The items below are listed alphabetically by maker, with featured items grouped at the top.
A long overdue update, focusing on one of our main personal areas of interest: early dip pens and propelling pencils.
15305: Aikin Lambert dip pen, pencil, and manicure set in box: a most unusual presentation set, all in sterling silver, the three pieces engraved "M.M.", "to", and "Maiza". The reversible dip pen carries a ventless gold #4 Aikin Lambert nib, while the pencil uses .075 inch lead and extends and retracts. Some small dings here and there (see details), faceted colored glass end stones. Pencil is 12 cm long, other two pieces are 9.3 cm long, closed.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $650
15310: Barrett & Co. combination dip pen and pencil: unmarked gold filled holder, 9.4 cm long closed, 12.1 cm long with pencil nozzle extended; unusual and interesting nib appears to be gold filled rather than solid gold, and while tipped is quite scratchy, perhaps due to extensive use. Some shallow dings, twist retraction mechanism of pencil nozzle sometimes slightly sticky; pencil uses .075 inch lead.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine • SOLD
15302: Crown dip pen in box: unmarked gold filled holder, knobby branchiform mother of pearl taper, 14 cm long overall excluding ventless gold Crown #2 nib. Pen in excellent condition, but hinged box is rather rough, wood core has shrunk so will not close and latch. Crown was a Chicago company.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine flex • $150
15322: Edward Todd (?) dip pen and pencil combination: sterling silver, 15.7 cm long excluding plated nib, end of taper twists to extend and retract .075 inch lead. Marked only "STERLING", seam opening at front of holder is tight, has not been resoldered, overall appearance is fine. Such dip pens with pencil ends are most uncommon, with Edward Todd as a known maker.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG* • SOLD
15311: H. M. Smith dip pen in box: unmarked checkerboard pattern gold filled holder with celluloid taper, simulated ivory with real gold and silver inlay work on either side; 14.6 cm long overall excluding lovely long-tined #3 ventless gold nib -- a notably flexible and controllable writer. A couple of minor losses to the inlay, usual slight age warpage of the taper, excellent appearance.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine flex • $275
15257: Mabie Todd retracting dip pen: oversize large rose gold filled body, marked "MABIE TODD & CO. No. 7", ebonized wood taper, 14.4 cm long closed, 16.3 cm extended excluding ventless yellow gold Mabie Todd #7 nib. Overall condition would be close to excellent, but for nib crack from end of slit; nib is usable as is, would be worth having repaired if to be used extensively..
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium fine semiflex • $295
15312: Montgomery Ward extending dip pen in case: unmarked gold filled holder with unusually fancy mother of pearl taper, 12.1 cm long retracted, 13 cm extended excluding #2 Montgomery Ward marked nib; nib has scant tipping and has been restraightened, opens with very light pressure for dramatic line width variation, holder has small stress crack on bottom which does not affect function (see detail). Lovely box, hinged with patterned plush fabric covering.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine flex • $165
15331: unmarked extending pencil: gold filled, excellent quality, characteristically American with a steel-tipped nozzle and a square-section barrel with fluted angles; 8.85 cm long retracted, 11.45 cm extended, uses standard 1.1 mm lead, round carnelian seal stone. Engine turning panels are clean, wear concentrated on high points of fitting bands.
DATE: c. 1850 • CONDITION: VG • $125
15313: unmarked dip pen and pencil set: sterling silver, barleycorn pattern, clamp-action pen uses a sliding collar, 15.5 cm long excluding plated nib, desk pencil uses 1/16 inch l(1.55 mm) lead; by all appearances of English manufacture and of excellent quality, with the unusual feature of the engine turned patterning applied to the ends as well.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: exc • $650
15332: unmarked extending pencil: gold filled ringtop, twisted fluting and scroll pattern, 7.45 cm long closed, 9.85 cm extended, American manufacture, front of barrel is turned to extend nozzle; uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $80
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15396: Conklin Senior Endura: oversize orange celluloid lever-filler, 13.3 cm long, gold filled trim, massive Endura nib; barrel imprint good, trim plating excellent.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium fine firm • $650
15417: Gold Bond lever-filler in box: attractive and high-quality, woodgrain celluloid with yellow ends, 11.5 cm long, gold filled trim, strong imprints, name on barrel; pressure bar arrangement is similar to Wahl's, Gold Bond being a Montgomery Ward house brand. Nib is a fantastic writer, excellent springback and paper feel, though there is what appears to be a stable hairline at the base of the imprint. In original box with insert, guarantee certificate, and instructions.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $265
15382: Good Service lever-filler: unusual transparent red ringtop, 11.4 cm long, gold plated trim, small warranted 14K nib; transparent silicone sac has been installed for maximum effect.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $165
15418: Montblanc baby safety: iconic miniature in black hard rubber, just 8.35 cm long; like new but for a small abrasion over imprint of the "0" size Simplo nib. Casein star is glossy and unstained, hard rubber is unfaded with clean imprints, seal is ink-tight.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: exc-near mint* • NIB: fine stub flex • $1500
15397: Moore lever-filler: golden pearl with longitudinal lines, 12.75 cm long, gold plated trim, Maniflex nib, same size as 94-A; name on barrel, barrel slightly bent, attractive and unusual material.
DATE: c. 1941 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium semiflex • $145
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 • $1600
15413: Parker Zaner-Bloser: rare black button-filler, 13.2 cm long, gold filled trim, specially shaped hourglass barrel and long section; these normally have a special large imprint on the cap, but in this case it appears to have been removed, as the cap is slightly out of round and has evidently been sanded and then polished.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine semiflex • $985
15419: Parker Vacumatic Sub-Debutante pencil: green pearl laminate, 11.8 cm long, gold filled trim, bold imprint with 1st quarter date code, interesting advertising imprint for Packard-Bell radios and televisions (their first TVs were offered in 1948); as new, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: 1948 • CONDITION: near mint • $125
15408: Parker 75 Insignia: fine crosshatch pattern, early USA model with flat ends, marked "14K G.F," (gold filled, not gold plated as were later 75s), section with angle indicator, 14K nib with "79" on feed is a smooth and sharp-edged writer, very slight bend mark behind tip. Uses standard Parker cartridges or converter (metal squeeze converter included).
DATE: c. 1967 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-broad oblique italic • $365
15399: Parker Duofold International ballpoint: green marble, 13.1 cm long with tip retracted, gold plated trim, made in UK, date code "II A", twist-action, uses standard Parker refills. As new, no packaging.
DATE: 1992 • CONDITION: near mint • $275
15402: Pick stylographic pen: unusual oversize jade green lever-filler, 13.7 cm long, gold filled trim, intact weighted needle, smooth writer and in excellent condition but for areas of discoloration.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium fine • $225
15415: Sheaffer Stratowriter Masterpiece: 14K solid gold, Sheaffer's first ballpoint; 13.3 cm long, crisp grouped parallel lines pattern, push and turn end button to extend or retract tip; fully marked, no dings or personalizations, weights 21.6 grams without refill unit; original refill is out of ink, can be used with modern refills with adaptor (not included).
DATE: c. 1947 • CONDITION: near mint • $785
15386: Sheaffer Stratowriter: gold filled ballpoint, Sheaffer's first; includes original cartridge (not functional; adaptor required to use modern refills); 13.3 cm long, button is pressed and turned to operate.
DATE: c. 1947 • CONDITION: near mint • $125
15401: Sheaffer PFM III: blue oversize Snorkel-filler, 13.65 cm long, gold filled trim, White Dot, 14K gold inlaid nib is a smooth writer.
DATE: c. 1959 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine • SOLD
15395: unmarked dip pen, pencil, and stamp compendium: nickel-plated brass, 11.1 cm long closed, made in Germany, clamp-style pencil nozzle takes standard 2 mm lead; self-inking reversing rubber stamp in end is spring-loaded.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: VG • $80
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