Collector's Bookshelf II

Luca De Ponti's study, La storia dell'Aurora dal 1919 ai giorni nostri/The Story of Aurora from 1919 to the Present (Milan, 1995), is extensively illustrated and has text in both Italian and English. OUT OF PRINT

Emilio Dolcini's monograph on what must be the most famous of Italian penmakers belongs to the same series as the Aurora volume above, and adheres to the same high standards of research and production. OMAS: La storia di una grande casa italiana e dell'intera sua produzione/The history of an important Italian firm and its entire production is now out of print.

Enrico Bettazzi and Letizia Jacopini, Tibaldi: A Story of Fountain-Pens and Men (Allemandi, 1998) is a 176 page hardback that proudly carries on the Italians' lead in thoroughly-researched monographic studies of individual pen manufacturers.  In English.

Alex Fortis, Antonio Vannucchi, and Antonio Fedeli, Fountain Pens/Penne stilografiche (Bella Cosa Library, 1995), paperback.   Economical and full of useful illustrations, light on the text (English/Italian), a nice pocket-sized survey book.

There isn't much in print on inkwells; Veldon Badders, however, has written two useful paperback volumes: The Collector's Guide to Inkwells: Identification & Values (1995); Book II of the same title is illustrated at left (1997). Book I (175 pp.)    Book II (256 pp.)

Regina Martini, Pens and Pencils: A Collector's Handbook (revised edition, 1998), paperback. Many illustrations of secondary brands, especially German and British (the book was originally written in German, and the translation is at times a bit awkward).  Price guide unreliable, as is much of the pen company history.  

Dietmar Geyer, Collecting Writing Instruments: From the Flint Tool to the Stylus, From the Quill Pen to the Fountain Pen and Felt-Tip Marker (Schiffer, 1990), 176 pages, hardcover.  An enjoyable, heavily-illustrated book that touches on a rather wide range of material.  Originally in German, with a correspondingly European focus.

Glen Bowen, Collectible Fountain Pens: Parker, Sheaffer, Wahl-Eversharp, Waterman (revised edition, 1996), paperback.  Not expensive, but this volume, originally published in 1982, is showing its age.  Coverage is less than comprehensive, and nearly all illustrations are black and white. 

Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera, Fountain Pens : History and Design (1998).   Hardcover, 192 pages; some nice illustrations, especially of Italian pens not often seen, but text is riddled with errors and attribution of some pens is entirely mistaken.

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