15836: A. A. Waterman (?) eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber slip-cap with full Art Nouveau fine silver filigree overlay, 13.1 cm long, marked only "30" at the end of the barrel and "STERLING" on the overlay, narrow feed of distinctive inner construction, all suggesting A. A. Waterman manufacture. Initials scratched onto barrel cartouche, pitting at top of cap surely from original manufacturing method of electrodeposition. Nib tipping is somewhat scant but a good writer, boldly calligraphic.
DATE: c. 1903 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: broad italic flex • $375
15863: Aikin Lambert Mercantile: mottled hard rubber slip-cap eyedropper-filler, 13.3 cm long, excellent color and imprints, ribbed section, narrow feed, #2 nib is a lively and responsive writer, the very beginning of an axial stress hairline visible next to the vent hole under magnification. Cap mouth has been sleeved with black hard rubber to repair a small crack, traces now visible only on closest inspection.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine stub flex • $265
14991: Boston eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber ringtop, smooth sterling silver overlay, 10 cm long, marked only "STERLING" on cap and barrel; factory italic #2 Boston Safety nib is notably calligraphic. Fine overall appearance, bumps to end of barrel (see detail).
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium italic semiflex • $265
15033: Boston Safety eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber ringtop with full 1/8 18K gold filled overlay in fine parallel lines pattern, 9.8 cm long, notable rounded stub #2 nib. Clean and crisp, one very slightly raised bump on cap (see detail).
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium stub semiflex • $250
12754: Carey eyedropper-filler in box: black hard rubber straight-cap, gold filled chased pattern overlay, 13.5 cm long, nearly identical to a contemporary Aikin Lambert, narrow feed, #2 Carey nib has been retipped, is extremely soft and should be used with a light touch; "Cecilia" engraved on barrel cartouche, cap crown disk bumped askew from dings to cap top bead (see detail); fancy box is clean with full Carey markings on the interior.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine stub flex • $895
12957: Century eyedropper-filler: black chased hard rubber taper-cap, 15 cm long, over and under feed, imprint with 1893 patent date. Moderate even fading, imprints and chasing are sharp except where heat-softened towards front of barrel, nib is usable as is but has lost its tipping. An early pen of excellent quality, from a company closely tied to Parker.
DATE: c. 1898 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine stub flex • $250
16036: Chilton Wing-flow: burgundy pneumatic-filler, 12.85 cm long, gold filled trim, initials "CEB" inlaid in barrel; filler knob imprints bold, some scratches to very end, Wing-flow nib has been retipped to a wonderfully calligraphic rounded italic, sharp-edged yet smooth.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium italc flex • $685
15303: Conklin Jaxon: clipless black chased hard rubber stud-filler, 13.3 cm long, patented variant of Conklin's crescent-filler with a metal lock ring securing the filling stud against accidental actuation. Nearly all of these pens were sold under the Jaxon name, used by Conklin as a sub-brand. Nice clean #3-size, strong chasing and imprints, usual rust to lock ring.
DATE: c. 1916 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine stub flex • $265
16047: Crocker Ink-Tite 22: black chased hard rubber end-lever-filler, 13.8 cm long, gold filled trim, clear imprints, slight even fading and wear, original price band on cap, #2 Crocker nib is a very broad factory italic.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: extra-broad italic semiflex • $295
15540: De La Rue Onoto set in box: fully covered gold filled lever-filler, 12.3 cm long, matching twist-action pencil uses 1.1 mm lead. Notably calligraphic nib.
DATE: c. 1937 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium stub flex • $485
13747: Esterbrook Relief 314: mottled hard rubber slip-cap eyedropper-filler, 13.3 cm long, fully Esterbrook-marked, manufactured by Wirt. Characteristic bottom-vented Wirt feed, pen shows no sign of ever having been filled, ventless gold Esterbrook-marked nib has one superficial nick or tool mark on the top right tine (see detail).
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: near mint* • NIB: medium oblique italic • $950
11132: Mabie Todd Swan: hard rubber straight-cap eyedropper-filler with extremely rare Fleur-de-lys pattern gold filled high relief overlay; 13.5 cm long, full Mabie Todd & Bard imprint on barrel with 1880s patent dates, classic over and under feed with twisted silver wire "tail". Initial on cap, name on barrel, only a handful of examples of this design are currently known, with a silver specimen selling for over $11,000 on eBay in November 2013.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium stub flex • $4500
15111: Mabie Todd Swan 2 Self Filler: rare black chased hard rubber slip-cap bulb-filler, 13.6 cm long, New York production, calligraphic #2 nib is very flexible, with gold overfeed. This short-lived design was Mabie Todd's first self-filling fountain pen, and incorporates an internal check valve inside the filler housing (a full discussion of this design can be found here).
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium stub flex • $450
13813: Mabie Todd Swan Military Safety: uncommon screw-cap black chased hard rubber ink-tablet eyedropper-filler, 14.5 cm long, nickel plated trim, New York production but bearing retail imprint on cap top of Mark Cross of London; even fading, imprints legible, marked "PAT. APPL'D FOR", typical flakes off very end of ink compartment knob (see detail).
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium broad stub flex • $495
16068: Mabie Todd Swan set in box: black hard rubber lever-filler, full 14K gold filled overlay in bold Machine Age Deco style, 12.9 cm long, matching pencil uses 1.1 mm lead. Late New York City production, top quality, seldom seen.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: fine stub semiflex • $850
13632: Montegrappa The Elmo Pen: early production black hard rubber safety, 12.75 cm long, smooth gold filled overlay, #2 Elmo nib, Moore-style one-piece shaft and feed; cap has engraved monogram, dings to crown, cap lip has been replaced. Nib has a crack from the vent hole, usable with a light hand. The Elmo Pen was one of Montegrappa's very first models, and an overlay example is unheard of.
DATE: c. 1922 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine stub flex • $650
15517: Moore Improved Non-Leakable: rare black chased hard rubber safety with double-function cap, screws on when nib is retracted, but acts as a slip-cap if put on when the nib is extended. 13.8 cm long, nib retracting sleeve covers barrel almost completely, thus has side cutouts to allow the barrel to be grasped firmly while turning the cap. Excellent imprints and chasing, even moderate fading, gold filled cap band, #2 nib is a sharp-edged factory italic.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine italic semiflex • $495
13425: Moore Non-Leakable: black hard rubber retracting-nib safety with smooth gold filled overlay, 12.1 cm long, Moore #2 nib; one shallow ding and some pinprick marks to the cap, small patch of corrosion at front of barrel overlay (see details), safety post inside cap is absent.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine stub flex • $650
15433: Parker 10: oversize black hard rubber cable twist straight-cap eyedropper-filler, 15.8 cm long, unusually early example with triple section ferrule, early Lucky Curve feed, #3 nib with keyhole vent (intact but for tiny chip to tipping -- see detail). Cap is a virtually perfect reproduction in original material.
DATE: c. 1896 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: medium stub flex • $1600
13552: Parker 018: rare black hard rubber "Jointless" eyedropper-filler, 13.9 cm long, spearhead Lucky Curve feed, barrel imprint heavily worn, no visible cap imprint, hairline from vent hole of teardrop-vent Lucky Curve nib should be repaired if pen is to be used extensively, otherwise usable as is.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: medium fine stub flex • $250
15406: Parker Duofold Senior: red hard rubber bandless button-filler, 14 cm long, gold filled trim, an iconic model in excellent condition with strong large imprint, milling on ends sharp with minor marks, and but one spot of brassing atop the clip ball. Tipping is scant but present, nib writes a handsomely shaded line. Name and fraternity letters stippled very lightly on barrel opposite imprint -- so lightly that we only noticed it during closeup photography. "6" imprinted on end of blind cap.
DATE: c. 1922 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine stub semiflex • $1400
15123: Parker Duofold Junior: red hard rubber button-filler, 11.6 cm long, gold filled trim, single raised cap band, clean small imprint, well preserved milling on ends, cap lip slightly trimmed.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine stub • $250
15709: Parker button-filler: black chased hard rubber "Black Line" ringtop, 12 cm long, gold filled trim, crisp imprints and chasing, ends with sharp milling, Lucky Curve #3 nib has a rounded oblique nib, a wet writer that needs to be canted correctly for best results.
DATE: c. 1928/1937 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium broad oblique semiflex • $200
15707: Parker Duofold Juniorette Deluxe: black streamline button-filler, 11.6 cm long, gold filled trim, late production with 4th quarter date, clip without patent date, notable factory italic nib.
DATE: 1939 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: broad italic • $265
16069: Parker 51 Demi set: dark blue Vac-filler, 12.25 cm long, 1/10 14K gold filled cap in fine parallel lines pattern, gold filled plain arrow clip, strong barrel imprint with 2nd quarter date code, matching twist-action pencil uses .9 mm lead. Tiny stress mark on side of hood opening barely noticeable, does not affect function. A clean higher grade example of an uncommon 51 variant (Vac-filling Demis were produced for a much shorter time than their Aerometric successors, and are differently proportioned: shorter, but full-sized in girth).
DATE: 1948 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: fine oblique • $265
15752: Parker 75 Prince de Galles: rare variant with ribless end buttons, featherless arrow clip; gold plated, made in France, late section with gold plated trim ring, uncommon 14K French-made factory broad italic nib with feed marked "BI".
DATE: c. 1985 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: broad italic • $450
15736: Salz lever-filler: red chased hard rubber oversize flat-top with purple casein ends, 14.2 cm long, gold filled trim, generously sized Salz-imprinted nib has barely any tipping but is still a fine writer. Overall appearance is fine, but cap has tight hairline cracks at mouth and top (along with a scrape mark) none of which affects the pen's usability (see details).
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: fine stub semiflex • $165
15862: Security Giant: oversize mottled hard rubber self-filler, 14.7 cm long, gold filled trim, made by Greek immigrants Kritikson Brothers in Chicago; high quality with distinctive end knob actuated pressure bar filling system, check protector at top of cap (rotating blades were rolled over a signature, making any attempt at alteration immediately apparent since the ink would bleed along the cuts in the paper). Name on barrel, overall condition would be excellent with strong imprints and only slight fading but for a tiny nick in the cap lip and an almost invisible repair to the end of the barrel (sealed crack with new aluminum liner -- see details). Unusual factory italic nib but tipping material rough; fully usable but drags on rougher paper.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: broad italic • SOLD
11211: Unic Duocolor: French-market version of Zerollo's famous two-nibbed fountain pen, boldly patterned red and black hard rubber, 13 cm long, gold filled trim, bold imprints with patent number and both Unic and Zerollo names, crisp knurling at cap top. Condition is like new, noting a tiny nick to the cap lip (see detail; very common on these pens). Unusually, the nibs are different in tip width, one being more calligraphic and the other more suitable for note-taking.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: near mint* • NIB: medium stub flex/fine semiflex • $5685
14921: Wahl Tempoint: early green gold filled lever-filler ringtop, 9.85 cm long, no Wahl marks on metal, only Boston Safety patent dates and "14 1/8"; crisp "Grecian Border" pattern, early Sheaffer-licensed sprung lever mechanism, #2 Tempoint nib; some loss of hard rubber liner at cap mouth, does not affect posting or function.
DATE: c. 1919 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine stub flex • $250
15230: Wahl Signature: smooth red hard rubber lever-filler, 13.95 cm long, gold filled trim, roller clip, notable Signature nib; no brassing, no sign of ever having been filled, some handling marks and what appears to be a manufacturing defect in the form of a tiny nick to the end of the barrel (see detail). An uncommon model, and especially rare in red hard rubber.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: medium fine stub flex • $625
14043: Waterman 414: early black hard rubber eyedropper-filler with .999 fine silver filigree Art Nouveau overlay; 13.1 cm long, #4 nib is a notable writer, early imprint, stable base crack; imprints on the silver are clean and legible, hard rubber has been professionally chemically reblackened. #4-size fine silver overlays are much less common than #2-size.
DATE: c. 1903 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium stub • $875
15906: Waterman 12 PSF: extremely early clipless black chased hard rubber lever-filler, 13.55 cm long, nickel plated trim, a rare example of one of the very first Waterman lever-fillers with a number of distinctive features, including the oval recess for the lever end, a sprung pressure bar assembled with a rivet and with a barrel-shaped anchor end, and a lever box stop consisting of a bent-over tab (discussed in this article). Lever-fillers marked "PSF" were made only from 1915 to mid-1917; of these, only a small number had sprung pressure bars and raised barrel threads; and of these, only a tiny fraction belong to the very first series with the features noted above, making them at least as rare as Waterman coin-fillers. Hard rubber is crisp and glossy with bold imprints and chasing, near mint but for repaired cracks in cap lip (see details).
DATE: 1915 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: medium fine stub semiflex • $385
8403: Waterman 14: black hard rubber eyedropper-filler with smooth sterling silver overlay and bloodstone cap top seal; 13.1 cm long, a rare but catalogued factory model most often found in France and England (a version appears on p. 53 of Waterman's 1908 USA catalog under "Special Mountings" as Emerald End Special Fluted, priced at $50 -- more than three times the cost of a full sterling silver Snake); London hallmarks are worn but mostly legible, one ding to the side of the cap, #4 nib with unusual turnup grind at tip; the smooth silver version of this pen is several times rarer than the fluted version in gold, which is itself quite hard to find.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: medium oblique • $1950
8907: Waterman 472: uncommon black hard rubber screw-cap eyedropper-filler with smooth sterling silver overlay; 13.1 cm long, London hallmarks, number at barrel end is simply "72" with no hundreds column digit, as is typical for English-market Watermans; 1925-dated presentation inscription, nice stub #2 nib has an incipient hairline from the vent hole, but should be stable if used without excessive writing pressure; even wear, light marks to metal, one tiny stress crack where barrel overlay crimped in place (see detail; for some reason these are extremely common in English-market Waterman overlays).
DATE: 1920 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium italic flex • $485
15878: Waterman 52½V: black chased hard rubber ringtop lever-filler, 11.4 cm long, bright nickel plated trim, hard rubber black and glossy with crisp imprints and chasing; nib is a smooth and wet writer, opens easily for dramatic line width variation.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: medium stub flex • $220
14935: Waterman 52½V: black hard rubber clipless vest pocket lever-filler, 11.1 cm long, seven-sided 9K solid gold London-hallmarked engine turned overlay with enamel-inlaid perpetual calendar. Initials "P.S" engraved on cap top, date letter for 1930/31. A very rare and characteristically English model in notably clean condition.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: broad oblique • $2950
15930: Waterman Skywriter in box: black celluloid lever-filler, 12.75 cm long, nickel plated trim, Canadian-made subbrand model by Waterman's subsidiary Alco (Aikin Lambert Co.). Wartime pen, great nib but cap bands irregularly crimped, slight swelling of barrel over lever pivot. From the Hopkins collection, dispersed at Bonhams some thirty years ago. Hopkins was a British Army officer, meticulous about recording the circumstances of each purchase, retaining and annotating receipts, instructions, and boxes to an almost obsessive degree.
DATE: c. 1943 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: fine stub flex • $175
15025: Weidlich Star: black chased hard rubber ringtop lever-filler, 11 cm long, gold filled ringtop fitting may be an old addition, as lever is nickel; some fading including the shadow of a slip-on clip on the cap, chasing and imprints good, high quality Weidlich #2 nib writes a nicely shaded line.
DATE: c. 1926 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine stub semiflex • $120
15143: unmarked eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber slip-cap, 13.6 cm long, gold filled Art Nouveau filigree overlay has not a trace of brassing (was sold to us as tested as 14K, but more likely top quality very thick gold laminate). Closely resembles a Waterman, similar quality but parts do not interchange. #2 warranted nib is a notable writer, only slightest fading to hard rubber.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium stub flex • $425
