The items below are listed alphabetically by maker, with featured items grouped at the top.
Victorian dip pens have long been one of our personal collecting interests. We have recently reorganized our catalog pages devoted to writing instruments and accessories of the 19th-century, and will be listing a large number of new offerings there over the next few weeks, starting with dip pens.
17012: American Novelty Company Columbia giant novelty dip pen: nickel plated ferrule, painted wooden taper, 32.3 cm long, nib marked "COLUMBIA/A./N.C./NEW YORK", age darkening where exposed. Shown here at 2/3 scale, with Parker 75 ballpoint for size reference (not included).
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $95
17013: American Pencil Co. No. 19 "Midget" dip pen: giant novelty display piece, slightly over 33 cm long including nib, fully marked copper-finish ferrule, brass nib retains much of its plating, sponge-painted wooden taper. Shown here at 2/3 scale, with Parker 75 ballpoint for size reference (not included).
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium flex • $105
16645: Crown dip pen: gold filled holder, ebonized wood taper with applique of flying bird carrying a letter; 14.2 cm long excluding #2 ventless gold Crown nib, holder marked only "3", nib is a notable writer with lively springiness.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • SOLD
17019: Eagle dip pen: sterling silver, 14.9 cm long excluding steel nib, marked "PAT.OCT.17.99/STERLING.E." (US design patent D31670).
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine • $120
17021: Greaton dip pen: gold filled holder, removable ebonized wood taper, 15.3 cm long excluding Greaton "Mercantile" ventless gold nib; John W. Greaton was an early New York gold pen manufacturer and reseller, successful but active for a relatively short time. Nib is in excellent condition but for a test mark at the bottom of the imprint, and is unusual in being imprinted on both sides.
DATE: c. 1849 • CONDITION: fine* • $275
17017: John Holland dip pen: unmarked sterling silver holder with removable ebonized wood taper, 15.8 cm long excluding #7 Holland ventless 16K gold nib. Silver shows wear and shallow dings, nib is excellent with noteworthy line variation and snapback. Silver holders are generally earlier and far less common than gold filled.
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: extra-fine flex • SOLD
16703: Mallat retracting dip pen: rare and historically important, patented gold nib with jewel tipping, predating the general adoption of welded iridium alloy tipping; holder is 15.1 cm long with nib retracted, nib tip is damaged but the stub of the original tipping stone is still visible on one side, condition otherwise fine to excellent.
DATE: c. 1843 • CONDITION: G* • $450
15845: Morton dip pen: unmarked gold plated holder, swirled glass taper, 14.7 cm long excluding #6 Morton ventless gold nib.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $175
16969: Tiffany dip pen: beautiful sterling silver holder, 17 cm long excluding nib, with finely-chased floral relief decoration with acanthus-bordered rings; fully marked, top-quality work, not to be confused with run-of-the-mill Tiffany-marked pens made by lesser subcontractors.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $1100
17018: unmarked dip pen: brass holder with hand-carved bone taper, the end in the shape of a hoof; 15.6 cm long excluding steel nib, probably European manufacture.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine • $145
16970: unmarked watch chain dip pen and inkwell: nickel plated brass, tubular links fit into each other to form a long thin pen with a reversible holder at the end; European, marked only "PATENT/N.L.F." on the bottom (for the Netherlands?).
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine • $365
17020: unmarked dip pen: sterling silver, 15.3 cm long excluding steel nib, some nibbles to the very end of the taper, marked only "STERLING".
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: VG • $75
Previously featured items here
Latest featured items here
17049: Esterbrook CH: pink Pastel-series lever-filler, 11.2 cm long, stainless steel trim, #1551 nib, barrel marked "EDUCATIONAL SAMPLE"; like new, noting slight discoloration at front of barrel.
DATE: c. 1958 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine • $120
17055: Esterbrook CH: white Pastel series "purse pen", 11.2 cm long, lever-filler, stainless steel trim, black end buttons, good imprints, #1551 nib unit, excellent though with a stress mark above the cap band.
DATE: c. 1958 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: extra-fine • $120
17059: Esterbrook TTH: white Pastel series purse-size repeater pencil, 11.3 cm long, stainless steel trim, black clip button, uses .9 mm lead, new old stock with sticker.
DATE: c. 1958 • CONDITION: near mint • $60
17060: Esterbrook TJ: white repeater pencil, 12.5 cm long, stainless steel trim, black clip button, uses .9 mm lead, new old stock with sticker, slight barrel shrinkage at top of barrel at imprint.
DATE: c. 1958 • CONDITION: exc* • $60
17061: Esterbrook CH: pastel blue "purse pen", 11.2 cm long, lever-filler, stainless steel trim, black end buttons, good imprints, #1551 nib unit, like new but with a stress line in the cap lip (see detail).
DATE: c. 1958 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: extra-fine • $80
17052: Esterbrook CH: pastel green "purse pen", 11.2 cm long, lever-filler, stainless steel trim, black end buttons, good imprints, #1551 nib unit, excellent though with a stress mark above the cap band.
DATE: c. 1959 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: fine • $80
17056: Esterbrook CH: pastel green "purse pen", 11.2 cm long, lever-filler, stainless steel trim, black end buttons, good imprints, #2556 nib unit.
DATE: c. 1959 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine • $80
17054: Esterbrook CH: pink Pastel series "purse pen", 11.2 cm long, lever-filler, stainless steel trim, pink end buttons.
DATE: c. 1960 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: extra-fine • $120
17057: Esterbrook CH: green Pastel series "purse pen", 11.2 cm long, lever-filler, stainless steel trim, grey end buttons, #1551 nib unit.
DATE: c. 1960 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine • $95
17058: Esterbrook CH: red Pastel series "purse pen", 11.2 cm long, lever-filler, stainless steel trim, red end buttons, #1551 nib unit, new old stock with stickers.
DATE: c. 1960 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: extra-fine • $125
17065: Parker 75 set in box: sterling silver grid pattern, gold plated trim, made in USA, marked "STERLING CAP & BARREL"; section with angle indicator, no "0", 14K USA-made nib with "F" on feed, slender metal squeeze converter; matching twist action pencil uses .9 mm lead. Initials on ends are stickers and could easily be removed if desired.
DATE: c. 1974 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine • $325
17064: Pelikan R400 Souverän rollerball in box: black with blue pearl striped barrel, gold plated trim; cap is cracked (see detail) but pen fully functional, selling as is (replacement caps are available, same as for M400). Box is for an R200.
DATE: c. 2020 • CONDITION: VG* • $95
17069: Tiffany ballpoint: black lacquer, sterling silver trim, 14 cm long, notable size, quality, and heft, uses standard Parker refills; twist-action mechanism, some usage scratches, overall excellent appearance.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $250
17070: Tiffany rollerball: sterling silver, 12.3 cm long, chrome front barrel is a bayonet-style mount, uses standard Schmidt/Visconti refills.
DATE: c. 1995 • CONDITION: exc • $150
17071: unmarked The Royal Prince: red chased hard rubber lever-filler, 14 cm long, made in England, an economy pen with gold-plated nib and trim, but interesting and unusual; cracks from lever slot (see detail), clip moves from side to side, otherwise showing little sign of actual usage.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: fine • $80
Yet more recently-posted items here
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