clean, with a smooth action, barrel engraved 'S. A. C." and "June 19 - 1906"; no marker's mark, uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $125
5101: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: oversized sterling silver ringtop, 8.7 cm closed, 14.6 cm extended; marked "STERLING", monogrammed "W.H.R.", some extremely shallow bumps; very solidly made, smooth action, uses thick 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG • $180
6307: Hicks magic pencil: large sterling silver ringtop, 13.6 cm long extended, octagonal body with alternating panels of engraved decoration; very smooth action, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead.
DATE: c. 1890 •
CONDITION: fine-exc • $265
5812: Hicks figural pencil: gold filled ringtop, 5 cm long retracted, in the form of a cannon; back end turns to extend pencil, mechanism good, scattered light dings to the surface, marked "W.S. HICKS"; a scarce American-made novelty.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G • $250
7767: J. Nowill & Sons quill knife: Sheffield-made, 16.6 cm long, molded composition handle, blade markings weak but legible.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: G-VG • $50
7579: Mordan pencil: sterling silver, 9.7 cm long closed, extends to 11.6 cm; appears to have been made as a combination pencil and paper knife; uses VS (1.5 mm) lead, a few minor dings.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG
• $150
7679: Mordan dip pen: sterling silver, ball finial, 17.9 cm long excluding plated nib; very clean condition, note that what appears to be a pinhead ding at the end of the nib holder is in fact a small French hallmark.
DATE:
c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine • $250
7204: Mordan dip pen: sterling silver, ball finial, fine barleycorn pattern on grip section, escutcheon marked "S. MORDAN & CO./STERLING SILVER", 17.9 cm long excluding plated nib.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine
• $265
7529: Mordan desk pencil: sterling silver twist-pattern, 15.2 cm long, fully marked, very small French and unidentified European hallmarks; end cap is a flat replacement (originals are normally a rosette); uses 2 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG* • $165
4403: Mordan dip pen and pencil set in box: smooth sterling silver, marked "S. MORDAN & CO.", no hallmarks; pen 15.3 cm long excluding plated nib, pencil uses VS 1.5 mm lead; wear and scuffs to box exterior, pen and pencil very clean.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • $385
5633: Mordan combination dip pen and pencil: extending ringtop in heavy, high-karat gold (probably 18K), 5.8 cm long closed, blue enamel over guilloché checkerboard pattern; uses VS lead, marked "S. MORDAN & CO.", no hallmarks, jeweler's test marks on side of inner barrel, end of nib holder, edge of outer barrel, a few unobtrusive flakes on edges of enamel (see details).
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • $600
6652: Mordan novelty pencil: sterling silver figural in the form of an antique needle case and seal, 11.2 cm long, retracted; mechanism sound, uses VS lead, typical wear and scattered pinprick dings.
DATE: c. 1895 •
CONDITION: G-VG • $965
6653: Mordan (?) novelty pencil: sterling silver, in the shape of a Bramah patent key (more on the Bramah lock here); 5.7 cm long retracted, uses VS lead, retracting mechanism fully functional but a bit stiff, scratches on the ring suggest that it was carried on a real keyring; not marked, but a catalogued Mordan design and by all appearances Mordan manufacture.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: G-VG • $500
7184: Ormiston & Glass No. 136 dip pen holder: red hard rubber, 14.8 cm long excluding nib, English-made, nice clean imprint, grip section ribbing.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine • $45
6523: Unger Brothers dip pen: sterling silver Art Nouveau sea serpent design in high relief, 16.7 cm long, excluding nib; highly desirable model from a premier American maker, well marked and with only the usual minor dings and marks on the ferrule; listed as #7743 in Unger Brothers' catalog of 1904.
DATE: c. 1905
• CONDITION: VG • $1800
7176: Vickery dip pen and pencil: vermeil (gold over sterling silver) with tortoiseshell tapers, pen 19 cm long excluding nib, pencil 19.4 cm long, uses VS (1.5 mm) leads; superior quality, probably Mordan-made, more wear to pen than to pencil.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine • $500
6850: unmarked penner: classic Sheffield brass writing compendium, 13.4 cm high, original ceramic inkwell insert appears to have been replaced with a glass tube insert, crudely corked; typical denting, a fine example of a design made from the 18th century up until the beginning of the 19th.
DATE: c. 1800 • CONDITION:
G • $650
6177: unmarked combination dip pen and pencil: early American-made Bagley-style telescoping sterling silver holder, 8.3 cm long closed, 17.7 cm long extended including nib; fancy engine turning and hand-engraved decoration, some toothmarks to end plug, seam split at opposite end of nib holder unit (see detail), nib lacks iridium, but is a good early ventless gold example, imprinted horizontally "WARREN/POTSDAMER/& Co.".
DATE: c. 1855
• CONDITION: G-VG* • NIB: fine flex • $205
5088: unmarked pencil: Mabie-style twist-action retractable, 10.4 cm extended, deeply engraved heavy gold filled trim, handsome barrel sleeve is -- unusually -- made of wood; two repaired sleeve cracks, one full-length, the other 1/3 length.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: fine* • $80
7643: unmarked quill knife: wedge-shaped wooden handle, blade canted to the left to facilitate cutting, marked "SHEFFIELD/ENGLAND" on the blade, may never have been sharpened; 15.7 cm long overall.
DATE: c. 1860 •
CONDITION: fine • $75
6293: unmarked magic pencil: scarce oversize ringtop, 13.7 cm long extended, 7.6 cm long closed; bold fluted pattern, top quality, marked "STERLING PAT. APD FOR", uses 2 mm lead; US-made, probably by Fairchild or Johnson.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: fine • $325
6506: unmarked pencil: gold filled Mabie-patent style, 9.7 cm long extended, front of housing turns to retract nozzle; excellent quality, uses 1.0 mm lead, a few pinprick dings to the barrel.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION:
VG-fine • $65
6707: unmarked pencil: large, high quality, gold filled with long pearl slabs, nozzle extends by twisting front cap; 10.1 cm long extended, 8 cm retracted; mechanism works smoothly, pearl pristine, minimal plating wear to caps, tool marks on nozzle (see detail); uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine* • $165
6706: unmarked magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 9.5 cm extended, 5.2 cm closed, deeply worked high quality relief design, monogrammed "M.L.T./1894", mechanism works smoothly, uses VS 1.5 mm lead; nozzle does appear to have been shortened by some 2 or 3 mm.
DATE: c. 1894 • CONDITION: G-VG* • $175
6851: unmarked writing set: French-hallmarked silver-mounted pearl dip pen, magic pencil, paper knife, and seal, all decorated with money-plant (Lunaria biennis) pods in Art Nouveau style; fitted case is 26 cm wide, paper knife is 22.6 cm long, pencil uses VS 1.5mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: exc •
$1250
4801: unmarked pencil holder: Japanese ivory w scrimshaw-type depiction of a monkey, 9.5 cm long closed, ringtop, one hairline where cedar pencil is inserted.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $175
7053: unmarked dip pen: large, characteristically French form, 14 cm long excluding nib, massive tortoiseshell shaft, French-hallmarked 18K gold ferrule.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $295
4664: unmarked magic pencil: smooth rose gold filled ringtop, 10.1 cm long extended, US-made, operates smoothly, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $65
6709: unmarked dip pen: sterling silver, 15.2 cm long excluding plated nib, elaborate high relief repoussé Art Nouveau floral design; unidentified maker's mark on bottom of ferrule, scattered light dings, apparent seal opening on underside of ferrule actually held together by soldered-in liner/nib-holder.
DATE: c. 1900
• CONDITION: G • $465
6705: unmarked dip pen: sterling silver, 16.3 cm long excluding steel nib, deeply hand-chased "Patch" pattern, similar to that found on some very highly valued Waterman fountain pens; marked "STERLING" and "103" (or "108"), initials on the ferrule, as well as a seam opening; ditto at end of taper, where badly dented (see details).
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: fine flex • $265
7286: unmarked dip pen: tortoiseshell with ball finial, 16.6 cm long excluding plated nib; European manufacture.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: exc • $185
7193: unmarked magic pencil: gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel inlays, 7 cm long retracted, some enamel losses to back of head (see detail); uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG* • $265
7194: unmarked magic pencil: large, gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel, 6.5 cm long retracted, fine detail and quality, enamel condition very good with minimal losses, wear to plating; less common with arms shown at sides; uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: G-VG • $225
7195: unmarked magic pencil: large, gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel, 6.5 cm long retracted, fine detail and quality, enamel condition excellent, wear to plating, ring appears to have Arabic hallmark; less common with arms shown at sides; uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG • $275
6993: unmarked dip pen: large and unusual, 19.8 cm long excluding nib, polished aluminum ferrule and taper, body made up of stacked disks of various materials, mostly plastics; very solidly made, with considerable heft.
DATE:
c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine • $150
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